A COLLECTOR'S PASSION WITH THE 1948 & 1949 LEAF GUM COMPANY ISSUES

Along with the Bowman Gum Company and the Exhibit Supply Company, the Leaf Gum Company began issuing their football cards in 1948, with a set of 98 cards. This set was issued in two series of 49 cards with the second series being significantly scarcer, and this is reflected in their catalog value, being issued much later in the season, which resulted in a much smaller print run.

Unlike the first series, which featured established pro stars as Sid Luckman, Sammy Baugh, Clyde “Bulldog” Turner and George Connor, the second series consisted mainly of college players. The following year Leaf issued a rather quirky and curious set of this time only 49 cards, issued in one series. This 1949 set was skip numbered and all the cards featured the same players as in 1948, with Leaf going so far that the exact same player poses from 1948 also graced the 1949 card fronts! Only the player information on the back of the cards had been updated and the copyright date was changed to 1949.