Thick stock[2]
National Chicle cards use thick stock that chips at the edges and corners. Surface scuffing is common.
Defunct
National Chicle
National Chicle produced the 1935 football set and the Diamond Stars baseball series, two of the most collected 1930s issues.
National Chicle at a glance
National Chicle produced the 1935 football set and the Diamond Stars baseball series, two of the most collected 1930s issues.
Full history, sources and grading notes below. Last verified · Published · Confidence: Medium
Company history
The 1935 football set[1][2]
National Chicle’s 1935 football set is widely regarded as the first great football card issue. It includes early cards of Bronko Nagurski, Knute Rockne and other legends, and its large colour portraits set it apart from contemporary baseball cards.
Diamond Stars and non-sport[2][3]
The Diamond Stars baseball series, issued from 1934 to 1936, used a bold art-deco design and a deep major-league checklist. National Chicle also published aviation and entertainment sets before leaving the card market in the early 1940s.
Timeline
Dated milestones with a source for each event. Hover a marker for the short label; the list below carries the detail.
View timeline events
| Year | Event | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1933 | Company active | National Chicle begins issuing cards from Cambridge, Massachusetts. |
| 1934 | Diamond Stars | The Diamond Stars baseball series launches with an art-deco design. |
| 1935 | Football landmark | The 1935 National Chicle football set becomes the era’s defining football issue. |
| 1941 | Production ends | The company leaves the card market. |
- 1933Company active[1]
National Chicle begins issuing cards from Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- 1934Diamond Stars[2]
The Diamond Stars baseball series launches with an art-deco design.
- 1935Football landmark[2]
The 1935 National Chicle football set becomes the era’s defining football issue.
- 1941Production ends[1]
The company leaves the card market.
Brand identity
Image archive
Local, provenance-recorded images. Captions and source credits are part of the record; a missing section is shown as an explicit gap rather than filled with a placeholder.
Card fronts & backs
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Notable sets
Grading notes
How this manufacturer's stock, cutting and production method affect the four grading pillars.
Centring[1]
The art-deco borders make centring easy to judge and hard to find perfect. Slight offsets are normal.
How to identify National Chicle cards
1933-1941[1]
The National Chicle name and Cambridge address appear on the back; Diamond Stars carry a distinctive art-deco frame.
1935 football[1]
The large colour portraits and football-specific checklist identify the 1935 football set.
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Frequently asked questions
When did National Chicle start making cards?
National Chicle began issuing cards in 1933.
Who owns National Chicle now?
National Chicle is defunct; its brand assets have changed hands over time.
What is National Chicle known for?
National Chicle produced the 1935 football set and the Diamond Stars baseball series, two of the most collected 1930s issues.
Sources & methodology
Every factual claim in the profile is tied to the numbered sources below. Translated sources are tagged with their original language. Media provenance is recorded per image; images are stored locally and credited to their source.
- Wikipedia: National Chicle (accessed 2026-11-07 · EN)
- PSA CardFacts: 1935 National Chicle (accessed 2026-11-07 · EN)
- Wikipedia: Diamond Stars (accessed 2026-11-07 · EN)
Unverified or incomplete
- Text-first draft; media, design evolution and people/place sections are pending.
Cite this profile
PreGradeCards Research. “National Chicle.” Card Manufacturers Directory. Last verified 2026-11-07. https://pregradecards.com/manufacturers/national-chicle
Found an error? Report a correction with the source you are relying on.
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