1933
(R309-1)

1933
(R340)

1935
(R309-2)

Goudey Gum Co.

Premiums

1935
R309-2

SCARCE to VERY RARE- These very attractive premiums were obtained from the Goudey Gum Co. in the mid 1930s. They were offered in exchange for gum wrappers sent in to the gum company. 

The R309-1 Premiums are from 1933 (most price guides say 1934, but they are wrong). These high quality premiums were obtained by sending in 50 Big League Chewing Gum (Goudey) wrappers to the company... "offer expires November 1st, 1933". R309-1's are very large at 5.5" by 8.8" in size, and made of a thick card stock with an easel on back so they can stand up. The design has a B&W photo within a printed gold colored picture frame style border and a name plaque at bottom . There are 4 different premiums in the R309-1 set (Babe Ruth, AL All Star Team, NL All Star Team, NY NL Team).   

The R340 Sport Kings Premiums are from 1933 and there is some doubt as to how many were actually issued, if issued at all. Until this year there had been only 1 seen (Weismuller). Now the Babe Ruth is thought to have been found and this example is thought to be the only known example. The Sport Kings Premiums are similar to the more common R309-1 Premiums. 1933 Sport Kings wrappers lists 8 different premiums available by sending in 50 wrappers each, but these premiums are so rare it is doubtful they were actually issued as planed. This (R340?) Premium has an extra wide green border and a green name plaque instead of the usual gold color plaque on the R309-1. Also the easel on back is of a slightly different design and there is a hole punched in the top border for hanging. In 2005 REA auctioned off a thin paper "printer's proof" which originated from the files of the Goudey Gum Co. that also has the exact same green border and green name plaque. It was auctioned as a R309-1 Proof but now is thought to be a R340 Proof.

George Herman (Babe) Ruth
(H.O.Fer)

New York AL

NRVG
(pinhole top border, no creases, easel is complete)

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