Masterpieces and Uncommon Commons XXV
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on:
2/12/2010
You will get no arguments from any advanced 19th century collector regarding the esteemed and obscure status of the 1887 Kalamazoo Bats cigarette cards produced by the Philadelphia cigarette manufacturer Charles Gross & Co. Highly coveted by advanced enthusiasts, these ultra scarce artifacts seldom surface in any condition. While player subjects (N690) and team cards (N693) are scarce, virtually impossible to find are the oversized player 4-1/4” x 6-1/2” cabinet cards that were issued to the general public as a cigarette premium. Hold that thought because presented here is, indeed, an 1887 Kalamazoo Bat Cabinet card of the Philadelphia Nationals right fielder Jim Fogarty in an eye pleasing SGC 20/1.5 holder. The scarcity of this offering cannot be overemphasized, with the SGC and PSA “pop” charts solidifying this notion. This offering is the SOLE Fogarty Kalamazoo Bats Cabinet recorded on either company’s census report. Furthermore, of the total 38 subjects listed in the SCD Standard Catalog, SGC and PSA, combined, have only encapsulated a meager 3 other Kalamazoo Bat Cabinet specimens!
Every advanced 19th century collector just may have to “take a ticket” and stand in line for this absolutely miraculous cabinet artifact! Simply stated, Kalamazoo Bat Cabinet cards practically never surface, let alone one that depicts a splendid array of vintage luster. What an imposing full body sepia-toned image of the long forgotten Philadelphia 2nd baseman as he holds a bat over his right shoulder. Equally impressive is the by-gone era style stadium backdrop that serves as the perfect setting for this 122 year old memento. The real photo image does not appear to portray any obtrusive creasing, and only some moderate staining and foxing is evident at the lower juncture where the photo meets the pink toned cardboard mount. Minimal damage is realized along the edging and the reverse side standard pink blank surface is super clean. While the upper two corners reflect mid-grade quality, the lower right corner depicts some layering and creasing. The glaring technical stigma accounting for the grade is a partially removed lower left corner, with the outer most corner edge now configured to a 45 degree angular shape. Save the left corner, all remaining visual aspects point to a “VG” example, and most significantly the eye appeal of the museum worthy photo is consistent with a mid-grade copy. Yet, due to this offering’s unequivocal paucity, we feel it unnecessary to focus on the grading scenario since a greater emphasis should be placed on its potentially unique existence.
While most would agree that there are a number of un-graded/un-recorded rare 19th century cards safely secured in some of the most prominent collections, we highly doubt that an abundance of them include the Jim Fogarty Kalamazoo Bats Cabinet. What we can attest to is that this Fogarty cabinet is, indeed, the ONLY one listed on any grading company’s population listing which is an uncontestable testament to its ultra-obscurity. Regardless of the player subject, 19th century cabinet cards continue to soar in desirability and value, and based on the “Economics 101” philosophy of “demand exceeding supply”, we fully expect this trend to continue. If you happen to be one of those elite 19th century purists who only pursues the scarcest cardboard remnants, than this extraordinary Fogarty cabinet card will be the perfect prize to continue elevating your collection to a stratospheric level!
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