Civil War News
Encyclopedia
Civil War News was a set of collectible trading cards issued in the early 1960s by Topps
. The set featured the colorful artwork of Norman Saunders
, as well as three other artists, and was characterized by vivid colors; graphic depictions of violence, death, and blood (number 21 "Painful Death" being a prime example) and exaggerations of warfare. On the reverse, each card contained a brief history of a campaign, battle, or person presented in a newspaper article like fashion, complete with headline.
The complete set consists of 88 cards, including a checklist, and was first printed for the United States
market in 1962 to coincide with the centennial of the Civil War. A similar series with the same artwork was later issued in Canada
, and A&BC produced a similar set in England
. The cards were issued five to a wax pack, and were accompanied by facsimiles of paper currency of the Confederate States of America
. The original selling price was a nickel per package. Topps later issued the cards in cellophane-wrapped strips ("cello packs").
Note: Since 1989 a monthly newspaper titled Civil War News has been published by Historical Publications, Inc. in Tunbridge, Vermont. See web site.
Topps
The Topps Company, Inc., manufactures chewing gum, candy and collectibles. Based in New York, New York, Topps is best known as a leading producer of baseball cards, football cards, basketball cards, hockey cards and other sports and non-sports themed trading cards.-Company history:Topps itself was...
. The set featured the colorful artwork of Norman Saunders
Norman Saunders
Norman Blaine Saunders was a prolific commercial artist who produced paintings for pulp magazines, paperbacks, men's adventure magazines, comic books and trading cards...
, as well as three other artists, and was characterized by vivid colors; graphic depictions of violence, death, and blood (number 21 "Painful Death" being a prime example) and exaggerations of warfare. On the reverse, each card contained a brief history of a campaign, battle, or person presented in a newspaper article like fashion, complete with headline.
The complete set consists of 88 cards, including a checklist, and was first printed for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
market in 1962 to coincide with the centennial of the Civil War. A similar series with the same artwork was later issued in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and A&BC produced a similar set in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The cards were issued five to a wax pack, and were accompanied by facsimiles of paper currency of the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
. The original selling price was a nickel per package. Topps later issued the cards in cellophane-wrapped strips ("cello packs").
Note: Since 1989 a monthly newspaper titled Civil War News has been published by Historical Publications, Inc. in Tunbridge, Vermont. See web site.