The 1910 Turkey Red Automobile Series (T37), issued by the American Tobacco Company for their Turkey Red Turkish Cigarettes, stands as one of the most iconic and earliest dedicated trading card sets focused on automobiles. This 50-card tobacco insert set, measuring about 2″ x 2⅝” with colorful lithographed fronts, captured the dawn of the motorcar era around 1910 by showcasing a vibrant mix of production touring cars, electric vehicles, and high-performance racers from both American and international manufacturers. Highlights include enduring brands like Ford, Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile, and Packard, alongside now-defunct or lesser-known names such as Locomobile, REO, Alco, and Stearns. The artwork depicted the vehicles in dynamic or scenic settings, reflecting the excitement of emerging automotive technology, road travel, and early motorsport. Uniform backs featured the Turkey Red branding and a full checklist of all 50 subjects. As a promotional premium tucked into cigarette packs, the set served as a visual time capsule of an industry rapidly transitioning from novelty to everyday fascination, making it highly sought after today by collectors of pre-war tobacco cards and vintage automobile memorabilia.
1910 Turkey Red “Automobile Series” (T37)
1910 Turkey Red “Automobile Series” (T37)