This week let's discuss a rather unique sporting collectible and one that is increasingly difficult to find. Hunting and fishing stereograph cards continue to be in high demand. For those drawing a blank on what a stereograph card is let me explain.
Back in the late 1800's and early 1900's stereograph cards were very popular. Most everyone has seen vintage hand held card viewers. These viewers were held over your eyes with two small magnifying lenses, which enlarged the stereograph card one was looking at. Unique to these cards were the same picture side by side. When looked at through the hand held viewer, the two identical pictures blended into one, providing a striking "3-D" image. The card could be moved forward or backward to focus. For baby boomers, many of you will remember "3-D" viewers you looked at as children. I recall vividly those red viewers and white handle you pushed down to change the view. Walt Disney circular cards were very popular at the time. That concept was the same as viewers made in the early 1900's.
A popular producer of stereograph cards was, The American Novelty Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio. So successful was their endeavor, they received a patent on May 20, 1913. Around that same time, this company provided coin operated machines for people to enjoy this special pastime.
To really enjoy the stereograph experience you need both the viewer and cards. As noted, hunting and fishing scenes are difficult to locate. A quick check of eBay found nothing. However, you will have no problem finding cards depicting popular scenes around the world. Let's go into detail on what to look for in hunting and fishing stereograph cards.
The Holy Grail of hunting and fishing stereograph cards is to own a complete set. It was common in the early 1900's to produce sets of scenes, which the general population would pay to view. The American Novelty Company did produce sets of hunting and fishing scenes. Many cards will have the publishers name and dates on them. Some noted names around 1900 include R.R. Whiting and T.W. Ingersoll. Authentic cards were made on heavy paper stock so they could stand up to continuous handling by the public. The most valuable cards are those that appeal to the masses of today. A scene with a hunter standing over his elk kill with a Winchester lever action rifle of the time is a sure collectible. Fishing scenes with panoramic views and trout a quite popular.
ADVERTISEMENT
Add a woman in any hunting and fishing card and you have a winner. Stereograph cards with women hunting or fishing back then are in high demand today because so few females undertook such pastimes.
Duck hunting scenes are about as good as it gets. If the scene has a Winchester shotgun and wooden duck decoys, hang on to it. If the actual gun model can be noted, if the decoys are masons or some other notable decoy of the time and if you find the right buyer, you can just about name your price. But remember, replacement of such a card will be difficult.
I could find no source that provided values on hunting and fishing stereograph cards. The most expensive one I have come across was a scene depicting a "good old boy" holding a tree branch with a number of large sized muskies, vintage early 1900's. The asking price was $30. Seems high, but if the right buyer came along such a price is possible. Based on my limited experience with stereograph cards, I would suggest $5 to $10 each for a quality hunting or fishing scene in good condition. Add in the variables mentioned above and a higher value is quite likely. Until next time, may all your searches be successful.
