1915 Church & Dwight Useful Birds of America First Series (J5) Non-Sport Forum

Seeking community input on how we should document the variations for this set.

A little background: The Church & Dwight Useful Birds of America cards were produced in ten distinct series from 1915 to 1938. Each series had multiple variations. The variations are often minor and can make identifying and cataloging cards extremely difficult. This post is for the First Series only. I'm currently working the other series and I'll create a forum post for each when I'm complete.

The “First Series” was produced in 1915 and contains 18 variations. The American Card Catalog distinguishes only two variations based on the size of the card. The “Large” card measures 1 7/8” x 3” and is identified with an ACC number of “J5”. The “Small” card measures 1 ½” x 2 ¼” and is identified with an ACC number of “J5a”.

The “Large” cards (J5) contain additional variations that were not cataloged in the ACC. The hobby-accepted authority on Soda cards is John. D. Hodge who published a “Collector’s Field Guide” to baking soda cards in 2002. Hodge assigned his own numbering system to help collectors distinguish all the variations. Variations are based on four key elements:

1. Type of logo used on the card front
2. Type of card stock used
3. Presence or absence of a series title
4. Number of stamps/coins required to redeem a full set

Here is a description of the “Large” card (J5) variations based on Hodge’s numbering system:

AH1600a

Arm & Hammer “New York” logo / Pebbled card stock / No series title on back / Back states, “…six two-cent stamps…”

AH 1600b (front image variation of AH 1600a):

Arm & Hammer “New York” logo / Pebbled card stock / No series title on back / Back states, “…six two-cent stamps…” / front image variant on all cards except (2, 13, 15, 21, & 28).

*see the addition of the flower on the AH1600b card front*

AH 1610

Arm & Hammer “New York” logo / Smooth card stock / No Series title on back / Back states, “…three two-cent stamps…”

AH 1620

Arm & Hammer “New York” logo / Pebbled card stock / No series title on back / Back states, “…three two-cent stamps…”

AH1630

Arm & Hammer “New York” logo / Smooth card stock / No series title on back / Back states, “…six two-cent stamps…”

Sorry couldn't find an example of card #1.

AH 1640

Arm & Hammer “New York” logo / Smooth card stock / “First Series” title on back / Back states, “…three two-cent stamps…”

AH 1820

Arm & Hammer “Soda” logo / Smooth card stock / No series title on back / Back states, “…three two-cent stamps…”

AH 2000

Arm & Hammer “Soda” logo / Smooth card stock / “First Series” title on back / Back states, “…six cents in coin or stamps."

DS 1200

Dwight’s Soda logo / Back does not contain “Printed in U.S.A.” Stamp

DS 1200p

Dwight’s Soda logo / Back contains “Printed in U.S.A.” Stamp

I think that each of the variant sets should be listed separately (except for 1600a and 1600b since 1600b only contains image variations of 1600a and does not include all cards). I also think that they should be titled with both the ACC # and the number assigned by Hodge.

• Useful Birds of America First Series (J5-AH1600) ***this would contain 1600a with the 1600b cards listed as variations***
• Useful Birds of America First Series (J5-AH1610)
• Useful Birds of America First Series (J5-AH1620)
• Useful Birds of America First Series (J5-AH1630)
• Useful Birds of America First Series (J5-AH1640)
• Useful Birds of America First Series (J5-AH1820)
• Useful Birds of America First Series (J5-AH2000)
• Useful Birds of America First Series (J5-DS1200)
• Useful Birds of America First Series (J5-DS1200p)

Another option is to create one listing for "Useful Birds of America First Series (J5)" and have that set consist of all the variants like the 2016 Topps Archives Signature Series.

In this case the set title would be "Useful Birds of America First Series (J5)" and instead of the checklist, the overview page would show:

Included Sets:

• Useful Birds of America First Series (AH1600) ***this would contain 1600a with the 1600b cards listed as variations***
• Useful Birds of America First Series (AH1610)
• Useful Birds of America First Series (AH1620)
• Useful Birds of America First Series (AH1630)
• Useful Birds of America First Series (AH1640)
• Useful Birds of America First Series (AH1820)
• Useful Birds of America First Series (AH2000)
• Useful Birds of America First Series (DS1200)
• Useful Birds of America First Series (DS1200p)

I think the small cards should also be listed seperately. Since the smalls have their own ACC designation (J5a) I think this is a "no-brainer". However, the small versions do have their own group of variations and I think they should also be listed like one of the methods above.

Of course, we could always ignore the variations in our listing and use "Release Notes" to describe the variations. Members could use the "detailed add" function to note wich variation they have if they so desire (that's how I'm currently tracking my collection).

Any thoughts or input?

 

I think going with option 2 where the set is listed as one set but with a seperation of each variation with your detailed descriptions.