1977 Topps BLANK-FRONT PROOF #111 Rico Petrocelli (Red Sox)

Like baseball cards, boxing cards have been produced in this country since the 1880's. First in tobacco products, later in gum and candy. Unlike baseball cards, boxing cards have been produced in many countries around the world.

In 1910 Mecca and Hassan tobacco companies put out colorful boxing sets with names like: Jack Johnson, Jim Jeffries, John L. Sullivan & Jim Corbett. In 1951 Topps joined in with a fairly large card set they called "Ringside".

Gateway Stamp Company has provided collectors well over 1 MILLION authenticated certified autographs over the last 30 years.
Silk Cachets from Gateway Stamp Company
Even though a "stamp company", Gateway rarely dealt in stamps, going down a new and creative road becoming one of the world's most unique secrets in autograph collecting combining the best in art, color photographs, history and autographs with their full-color silk cachet envelopes. Gateway's first client was Cardinals Hall of Famer Lou Brock with hundreds to follow.

WHAT ARE FULL-COLOR SILK CACHETS?
A "cachet" is a message or design on an envelope marking a postal event. "Full-color silk" refers to the delicate material into which the original art and photography are printed. After which each silk is applied to the envelope, signed by the player and then officially post-marked by the U.S. Post Office IN THE CITY OF THE EVENT !!!

WHY POSTMARKS?
The key to EVERY Gateway cachet is the postmark.The best way to mark a date in history is with a postmark. The rules governing the granting of postmarks GUARANTEE that NO Gateway issue can EVER be re-issued protecting the value of the autographed, postmarked cachets !!!

The 1969-1970 Topps Basketball set, (99) "Tall Boys" (a huge 2-1/2 x 4-11/16) , sold in 10-card packs for 10 cents, was history making in card size & players. WOW !!! Lew Alcindor's ROOKIE (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), John Havlicek, Dave Bing, Earl the Pearl Monroe, Bill Bradley, Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Elvin Hayes & more.

Brightly-colored "Rulers" were random inserts. Delicate 2-1/2 x 9-7/8, printed on thin paper, they featured a cartoon drawing and a ruler measuring his height. Planned for 24, #5 Bill Russell was not issued.