The 1935 National Chicle Football set is notoriously difficult to find in high grade, and this Tom Hupke card is a true standout, earning a lofty NM-MT 8 grade from PSA. As the first major gum card issue devoted to professional football, the 36-card set is the foundation of vintage gridiron collecting, with each card back featuring playing tips from Boston Redskins coach Eddie Casey.

Card #12 features Tom Hupke, guard for the Detroit Lions. Hupke starred at the University of Alabama, where he earned All-Southern Conference honors in 1932 and 1933. The front depicts him in a classic defensive lineman's stance, wearing a white leather helmet and royal blue jersey, hands spread and ready to engage, with a row of teammates seated on the bench behind him. The reverse explains the technique illustrated on the front, noting that "Tom Hupke is shown in the typical stance of the defensive line player." Casey advises that "the secret of defense is to get across the scrimmage line first with the snap of the ball," and that "by keeping a man at arms length, the lineman has freedom to move in either direction."

The card displays superb color, with deep blue, bright green and vivid yellow tones that leap off the surface. The corners are sharp and the surfaces are clean. As noted by the PSA qualifier, the card is miscut, with the image sitting slightly askew within the borders, but the overall eye appeal is outstanding. A premium-grade example from the landmark 1935 National Chicle set. Graded NM-MT 8 (MC) by PSA."