1894 Mayo Cut Plug N302 Football Cards

Product Details

Regarded as the first-ever football card set, 1894 Mayo Cut Plug N302 Football is a hobby classic.

Today, even the most well-loved and beat up Mayo's Cut Plug cards still sell for hundreds of dollars.

1894 Mayo Cut Plug N302 Football Set Details

The 35-card 1894 Mayo Cut Plug N302 set features players wearing college clothing from Harvard, Princeton and Yale. Measuring 1 5/8" x 2 7/8", the mini tobacco cards come with a simple black-bordered design. The player photos are done with a sepia tone. Underneath are the player's last name, school, an ad for P.H. Mayo tobacco and the slogan, "For Chewing and Smoking." The cards are not numbered and have a plain black back.

John Dunlop (who is not named on the front and is sometimes referred to as "Anonymous") is the rarest card in the set. It's considered by most to be the T206 Honus Wagner of football cards, the "Holy Grail" against which all other cards are measured. Approximately 10 copies of the card are thought to exist. A Michigan couple found a copy of this 1894 Mayo Cut Plug Football card while cleaning out their farmhouse.

Another interesting card in 1894 Mayo Cut Plug N302 is Poe. The player is believed to be Neilson Poe, who was related to writer Edgar Allan Poe. Neilson's father was the macabre poet's nephew.

A testament to the set's condition sensitivity, according to the PSA Population Report, the highest grade a card from 1894 Mayo Cut Plug Football has received is a NM-MT 8. Even then, just a handful have received such a grade. Black borders are tough on cards, even modern ones.

In modern times, a couple of releases have paid tribute to 1894 Mayo Cut Plug N302 Football. 2002 Gridiron Kings had an insert set called Donruss 1894. Each of the 25 cards were numbered to 1000. Players are featured with a photo-realistic black and white drawing. 2008 Topps Mayo brought the classic look back for a full set. A popular set with many collectors, it was followed up in 2009.