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MURAD CIGARETTES T51 COLLEGE SERIES CARDS (U.S.A.)
The Murad set was produced by S. Anargyros Tobacco Company and released in their packs of Murad Turkish Cigarettes between 1909-1911. The T51 cards had an illustrated chromolithograph image that showed various athletes and sports with their accompanying colleges and universities. The Murad set totaled 225 cards total, with 4 cards (and their variations) that featured basketball. There are 6 total cards in the basketball subset, with 7 card variations in total (the number 14 variation is not included as part of the basketball subset).
The first basketball card issued by Murad was for Williams college, which came in 3 variations. The first variation is the numbered 14 one (numbered in the bottom right), released before the subsequent first and second editions. The numbered variations were the first to be produced and numbers were initially applied to cards 1 thru 25. This quickly changed, however, as it is thought that the numbers created confusion for those redeeming coupons for the larger T6 cabinet cards since the numbers didn't correspond with the list of teams. Thus, the number 14 variation is the first and rarest basketball card Murad produced and considered by most to be the first basketball card that was ever made. The Murad Williams First Edition was the next card to be made and is the second rarest of the basketball cards. Both the Williams No. 14 and Williams First Edition have very low grade POP numbers. The more common 2nd edition has "2nd edition" displayed in the lower right corner. Northwestern also had 2 editions, with Xavier and Luther College having just one.
Measurements: 2.5" x 2"
*Rarer in high grade, Williams 1st series rarest of the set, Williams 1st series #14 variation rarest of all.
1909-1911
