1933 Goudey R319

In 1933, Goudey produced a 239 card set, also called "Big League Chewing Gum". These cards were issued with bubble gum in baseball packs and were known to be the first baseball gum cards. It was discovered that when certain substances of the rubber tree plant were added to chewing gum, bubbles could be blown. To help market this new product, the Goudey Company of Boston sold the gum with its Big League cards


The 1933 Goudey set is considered one of the "Big Three" classic baseball card sets, along with the T206 and 1952 Topps sets. These cards are color art reproductions of either portrait or action photos. The cards are numbered and measure 2-3/8 x 2-7/8 (inches). The fronts show either an action shot or a portrait of a baseball player surrounded by a white border. At the bottom of some cards is a thick, red horizontal strip (missing on some cards), which contain the words, "BIG LEAGUE CHEWING GUM" printed in white. Directly above this caption is a small copyright circle reading, "G.C. Co, C, 1933" or "Goudey Gum Company, Copyright, 1933."

The backs of the R319 Goudey Big League Gum cards contain the card’s number (1-240), player’s name, team name, and an informative biography (covering the previous year’s statistics, age, height/weight, and batting/throwing hand). Also found on the backs is the paragraph, "This is one of a Series of 240 Baseball Stars. BIG LEAGUE CHEWING GUM CO. BOSTON. Made by the originators of INDIAN GUM."

There are a number of short-prints in this set.
5
23
39
51-which are about twice as rare as the rest.

Though most collectors can’t even afford to attack the 1933 Goudey Big League R319 baseball card set, a reprint set was issued

1933 Goudey Big League The American Card Catalog designation is R319.

5 -Babe Herman $450

23 -Kiki Cuyler $750

39 -Mark Koenig $250

51 -Charlie Grimm $350

55-Pat Malone $125

64 -Burleigh Grimes $125

67 -Guy Bush $125

135 -Woody English $125

152 -Zack Taylor $125

186 -John Schulte $125

202 -Gabby Hartnett $350

203 -Lon Warneke $125

204 -Riggs Stephenson $125

224 -Frank Demaree $125

225 -Bill Jurges $125

226 -Charlie Root $125

227 -Billy Herman $350


and the back


Counterfeit baseball cards have been around for decades, it's best to understand what's real and what isn't before you make a major purchase. Not being aware of the variations on the counterfeit can prove to be a very costly mistake. cards that are counterfeit have always exhibited a glossy finish on the front surface. The green text on the back of the card should be solid. If under magnification, the text looks dotted, you are probably looking at a counterfeit. Be very careful when buying or trading for these cards as they have been artificially aged to look real. I would not recommend buying these cards off eBay unless graded by a repuatable grading service.
How reprints and counterfeits are made
Modern cards are made with modern cardstock and modern printing techniques. Many cheap reprints are made with home computer printers, which obviously weren't around before World War II.
I've never seen or heard of a modern reprint or counterfeit of a baseball card made with the original technology.
If a 1933 Goudey "reprint" on the back, you don't have to be an expert to identify it as a reprint