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1951 Bowman Jets, Rockets & Spacemen # 29 Phobos - Moon of Mars (VG/EX)
Entertainment Trading Cards
Browse our store of Entertainment Trading Cards which features cards from the early 1900's.
Includes coverage for non-sport Topps, "Bubbles, Inc.", Fleer, Leaf, Goudey and other entertainment manufacturers.
1950s Entertainment Trading Cards
Part of a big surge in Topps entertainment releases, the 1950s Entertainment Trading Cards offer a strong mix of non-sport choices.
1951 Bowman Jets, Rockets & Spacemen Trading Card Set
The 1951 Bowman Jets, Rockets & Spacemen (R701-13) trading card set contains 108 beautifully colored cards that tell a story of futuristic space exploration. Produced by the Bowman Gum Company, the cards measure 2 1/16" x 3 1/8" and were printed in three series of 36 cards, with the 3rd series issued in smaller numbers.
The 1951 Bowman Jets, Rockets & Spacemen trading card set was designed to tell one continuous story and issued in five series, with a total of 180 cards. Unfortunately, shortly before it was scheduled to be printed, the artwork for the 4th series, was either lost or stolen. The 5th series was not completed, so the decision was made to end the set abruptly after 108 cards. Interestingly, the series 5 cards were issued as an extension set in 1985.
The 1951 Bowman Jets, Rockets & Spacemen trading card set features incredible science fiction artwork illustrations of space travel – a reality that was still more than a decade away at the time of its release. The bright and beautifully colored cards depict futuristic scenes of space adventure and exploration. It is anchored by such imaginative titles as Polar Cats Invade Runways (#58), On Saturn (#62), Navigating a Planetoid Belt (#65), End of a Spaceship (#66), and Captured by Space Pirates (#66). This issue is one of the most popular of all non-sport issues with the middle series being slightly more difficult to obtain.
How We Grade:
GemMint (GMT): (10.0)A flawless card. To be in Gem Mint condition,a card’s borders must have a ratio of 50/50 side to side and top tobottom.
Mint(MT): (9.0-9.5)A perfect card. Well-centered with parallel borders which appearequal to the naked eye. Four sharp, square corners. No creases, edge dents,surface scratches, paper flaws, loss of luster, yellowing or fading, regardlessof age. No imperfectly printed cards – out of register, badly cut or ink flawed– or card stained by contact with gum, wax or other substances can beconsidered truly Mint, even if new out of the pack. Generally, to be consideredin Mint condition, a card’s borders must exist in a ratio of 60/40 side to sideand top to bottom.
NearMint/Mint (NM/MT): (8.0-8.5)A super high-end card thatappears Mint 9 at first glance, but upon closer inspection, may exhibit a veryslight wax stain on reverse, slight fraying at one or two corners, or a minorprinting imperfection. Centering must be app. 65/35 to 70/30 or better on thefront and 90/10 or better on the reverse.
NearMint (NM): (7.0-7.5)A nearly perfect card at first glance, butupon closer inspection, may have slight surface wear, slight fraying on somecorners, slightly out-of-register picture focus, a minor printing blemish orslight wax stain on reverse. Centering must be 70/30 to 75/25 or better on thefront and 90/10 or better on the reverse.
Excellent/NearMint (EX/NM): (6.0-6.5)Card may have visible surfacewear or a printing defect. A very light scratch. Corners may have slightlygraduated fraying. Picture focus may be slightly out-of-register. Card may haveminor wax stain on reverse, may have very slight nothing on edges. Centeringmust be 80/20 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.
Excellent(EX): (5.0-5.5)Corners are still fairly sharp with only moderate wear. Cardborders may be off center as much as 85/15. No creases. May have very minorgum, wax or product stains, front or back. Surfaces may show slight loss ofluster from rubbing across other cards. Dark bordered cards may have one or twosmall nicks.
VeryGood/Excellent (VG/EX): (4.0-4.5)Shows obvious handling, but stilllooks nice. Corners may be rounded or have minor creases. No major creases,tape marks or extraneous markings or writing. Surfaces does exhibit loss ofluster, but the printing is intact. May have paper wrinkles. May show majorgum, wax or other packaging stains. All four borders visible, though the ratiomay be as poor as 95/5. Exhibits honest wear.
VeryGood (VG): (3.0-3.5)A well-worn card, but exhibits no intentionaldamage or abuse. May be “Mis-cut or Off-Center” with no border visible. Mayhave major or multiple creases, however, creases are not so deep as to show theunderlying paper. This card is completely readable, has not been written on,and has no tape marks or holes. Corner rounding may extend well beyond theborder.
Good(GD) (2.0-2.5)Shows excessive wear, along with damage or abuse. Will show allthe wear characteristics of a Very Good card, along with such damage as thumbtack holes in or near margins, evidence of having been taped or pasted, perhapssmall tears around the edges or creases so heavily as to break the cardboard.Backs may show minor added pen or pencil writing or be missing small bits ofpaper. Still basically a complete card.
Poor(P): (1.0-1.5)A card that has been tortured to death. Corners or other areasmay be torn off. Card may have been trimmed, show holes from a paper punch orhave been used for BB gun practice. Front may have extraneous pen or pencilwriting, or other defacement. Major portions of front or back design may bemissing. Not a pretty sight.
