The 1935 National Chicle football set is quite possibly the most important football set ever manufactured. Weighing in at just 36 players the checklist features some of the game"s biggest names first-year cards of virtually every key subject in the set and also contains the hobby"s most valuable and treasured card - the legendary #34 Bronko Nagurski (a featured item in this auction).Featuring colorful art deco artwork that was typical of the "modern" style of the day the overall design of the 1935 football cards was in many ways identical to the National Chicle baseball set of 1934-36 and also very similar to their Sky Birds cards of 1933. Despite being printed on heavy stock high-grade examples are difficult to come by particularly in the scarce high-number series. Evidence suggests that the scarcity of the high number series is due to those cards being available only in the cities where that series" players played. We are thrilled to offer an outstanding selection of high-grade National Chicles including a run of scarce high numbers and a Nagurski in our inaugural auction.A mere look at the grading company population reports will provide a clear illustration of the scarcity of the set"s high numbers. Bears quarterback Bernie Masterson serves as the last card in the set and the final card in an exceedingly difficult high number run that makes the 1935 National Chicle football set so difficult to complete particularly in high grade. Another stellar-looking 7 this Masterson has been bested by just 8 cards in terms of technical grade. Collecting lore preaches that the first and last cards of any set - particularly from the hobby"s golden ages - are more difficult to obtain in high grade than the rest due to being stored at the top and bottom of piles often held in place by rubber bands. This particular Masterson shows no such wear a hobby rarity in a set filled with rarities. A truly difficult card.Population data:PSA Population: