| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
1940 Lone Ranger
(R83-1)
Gum Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Series Title: Lone Ranger
ACC No.: R83-1
Manufactured by: Gum, Inc.
Country: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Number of Cards: 48
Card Dimensions: 63 × 80 mm
Circa: 1940
Checklist: Download
Overview
As a young lad, I would sit in front of our Zenith radio mesmerized by it’s green tuning eye as the William Tell Overture announced the beginning of The Lone Ranger
radio show. This series of trading cards captures the spirit of that bygone era when the differences between the Good Guys and the Bad Guys were well-defined. The Lone Ranger
series was one of the most popular non-sports sets ever issued. Issued by Gum, Inc. in 1940, the set featured outstanding color artwork and detail on the fronts of the cards. The backs of the cards chronicled the exciting adventures of the Masked Man and his sidekick Tonto as they brought the bad guys to justice.
The 48 cards in this series measure 63 × 80 mm. Gum, Inc. copyrighted both the fronts and the backs of the individual cards. The first 36 cards are the easiest to collect. The last 12 are bit more difficult to find. The last card, number 48, seems to be the key in the set and commands the highest value. The following card images computer and from a reprint set. The American Card Catalog reference number for the series is R83-1.
Image-Guide
Wrapper & Retailer’s Display Box
Currently there appears to be only one wrapper associated with the series. If you should run across any other wrapper variants, please let us know. The 1¢ Lone Ranger
wrapper features a prairie scene with mountains in the background and a "head shot" of the Lone Ranger shouting Hi-Yo Silver! At one point, the wrappers were considered to be rare. However in recent years, enough wrappers have surfaced to bring the prices down to more reasonable levels. However, be advised that these wrappers are still scarce and do command premium prices. A picture of the Retailer’s Display Box is presented below. At this point we do not have any information on the color schemes of the wrapper and the display box.
Lone Ranger Premiums (R83-2)
Gum, Inc. also issued a series of five Lone Ranger Premiums
(R83-2). The brilliant color and detail of these 8 × 10 inch pictures makes them the most desirable of all of the 1930s premiums. Each picture was available from Gum, Inc. in exchange for Lone Ranger Bubble Gum
wrappers and coin. The backs of these premiums are marked "series A,"t however no more series were ever produced. According to Benjamin [1] The advertising sheet which mentions Horrors of War
is evidence that these premiums were actually produced in 1938, the same year As the Republic Pictures matinée serial on which they were based. The fabulous color montage of all five premium pictures is the front side of a promotion sheet sent to candy income stores. The American Card Catalog reference number for this subset is R83-2. An example of one of these premiums shown below.
References
Candy and Gum Cards.The American Card Catalog. East Stroudsburg, PA: Kistler Printing, 1960. 113. Print.
Lone Ranger.Non-Sports Bible (NSB). Vol. I. Chelsea, MI: Sheridan, 2007. 481. Print.
