Cover to the first edition
AuthorJefferson Burdick
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SubjectTrading cards
GenreCollecting
PublishedSyracuse, New York
Publication date
1939 (as The United States Card Collectors Catalog)
Media typePrint
Pages90

The American Card Catalog: The Standard Guide on All Collected Cards and Their Values is a reference book for American trading cards produced before 1951, compiled by Jefferson Burdick.[1] Some collectors regard the book as the most important in the history of collectible cards.[2]

First published in 1939 as The United States Card Collectors Catalog, subsequent editions of the ACC came in 1946 (when it was renamed), 1953 and 1960. Only 500 catalogs were printed in 1939, increasing to 3,000 in its last edition of 1960.[3]

It has become the de facto method in identifying and organizing trade cards produced in the Americas pre-1951. The book catalogues sports and non-sports cards, but is best known for its categorization of baseball cards. Sets like 1909-11 White Borders, 1910 Philadelphia Caramel’s, and 1909 Box Tops are most commonly referred to by their ACC catalogue numbers. They are, respectively, T206, E95, and W555.

The following is a list of card classifications in which baseball cards are found. Two examples of each type have been listed.

Card Classifications

N-Cards (19th Century Tobacco)

Examples

D-Cards (Bakery/Bread)

Examples

E-Cards (Caramel)

Examples

F-Cards (Food -Ice Cream & Dairy)

Examples

M-Cards (Publications)

Examples

R-Cards (Gum)

Examples

T-Cards (20th Century Tobacco)

Examples

W-Cards (Strip Cards / Exhibits)

Examples

WG-Cards (Game Cards)

Examples

V-cards/C-Cards (Non-United States Cards)

Examples

References