Collect Allen & Ginter Fish Cards: Vintage, 2025 Inserts & More

The Greatest Allen & Ginter Fish Cards

Date: Dec 1, 2025

Topics: 2025 Topps Allen & Ginter Baseball, fish, Product, Topps Allen & Ginter, Trending

Length: 1080 Words

Reading Time: ~6 Minutes

Before baseball cards became a cultural staple, the origins of Allen & Ginter trading cards were rooted in something far more diverse — and surprisingly aquatic. Founded in the late 1800s as a Richmond-based tobacco company, Allen & Ginter produced some of the earliest collectible cards as pack inserts, featuring everything from famous actors to exotic animals.

Among these beautifully lithographed sets, the “Fish from American Waters” and other aquatic-themed series stood out for their vivid artistry and natural history appeal. These cards not only captured the fascination of a growing public for the natural world but also laid the foundation for the eclectic and educational spirit that continues in modern Allen & Ginter releases.

Today, the fish cards — both vintage originals and contemporary tributes — remain favorites among collectors for their blend of artistry, rarity, and historical charm.

Allen & Ginter fish cards — spanning 1889 to modern Topps releases — blend vivid natural history art with collector nostalgia. From vintage lithographs to contemporary inserts like Swamp Creatures, Deep Sea Shiver, and Fish from the Global Waters, these cards showcase species traits, scientific facts, and the eclectic spirit that defines Allen & Ginter.

2024 Topps Allen & Ginter Baseball Mini Swamp Creatures #SC-20 Redfish

Fish Fact

• a black spot near their tail helps them fool predators by making it look like the fish has another eye, allowing for a quick escape

Set Info

• swamp creatures is a 30-card insert

what they Say

• “due to the fact that they are prevalent in so many U.S. states, and are so popular, I sure don’t have a problem with calling them ‘America’s fish’ in this day and age.” – Blane Chocklett, Fly Fisherman Magazine

2021 Topps Allen & Ginter Baseball Deep Sea Shiver #DSS-7 Lemon Shark

fish Fact

• Originally named Hypoprion brevirostris in 1868 by Felipe Poey, then renamed to Negaprion brevirostris

Set Info

• Deep sea shiver is a 16-card insert

what they Say

• “Lemon sharks are found in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, from Virginia to southern Brazil, as well as parts of the Pacific. These sharks prefer a defined home range and are often seen aggregating together.” – oceana

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1889 N8 Allen & Ginter 50 Fish from American Waters Flounder

fish Fact

• Flounders are usually brown in color, with various red, orange, green and blue markings on the body. They can change their color in a matter of seconds to blend in better to their environment.

Set Info

• 50-card set

what they Say

• “Like other flatfish species, halibut and sole, flounder are known for their particular body shape and their eyes on just one side of their head.” – guidesly

2024 Topps Allen & Ginter Baseball Mini Batoids Beneath #RITW-3 Electric Ray

fish Fact

• capable of producing an electric discharge up to 220 volts

Set info

• Mini batoids beneath is a 10-card insert

what they Say

• “You can recognize them by their round, flabby bodies, tiny eyes, a gray or bluish-gray back with black spots, and a white underside.” – monterey bay aquarium

2017 Topps Allen and Ginter Baseball Sport Fish and Lures #SFL-3 Bluegill

fish Fact

• fresh water fish that will occasionally venture into slightly salty water

Set Info

• sport fish and lures is a 20-card insert

what they Say

• “The bluegill eats a variety of small organisms, including insects, crayfish and bits of vegetation. They prefer quiet, slow-moving waters with lots of vegetation and a sandy, muddy or gravel bottom.” – The chesapeake bay Program

2017 Topps Allen and Ginter Baseball Sport Fish and Lures #SFL-13 Sailfish

fish Fact

• can reach an estimated speed of up to 68 mph

Set Info

• sport fish and lures is a 20-card insert

what they Say

• “Sailfish are considered the fastest fish in the sea.” – OCeana

2025 Topps Allen & Ginter Baseball 50 Fish From the Global Waters #FGW-16 Seahorse

Fish Fact

• Male seahorses carry babies and give birth

Set Info

• 50 fish from the global waters is a 50-card insert

what they Say

• “They are the slowest-moving of all fish species because of an impeccably tiny fin in the middle of their backs being the only way to propel themselves. This one little fin can beat back and forth up to 50 times a second, but the size of the fin keeps it from making much progress when it comes down to distance traveled.” – ocean conservancy

2025 Topps Allen & Ginter Baseball 50 Fish From the Global Waters #FGW-5 Goldfish

Fish Fact

• native to eastern asia

Set Info

• 50 fish from the global waters is a 50-card insert

what they Say

• “It was one of the first aquatic invasive species to reach North America, arriving in the 1600s as an ornamental fish for aquariums and water gardens. It is now one of the world’s most widespread invasive species.” – Pennsylvania Sea Grant

Allen & Ginter Fish Cards FAQs

Why are Allen & Ginter fish cards so collectible?
- Collectors love them for their combination of vivid artwork and unique subjects rarely found in mainstream sports sets. From vintage N8 lithographs to modern inserts, fish cards add variety and educational appeal to Allen & Ginter releases.
What’s the oldest fish-themed Allen & Ginter set?
- The earliest and most iconic is the 1889 N8 “Fish from American Waters” series. These 50 lithographed cards remain highly sought after for their artistic quality and historical significance to the trading card hobby.
Are fish inserts typically rare in Allen & Ginter releases?
- Most appear as short themed inserts rather than base cards, meaning they’re printed in smaller quantities. While not always numbered, these inserts are popular with completionists and collectors who focus on non-sport subjects.
How does the 2025 Global Waters insert expand the fish theme?
- The 50-card Global Waters checklist broadens A&G’s aquatic focus to species from around the world — including seahorses and goldfish — adding global biodiversity to the brand’s long-running fish tradition.
Which modern A&G product includes the Redfish card?
- The Redfish appears in 2024 Topps Allen & Ginter as part of the Mini Swamp Creatures insert, a 30-card checklist highlighting unusual aquatic and swamp-dwelling species.