Famous address beckons to presidential collectors

Posted Jan 24, 2012 by Bob D'Angelo

Updated Jan 24, 2012 at 08:29 PM

It’s no secret that I love history. And it’s certainly no secret that I really enjoy U.S. presidential history. As a 5-year-old, I was able to recite every president in order (granted, there were only 35 to recall at the time, but you get the idea …). My uncle wanted to put me on “Jeopardy!” but my father refused. We could’ve been rich, Dad ...

So you can imagine how intrigued I am by a limited set that will released next month by Famous Fabrics Ink. It’s called 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, and that of course is the address of the White House in Washington.

Only 240 boxes are being produced, and each box will contain six cards — four base and two cut signature cards. The base cards will be drawn from three different subsets: Presidents, Presidential Couples and Presidential Pets. One card will be a presidential cut signature, and there will be another card that could be a dual cut auto of presidential couples, running mates and “forever linked” pairs.

I know what you’re thinking: what does a presidential card set have to do with sports? Well, some of our chief executives played sports. The elder George Bush played baseball. Ike golfed. Jimmy Carter was a runner. JFK sailed. Richard Nixon bowled. Barack Obama plays basketball. Ronald Reagan played baseball and football (OK, only in films, but he was pretty good in his roles as the Gipper and Grover Cleveland Alexander …).

And Abraham Lincoln wrestled, although it is only a rumor that he learned the spinning toehold from Dory Funk Jr.’s great-grandfather.

Besides, Topps and Upper Deck have put out their own versions of “Americana” sets, so this one fits also should find its own niche among collectors.

The 42-card base set begins with John Adams, the first occupant of the White House, and ends with Obama, the current resident. The Presidential Couples base set is slightly larger at 44 cards, since John Tyler and Woodrow Wilson were married twice. Guess it could have been 42, since Rachel Jackson died before Andrew was inaugurated, and Anna Symmes Harrison never made it to Washington (she was ill and did not make the trip), since William Henry Harrison died 30 days after assuming office. But why quibble?

Rounding out the base set is a 10-card subset of Presidential Pets, including Fala, FDR’s Scottish terrier.

If you’re going to shell out cash for this set (and while I cannot find a price just yet, I am guessing it won’t be too cheap), the cut signatures are going to be the lure. I’ve included two in this blog: the Lincoln cut, and the Dolley Madison (oh, I hope this card is a prototype because her first name is spelled as “Dolly.”).

For more information, go to the company website at www.famousfabrics.com