1935 National Chicle

National Chicle Co.'s "Football Stars" inaugural release of 1935 consists of 36 pieces, each of which measures 2-3/8" by 2-7/8". The cards' artistically rendered player likenesses were beautifully enhanced by Deco-style patterns. The set is seeded with the era’s big-name talent including period luminaries like Bronko Nagurski, Notre Dame Coach Knute Rockne (via a tribute card), Cliff Battles, Dutch Clark and Ken Strong. The 1935 issue's depictions of Turk Edwards, Shipwreck Kelly and Beattie Feathers also are coveted by hobbyists. Originally issued as a set of 24, Chicle expanded the release by another dozen, with the latter included the coveted card #34 picturing Nagurski. Though the entire set is considered rare, Nagurski’s card is widely seen as the most valuable and desirable football card of all, particularly in view of its short-lived period of distribution. Other key elements include Clark’s #1 card and # 36 Bernie Masterson. As the set's opening and concluding subjects, these pieces typically fell victim to rubber banding and exposure to light in higher proportions than other numbers.