Card Naming System
Reference Library
Card Set Classifications
Classification of early baseball card sets is based on the categories found in the American Card Catalog (ACC). Although the scope of the ACC includes a wide range of cards featuring non-baseball subjects, the following categories are limited to only those that include baseball card sets.
B "Blankets" and cloth-like cards
C Canadian tobacco (Imperial Tobacco, C46, is the only baseball set)
D Bakery sets.
E Early gum and candy cards; "E" cards fall primarily into two time periods: 1909-1915 (designated here as Group "E1") and 1920-1927 (Group "E2")
F "Food" cards. Includes cards used to promote a wide range of foods ranging from breakfast cereals to ice cream
H Clothing and sporting goods manufacturers and retailers
M Inserts and promotions for magazines and newspapers
N Nineteenth century cards
P Pins (includes PD "bakery button inserts;" PE "button inserts with early candy or gum;" PM "miscellaneous inserts" as defined in the Sports Collectors Bible; PR "button inserts with recent candy and gum;" and PX "other novelties of plastic, metal, etc.")
PC Postcards
R Candy, gum and some other cards of the 1930's and 1940's (beginning in 1928; generally, these are a continuation of the "E2" cards)
S Stamps and "silks"
T 20th century tobacco cards; a one digit number, such as T3, indicates an oversized premium or cabinet card. The baseball tobacco card era spanned a seven year period--from 1909 to 1915. One set from 1919 (Coupon Cigarettes T213-3) and several 1950s Redman tobacco sets (T232-T235) are also listed in the ACC as baseball "T" cards.
V Canadian candy and gum cards. Roughly, the Canadian equivalent of some of the American "E" and "R" cards
W Miscellaneous section (mostly, whatever doesn't fit above). "W" cards include anonymous issues, cards from games, strip cards, and a long series of sets produced by the Exhibit Supply Company of Chicago.
WG Game Cards
With a few exceptions, the ACC definitions have remained intact and are widely used among today's collectors. In a few instances, they have been clarified and expanded in subsequent publications such as Bert Sugar's Sports Collector's Bible and Lew Lipset's Encyclopedia of Baseball Cards.
Card Set Classifications
Classification of early baseball card sets is based on the categories found in the American Card Catalog (ACC). Although the scope of the ACC includes a wide range of cards featuring non-baseball subjects, the following categories are limited to only those that include baseball card sets.
B "Blankets" and cloth-like cards
C Canadian tobacco (Imperial Tobacco, C46, is the only baseball set)
D Bakery sets.
E Early gum and candy cards; "E" cards fall primarily into two time periods: 1909-1915 (designated here as Group "E1") and 1920-1927 (Group "E2")
F "Food" cards. Includes cards used to promote a wide range of foods ranging from breakfast cereals to ice cream
H Clothing and sporting goods manufacturers and retailers
M Inserts and promotions for magazines and newspapers
N Nineteenth century cards
P Pins (includes PD "bakery button inserts;" PE "button inserts with early candy or gum;" PM "miscellaneous inserts" as defined in the Sports Collectors Bible; PR "button inserts with recent candy and gum;" and PX "other novelties of plastic, metal, etc.")
PC Postcards
R Candy, gum and some other cards of the 1930's and 1940's (beginning in 1928; generally, these are a continuation of the "E2" cards)
S Stamps and "silks"
T 20th century tobacco cards; a one digit number, such as T3, indicates an oversized premium or cabinet card. The baseball tobacco card era spanned a seven year period--from 1909 to 1915. One set from 1919 (Coupon Cigarettes T213-3) and several 1950s Redman tobacco sets (T232-T235) are also listed in the ACC as baseball "T" cards.
V Canadian candy and gum cards. Roughly, the Canadian equivalent of some of the American "E" and "R" cards
W Miscellaneous section (mostly, whatever doesn't fit above). "W" cards include anonymous issues, cards from games, strip cards, and a long series of sets produced by the Exhibit Supply Company of Chicago.
WG Game Cards
With a few exceptions, the ACC definitions have remained intact and are widely used among today's collectors. In a few instances, they have been clarified and expanded in subsequent publications such as Bert Sugar's Sports Collector's Bible and Lew Lipset's Encyclopedia of Baseball Cards.
