1888 Allen & Ginter n33 World's Smokers
- info393822
- Mar 21
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 24
The 1888 Allen & Ginter N33 World’s Smokers set is one of the most visually unique and historically intriguing tobacco card sets from the 19th century. Issued by the Allen & Ginter tobacco company of Richmond, Virginia, this set was designed to promote the company’s cigarette brands while showcasing the diversity of smokers from around the world. Unlike traditional sports-focused tobacco cards, the N33 World’s Smokers set features 50 beautifully illustrated cards depicting men and women from various countries and cultures, all engaged in the act of smoking.
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Historical Background and Survival Over Time
Allen & Ginter, a major player in the tobacco industry, was known for producing some of the most artistic and collectible 19th-century tobacco cards. They were pioneers in inserting small cards into cigarette packs to promote brand loyalty, and their various series covered everything from Native American leaders to flags of the world. The World’s Smokers set was part of a broader push to make their cigarettes more appealing to consumers by romanticizing smoking as a global practice.
These cards were distributed in Allen & Ginter cigarette packs during 1888 and were available to smokers across the United States. However, because they were simply packaged with cigarettes and never meant to be preserved, many did not survive in high-grade condition. Over time, this set has weathered major historical events such as:
• The Spanish-American War (1898) – This brief but impactful war saw the U.S. emerge as a global power, gaining control over territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. Tobacco played a role in military life, with soldiers frequently receiving cigarettes in their rations. While this war likely had no direct impact on the N33 set, the changing global perception of smoking—particularly its connection to masculinity and military culture—fueled further demand for tobacco products.
• The Spanish Flu Pandemic (1918–1919) – One of the deadliest pandemics in history, the Spanish Flu disrupted daily life across the U.S. and the world. While collecting was not a priority during a global health crisis, the pandemic underscored the health risks of smoking. Despite this, the tobacco industry remained strong, and interest in vintage tobacco cards persisted in niche circles.
• The Great Depression (1929–1939) – Many old collectibles, including tobacco cards, were discarded or lost as people prioritized survival over hobbies. However, some collectors who had held onto their cards before the economic downturn managed to preserve them, making surviving examples from this period even rarer.
• World War I & World War II (1914–1918, 1939–1945) – The war years saw a decline in the popularity of early tobacco card collecting as resources were diverted to the war effort. However, cigarettes were widely distributed to soldiers, reinforcing the cultural significance of smoking.
• The Post-War Boom & Decline of Tobacco Cards (1950s-1960s) – As advertising shifted from pack-inserted cards to television and magazine ads, traditional tobacco card production declined. By the 1960s, interest in early non-sports cards like the N33 World’s Smokers had faded, making it a more obscure collectible for decades.
• The Modern Sports Card Boom & Internet Age (1980s–Present) – The rise of sports card collecting in the 1980s overshadowed early non-sports tobacco cards, but by the 2000s, collectors began rediscovering 19th-century sets. Today, vintage non-sports sets like the N33 World’s Smokers have gained appreciation for their artistry and historical significance.
Despite these major events, the N33 World’s Smokers set has survived, though high-grade examples are exceptionally rare due to the fragility of 19th-century paper stock.
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Key and Sought-After Cards: “Old Planter” & “American Indian”
Two of the standout cards in this set are “Old Planter” and “American Indian”, both of which carry significant historical and cultural weight.
1. “Old Planter”
The “Old Planter” card features an elderly man dressed in rustic colonial attire, smoking a long-stemmed pipe. This card is significant because it represents the image of early American tobacco farmers—many of whom were among the first settlers and played a major role in the economic foundation of the American colonies. Tobacco cultivation, particularly in Virginia, was a massive industry by the 1600s, and the term “Old Planter” was often used to describe early settlers who received land grants for their work in agriculture.
This card is not just a representation of a smoker; it is a direct nod to the origins of the tobacco industry in the U.S. and the pivotal role that early tobacco farming played in shaping American commerce. For collectors, the “Old Planter” card is a favorite because it embodies the roots of the very industry that gave rise to tobacco card collecting.
2. “American Indian”
The “American Indian” card is arguably the most culturally significant in the set. It depicts a Native American man with a feathered headdress, peacefully smoking a long pipe. This card is an important representation of the indigenous smoking traditions that predated European colonization. Native American tribes used tobacco for ceremonial and spiritual purposes, long before it became a commercialized global commodity.
From a collector’s perspective, this card is one of the most sought-after due to both its striking artwork and its representation of Native American culture. Given that Allen & Ginter also produced the N2 “American Indian Chiefs” set in 1888, this card ties into a broader interest in Native American imagery during the late 19th century.
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Collectibility & Legacy
Today, the N33 World’s Smokers set is highly collectible due to its historical themes and colorful lithography. Cards from this set, particularly in high-grade condition, are scarce and command strong interest from vintage non-sports collectors. The combination of global diversity, cultural representations, and the connection to the early tobacco industry makes this set a fascinating piece of history.
While Allen & Ginter’s sports-related sets (such as the N28 & N29 Champions featuring baseball players) often get more mainstream attention, the World’s Smokers remains a unique and visually captivating non-sports set with deep historical significance.
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BCW Tobacco Card Insert Sleeves - This insert will then fit inside a regular top loader or semi-rigid holder.
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