1910 Mecca Champions Boxing (T220)

The 1910 T220 Mecca “Champion Athlete and Prize Fighters” series consists of 50 cards. Each piece measures 2-1/2” by 3-5/16.” (Although the title references champion athletes, only boxers are represented). Card fronts display remarkably lifelike artistic renderings of a pugilist or fight scene, framed with a blank border and his name in dark type near the bottom. The back has the card title, a biographical block of text, and the Mecca Cigarettes brand name resting at the bottom of the card. (Some cards have been found with an advertisement for Tolstoi cigarettes). This popular set, which also had many cards also issued with a silver border variation, includes a variation to Joe Coburn, printed both with and without a man to his left. The set is anchored by such ring legends as James J. Corbett, Jack Dempsey, Joe Gans, James J. Jeffries, Jack Sharkey, and John L. Sullivan. These items, owing to their soft paper stock, are almost impossible to find in high grade.