The 1940 Gum Inc Lone Ranger trading cards came out at a time when the Western hero’s popularity was high. Whether it was over the radio, in theaters via serial films or any other type of medium, “Hi-Yo, Silver!” was near the forefront of American popular culture at the time.
The set, which is also referred to as Lone Ranger R83, has 48 cards. Each measures 2 1/2 x 3 1/8, which is slightly smaller than modern trading cards.
Fronts have beautiful illustrations. They’re rich, detailed and in blazing color. At a time when moving images were still in black and white and radio was a dominant form of entertainment, these offered a departure from other Lone Ranger interpretations.
1940 Gum Inc Lone Ranger card backs offer vivid descriptions of the action on the front. Each stands on their own, offering plenty of adventures for the titular hero, Silver and Tonto.
While not the rarest set on the market, the final 12 cards (#37 through 48) are acknowledged as short prints. Some speculate that #24 to 36 are also short prints.
Printing technology wasn’t nearly as advanced in 1940 as it is today. Many 1940 Lone Ranger trading cards suffer from discoloration. Issues with centering and printing lines can also be found.
R83-2 Lone Ranger Premiums
In addition to the 48 trading cards, Cards Inc. also had a wrapper redemption for five different 8 x 10 premiums. Through the offer, collectors could send in five wrappers and three cents for one of the stunning illustrations. Two pictures were ten wrappers and a nickel. Twenty wrappers and ten cents could be exchanged for four premiums while 25 wrappers and a dime got the entire set. The R83-2 Lone Ranger premiums are extremely rare today and command big prices.
Even the original packaging carries significant value today. An empty 1940 Gum Inc. Lone Ranger box sold in July, 2016 for $2,468.02 via Hake’s Auctions. Wrappers are also in high demand.
Gum Inc. started working on a follow-up series of Lone Ranger trading cards. Over the years, unused artwork surfaced for the planned set that was never published. The company had an even bigger hit with Superman, which became a bigger priority. Dart FlipCards ended up using 12 of the pieces for a 1997 Lone Ranger release.
1940 Gum Inc Lone Ranger Trading Cards Checklist
Base Set
48 cards.
1 A Silver Bullet Stops a Hanging
2 Tonto and the Secret Mine
3 Tonto’s Race with Death
4 The Giant Ghost
5 The Wrecked Stagecoach
6 Ghouls at Work
7 Poisoned Waters
8 Hawk’s Prey
9 The Fight over the Water Hole
10 The Substitute Dispatch Bearer
11 The Run-Away Herd
12 The Lasso Duel
13 The Counter Attack
14 The Underground River
15 The Tree Trap
16 Silver Charges the Horse Thieves
17 The Interrupted Coach Robbery
18 Barrier of Fire
19 The Burning Shack
20 Thirsty Burros
21 Saving Tonto’s Scalp
22 Firebrands on the Ledge
23 Threatening Hoofs
24 Smoke Signals
25 A Double Hold-up
26 The Vicious Circle
27 Midnight Branding Party
28 Trial of the Killer
29 Blasted Canyon
30 Tonto in War Paint
31 Dead Man’s Leap
32 The Phantom Rider
33 Paradise Regained
34 Fire Trap
35 The Haunted House
36 The Cattle Rush
37 His Father’s Son SP
38 Broken Windows SP
39 Smugglers’ Love Letters SP
40 A Piece of Gingham SP
41 The Price of Sealed Lips SP
42 Storming the Indian Camp by Night SP
43 The Bank Bandits SP
44 Round-up Time in Prairie Gulch SP
45 Horseshoes for Bad Luck SP
46 Gun Girl SP
47 The Rescue of the Wagon Train SP
48 Silver’s Vigil SP
R83-2 Lone Ranger Premiums
5 premiums. Each measures 8 x 10. Were available through a mail-away offer.
1 Tonto Saves the Lone Ranger
2 The Lone Ranger Licks Kester
3 The Lone Ranger Rescues Joan at the Pit
4 Tonto Fights Off the Troopers
5 The Lone Ranger Foils a Murderer
