Category: Uncategorized
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T68 Jobber Stamp Feature B & L Marshall, Philadelphia
By DB Sikes Jobber (n.): In early 20th-century commerce, a jobber was a wholesale merchant or middleman who purchased large quantities of goods directly from manufacturers and resold them to retailers, smaller distributors, or other businesses. In the tobacco trade, jobbers often added their own identifying marks or stamps to packaging, serving both as branding…
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Run the Table: General “Mad” Anthony Wayne
By DB Sikes Card Subject Overview General Anthony Wayne, nicknamed “Mad Anthony” for his bold and aggressive battlefield tactics, earned his place in American Revolutionary War history through decisive leadership and fearless execution. His most famous exploit, the midnight storming of Stony Point on July 16, 1779, showcased both his military brilliance and his personal…
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Run the Table: Ferdinand de Lesseps
By DB Sikes Card Subject Overview Ferdinand de Lesseps, the famed French diplomat and engineer, is best known for his leadership in constructing the Suez Canal, one of the world’s most consequential engineering feats. Though later criticized for the failed Panama Canal attempt, de Lesseps remains a towering figure in global infrastructure history. His presence…
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Beyond the Cigar Box: How T68 Imagery Lived on in Bread, Butter, and Milk
By DB Sikes The T68 Heroes of History set (1910–1911), produced by the American Lithographic Company for American Tobacco Company products like Royal Bengals cigars, is celebrated for its bold color and educational content. But the original artwork lived on well after the tobacco promotion ended—surprisingly reused in promotional series for bread, milk, and butter.…
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Run the Table: William Tecumseh Sherman
By DB Sikes Card Subject Overview General William Tecumseh Sherman was one of the Union’s most formidable military leaders during the American Civil War, best known for his “March to the Sea,” a devastating campaign that helped bring the war to a decisive close. His use of total war and unrelenting tactics made him both…
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Run the Table: Ulysses S. Grant
By DB Sikes Card Subject Overview Ulysses S. Grant led the Union Army to victory in the American Civil War and later served as the 18th President of the United States. A strategist of unflinching resolve, Grant earned national recognition for his relentless campaigns in the Western Theater and his eventual defeat of Robert E.…
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“The Collector’s Mark: How Handwritten Numbers Told the First Stories”
By DB Sikes Before checklists were printed, they were scribbled. In the earliest days of tobacco card collecting—around 1910 to 1911—there were no master lists, no official card guides, and certainly no web forums to ask what you were missing. Kids and collectors alike had only one reliable reference: the backs of their own cards.…
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Stamped OK – Tracing the Forgotten Markings on T68 Tobacco Cards
By DB Sikes A Fictional Scene, Rooted in Historical Truth Newark, New Jersey — Spring, 1911 The bell over the loading dock rang twice before Mr. Keane barked his orders from the catwalk. “Douglas, mark the Royal Bengals for westbound shipping. Don’t smear the ink.” “Yes, sir,” I called back, already dabbing the Carter’s violet…
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Molly Pitcher and the Mystery of the Cannon: A Rare T68 Variation
By DB Sikes Among the many heroes depicted in the T68 Heroes of History series, Molly Pitcher stands out, not only for her Revolutionary War legend, but for a subtle and mysterious variation that has captivated collectors for years. Known as the “Cannon Down” variant, this version of the card features altered front artwork that…