Description: This unique card was issued by the Kinney Bros tobacco company as an insert premium with their brand of High-Class Cigarettes and tobacco during 1888. The card series is entitled “Transparent Playing Cards” , and it is listed as series N233 in Burdick’s American Card catalogue. The fronts of the cards are set up in a standard playing card style fronts with backs that feature advertising for Kinney Bros, and the words “Hold To The Light, Read Your Fortune”. There are 3 different back variations for this series. One with the words “52 Transparent Cards” as the top line, one with “53 Transparent Cards” as the top line and another that reads “Read Your Fortune” as the top line. What makes these card particularly unique is the fact that they are transparent cards, also know as Hold To Light cards. When the card is help up to a fairly bright light a picture is revealed on the card that is not visible under normal lighting. The pictures vary, usually featuring fairly buxom women, scantily dressed in a fairly Burlesque style costumes. Others feature men in comical poses. Some of the cards also feature your written fortune as well as the pictures when held to the light. This card is the 7 of DIAMONDS (when held to light it reveals a young lady in a ballerina costume) with the "52 Transparent Cards" back top line The card itself measures 1 9/16 inches by 2 13/16 inches approximately. The card is free from creases with relatively nice corners. I have scanned the cards front and back fairly large for you to be able to judge condition for your self. I have also included a picture of what the picture appears as when held to light. I did this by holding the card in front of a bright bulb and taking a picture. It gives you a fairly good idea of what the hidden images looks like. This series has fantastic cross-over collectable, highly sought after by both collectors of playing cards, hold to light novelties and Tobacco cards. Don't miss out on this over 130 year old piece (a true America antique). I will be trying to list several EARLY TRADE & TYPE CARDS over the next few days (spread across different categories), including one or two that are unrecorded in any guide, that were put given away with Tobacco, Cigarettes , Caramel, Candy, Gum, Chocolate, Bread Coffee Tea Cereal and other products, covering such diverse subjects as Native American Indians , Baseball , Football, Boy Scouts, Ice Hockey, Golf, Presidents of the United States, NCAA and IVY League Colleges and Universities, Dog Breeds, Circus themes and many more. To view the other cards I have up on ebay please click on the “View Sellers other Items” Icon located on this page. It will take you directly to them. Due to my work schedule and distance to the post office I am only able to ship Monday Mornings. If I haven’t received payment for an item by Sunday evening, the item will have to wait until the next Monday to go out. Its unfortunate but unavoidable. If this doesn’t work for you I respectfully ask that you do not bid or buy. Thanks again. This will be mailed from the USA. For USA purchases I Can combine shipping. Please message me for details. Unfortunately Ebay’s Global Seller Program does not allow for combined shipments on international order
Price: 24.99 USD
Location: Niagara Falls, New York
End Time: 2025-01-04T12:45:31.000Z
Shipping Cost: 4.75 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Brand: Kinney Cigarettes
Type of Advertising: Playing Card
Tobacco Cards: Antique Playing Cards
Date of Creation: 1888
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
