The world of hockey cards can be divided into four major eras since cardboard first began being inserted into cigarette packages in the early 1900's.
The first era of hockey cards was hit and miss. From 1910 until the 1930's, cards were not consistently produced every year. They were produced by several different companies. The size of the card varied and didn't get set at today's standard until O-Pee-Chee came onto the market.
In the 1930’s, the standard card size was produced by O-Pee-Chee. 1933-34 was a stellar year for hockey cards with O-Pee-Chee and others producing several different sets. This year was primed for Howie Morenz of the Montreal Canadiens. Several of the sets included Morenz cards with the current values now in the thousands.
Parkhurst brought on the second era of hockey card collecting in 1951-52. This set is known for the rookie cards of both Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings and Rocket Richard of the Montreal Canadiens. Gordie Howe's rookie card is valued at up to $3000 by Beckett Hockey Monthly and is one of a trio of must-have cards fro the second era. The other three, of equal value are the rookie cards of Bobby Hull of the Chicago Black Hawks and Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins.
With the 1951-52 Parkhurst series, a steady reliable production of cards began. Until O-Pee-Chee made its return in the late 1960’s, Parkhurst and Topps both produced a series each year, splitting the six teams between the two companies.
The third era started like the second with the inclusion of one of the hobby's most important pieces. The 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee and Topps rookie card number 18 of Wayne Gretzky sparked an expansion of interest in the hobby. Throughout the 1980’s, the potential gold mine value of hockey cards was being recognized throughout the continent. Older hockey cards that were once considered childish, were now being valued in the hundreds and thousands of dollars in some cases.
Pro Set brought about the fourth era in 1990. This is an era considered to be a dark period by serious vintage card collectors. Pro Set, and other upstart companies, flooded the market with what amouted to crap. Twenty years later, ProSet cards from their first series are worth less now that in 1990. To completely understand what happened after 1990 in the hockey card world, simply read a copy of Beckett Hockey Monthly. From 1910 until 1989-90, all the hockey cards are listed in about six pages of the Beckett Price Guide. The following 20 plus years has some single years taking up several pages.
