Some of the notable cards in the series include baseball players Charles Comiskey, Cap Anson, and Jack Glasscock, as well as non-athletes like Buffalo Bill Cody.

James Buchanan Duke did buy this cigarette rolling machine in 1885 and used it to great success; by 1890 he had consolidated his four major competitors, including Allen & Ginter, and formed the American Tobacco Company.

[3] In 1887, Allen & Ginter released its iconic "World's Champions[9]" set, featuring not only baseball players but also athletes from various sports and notable public figures.

[11] Players like Cap Anson and King Kelly became some of the earliest sports celebrities,[citation needed] immortalized through Allen & Ginter’s cards.

[12] Allen & Ginter's influence extended beyond just baseball, inspiring future tobacco companies and card manufacturers to produce similar sets.

Nevertheless, the first couple of years of the product's inception saw the inclusion of several other sports figures such as Jennie Finch (softball), Brandi Chastain and Mia Hamm (soccer), Hulk Hogan (wrestling), Danica Patrick (auto racing), Leon Spinks (boxing), Randy Couture (mixed martial arts), Misty May-Treanor (beach volleyball) and Dennis Rodman (basketball).

Non-sports trading cards issued by Topps included personalities such as Robert E. Lee, Thomas Edison, Billy the Kid and Andrew Carnegie, Davy Crockett, among others.

Invented by hobby shop owner and Topps consultant Alan Narz,[16] Rip Cards have been a part of every Allen & Ginter product since 2006.