Vintage Basketball Cards

Ask most collectors about early vintage basketball cards and they will typically mention the classics: 1948 Bowman, 1957 Topps, or 1961 Fleer. More acute hobbyists may note the 1910 Murad College Series, 1933 Sport Kings, or perhaps some of the small oddball sets of the 1950s. Likely what's referenced will be American cards that feature players and teams from the United States.

I'm of the opinion that any real rarity in the major early American releases (Topps, Fleer, etc), is for examples of these cards that are in pristine condition, and chasing high grade (at a premium) doesn't necessarily interest me much. There are many lesser known American cards, however, that are a prize in any condition (Scott's Potato Chips, Bread For Health/Energy, Royal Desserts, etc). These scarce releases seldom come to market, and are revered by an avid niche of serious collectors. This collection features many remarkable and unique American cards, although many elude me because of their sparsity, and so the search continues.

I have a real affinity for pre-war basketball (prior to 1940), but unfortunately there weren't many cards produced in the United States during that period. My inclination for earlier cards has led to me expanding my search, and a big focus of my collection, to include International vintage basketball cards. Opening up my exploration into the unknown has really reinvigorated the thrill of the hunt, my favorite part of this hobby.

Since shortly after it's inception, basketball has spread across the world, with many countries actively playing the game for over 100 years. They too, have featured their favorite players and teams on sports cards. Some of the very early releases are generic, with just a simple illustrated image accompanied by a short description of basketball. Others highlight the sport at the Olympic games and various international tournaments. Many feature the Harlem Globetrotters on one of their many world tours. Some are humorous. Some have incredible design. Many were produced in shapes and sizes that are very different then our domestic releases. There are plentiful foreign star players and teams, with a lot of new history to take in. The diversity of what's out there is pretty astounding.

There were hundreds of worldwide releases between the 1920s and 1960s, and more continue to be unearthed. This website attempts to shine a light on these lesser known international cards and document them with images, release years, and whatever information I'm able to find. I have really enjoyed the challenge of hunting these cards down and the thrill of making new discoveries.

I hope that this site is informative, helpful, and inspires you to expand your own collection. Feel free to contact me with any of your own finds, questions, or any cards that you may be selling or trading. I'm always interested in adding cards to the collection that I don't already have.

Happy Hunting! - Adam