Civil War News
Civil War News was a set of collectible trading cards issued in the early 1960s by Topps. The set featured the colorful artwork of Norman Saunders, as well as three other artists, and was characterized by vivid colors; graphic depictions of violence, death, and blood (number 21 "Painful Death" being a prime example) and exaggerations of warfare. On the reverse, each card contained a brief history of a campaign, battle, or person presented in a newspaper article like fashion, complete with headline.
The complete set consists of 88 cards, including a checklist, and was first printed for the United States market in 1962 to coincide with the centennial of the Civil War. A similar series with the same artwork was later issued in Canada, and A&BC produced a similar set in England, plus a french language version for sale in France. A Spanish version was issued by Topps in 1968, with predominantly different artwork. The cards were issued five to a wax pack, and were accompanied by facsimiles of paper currency of the Confederate States of America. The original selling price was a nickel per package. Topps later issued the cards in cellophane-wrapped strips ("cello packs").
Note: Since 1989 a monthly newspaper titled Civil War News has been published by Historical Publications, Inc. in Tunbridge, Vermont. See web site.
Checklist of Confederate currency
- #01 - $1 Bill - Type One
- #02 - $1 Bill - Type Two
- #03 - $2 Bill - Type One
- #04 - $2 Bill - Type Two
- #05 - $5 Bill - Type One
- #06 - $5 Bill - Type Two
- #07 - $5 Bill - Type Three
- #08 - $10 Bill - Type One
- #09 - $10 Bill - Type Two
- #10 - $20 Bill - Type One
- #11 - $20 Bill - Type Two
- #12 - $20 Bill - Type Three
- #13 - $50 Bill - Type One
- #14 - $50 Bill - Type Two
- #15 - $100 Bill - Type One
- #16 - $500 Bill - Type One
- #17 - $1000 Bill - Type One