A card that lands right at the intersection of two big collecting worlds, Americana and early aviation. This piece comes from Mayfair Novelty Co.'s "Historic Events" strip card set, printed on uncut sheets and hand-separated by merchants rather than factory-cut, which is exactly why these are notorious for rough, uneven edges. Corner cards on these sheets, especially, took the brunt of it, and with the uncut panel size, the corner cards’ corners were typically worn and vulnerable to damage.

The image itself is charming: planes circling Lady Liberty's torch under the "1918" date, capturing that early wonder of powered flight against one of the country's most iconic monuments, all captured in strip card art from the era.

• Attaching an image of the uncut sheet panel (photo from Google) showcasing how these look.

This is from N225 "National Dances," issued in 1889 by Kinney Brothers Tobacco, a set pairing dance traditions from around the world.

The image is fascinating, and perhaps catches real motion: mid-step, weight on one foot, tomahawk and knife in hand, feather headdress flaring outward. A small window into how the 1880s American Tobacco trade cataloged and sold the world's cultures, one pack at a time.

One of my favorites. This face carries some debate. Allen & Ginter used "Old Planter" as one of the earliest branded "faces" in advertising, showing up on the N33 "World's Smokers" card, storefront signs, print ads, etc. Some collectors believe it's a sly self-portrait of Allen or Ginter themselves, woven into their own branding. Others, myself included, point to a strong resemblance to Joseph Ducreux, the 18th-century French court painter famous for his exaggerated, smirking self-portraits. (There’s a great YouTube video out there breaking this down)…

Whoever he really is, the image has staying power. This card is pushing 140 years old, and IMO the “Old Planter” is a bridge between the tobacco-card era and today’s hobby. Not only a subject, but an important symbol of the branding associated with collecting. Still featured in modern Topps Allen & Ginter releases reminding us that today’s hobby still traces its lineage back to the 19th-century. A “mascot” that's quietly tied most of us in this hobby together, whether we ever noticed it or not.

There are other “variations” (or set manufacturers) from late-19th /early 20th century that used the N33 set images. I’ll be sharing more of these over time.

Issued in 1910 by the American Tobacco Company: 50 subjects, each with detailed write-ups on the back. This one carries the Sub Rosa back. A small artifact that says a lot about how the era saw and packaged identity.

The final stand of Custer & his cavalry at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. A small piece of cardboard depicting a major moment in American history.