The 1935 National Chicle football set is undoubtedly one of the most popular and certainly one of the most important football sets ever manufactured. The set contains some of the game’s bigest names, and includes the first card of virtually every key subject in the set. The issue’s colorful art deco design was typical of the day’s contemporary art, and the popular design was repeated by National Chicle in their “Diamond Stars” baseball set of 1934-36 as well as their Sky Birds cards of 1933.
What makes the 1935 Chicle football set so important, however, is the inclusion of the card we present here: the first card of Hall of Famer Bronko Nagurski.
The 1935 National Chicle Bronko Naguski has been widely established as the most valuable and important football card in the hobby. Clearly the key to this set, the card achieved this notoriety because it is the first card of the well-known Hall of Famer and famous pro wrestler, and also because it comes from the set’s ultra-scarce high number series. There is no question that this is the most important and highly sought-after football card in existence.
Presented here is a clean, midgrade example of the card, boasting strong color and image clarity. Slightly off-center from left to right, with pronounced corner wear, the card is accurately graded at this level, yet presents very strongly for the assessed condition.
A 1935 National Chicle Nagurski is an iconic card that transcends the football hobby altogether, taking its place among the most iconic cards in any sport. One of the most difficult to obtain football cards, mid and high-grade Nagurskis do not frequently change hands; they are very scarce and desirable and the hobby’s best examples are locked up in elite collections. Rarely does even a midgrade specimen make itself available to the hobby. One of the most important sports cards this great hobby has to offer.