Combat sports have been popular for centuries and were even part of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece. Today, the UFC and mixed martial arts are the most watched combat sport, but for decades boxing held that crown. During the earliest days of organized boxing, boxing matches were larger than just the bout itself. They were a reflection of societal issues, with boxers representing entire communities.
Some fights were billed as competing nations through the individual boxers from different backgrounds, while others were racially charged, mirroring segregation and the divide between people of different cultures. Many of history's most important boxing matches occurred in the early 1900s, considered by many to be a golden age of boxing. That's what makes CGC Cards Registry set owner Calvin Woods' full set of 1938 Churchman's Boxing Personalities cards historically important, as it captures some of the greatest champions of the era, including Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis and more.
The 1938 Churchman’s Boxing Personalities set was created by Churchman, a British tobacco brand under the umbrella of the Imperial Tobacco Company. It is one of the more common boxing sets of its day, but since it includes so many legends of the sport, it still holds plenty of value throughout the series.
The 50-card set features boxers and some of their managers, with the first 39 cards showcasing fighters and the final 11 cards highlighting referees, promoters and managers. Each card features a sepia image showing the subject in a portrait or posing in a fighting stance. Measuring around 1.5 by 2.75 inches, the collectibles resembled the smaller size of many tobacco cards of the time. One key difference is that the card makers used actual images of the boxers instead of depictions or artistic renderings that were commonly seen in that era.
The fronts featured a simple white border with "Churchman’s Cigarettes" printed at the top and the name of the fighter or personality at the bottom. On the backs of each card, at the top, is a message stating that "Albums for Churchman’s picture cards can be obtained from tobacconists at one penny each." The back also includes the card number, set name, boxer or manager's name and a short bio of each subject and their accomplishments.
The 1938 Churchman's Boxing Personalities set contains cards of several world heavyweight champions that are standouts in the series and some of the most integral athletes in boxing history. They include #20 Jack Johnson (1908-1915), #12 Jack Dempsey (1919-1926), #35 Gene Tunney (1926-28), #34 Max Schmeling (1930-32), #3 Max Baer (1934-35), #6 James Braddock (1935-37) and #26 Joe Louis (1937-1949).
About the CGC Cards Sports Card Registry
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