Masterpieces and Uncommon Commons XXVIII
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on:
7/30/2010
There are a handful of baseball cards that are the cornerstone of our illustrious hobby. Some of those undoubtedly include the T206 Honus Wagner and Eddie Plank, the Goudey Lajoie and the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle. These magnificent cardboard marvels are the foundation of both the pre and post World War II card markets, with every enthusiast well aware of their desirability and value. There is, however, one other card that while not as valuable as the aforementioned four, is equally distinguished and desirable. The T206 Ty Cobb portrait in both its red and green background versions symbolizes the card hobby with a majestic aura unparalleled by most of its neighboring brethren.
In 1909, the American Tobacco Company (ATC) fully recognized that Tyrus Raymond Cobb was the supreme ball player of the day, and proceeded in issuing four different Cobb subjects in their renowned T206 tobacco card distribution. Two of those poses included Cobb holding a bat while the other two, while relatively similar in value in today’s market, carried a far more majestic Ty Cobb image. The renowned photographer of that era was Carl Horner, whose classic portrait images of baseball’s dead ball era players continue to arguably be the most prestigious baseball photos ever taken. The ATC seized their baseball card marketing concept and utilized many of Horner’s portrait pictures for their lithographs affixed to the T2p6 obverse sides. Because of Cobb’s uncontested popularity and exploits on a baseball diamond, the ATC decided to use Cobb’s Carl Horner headshot on two different cards, with the two different versions carrying solid red and green backgrounds. History was made, with these two cards an eternal foundation of the vintage card hobby.
Whether red or green, no vintage card collection could possibly be complete without at least one of these iconic artifacts included on an enthusiast’s respective checklist, with most high-end collections incorporating both versions. The majestic lithographic Cobb portrait pose is the perfect image to be supported by either of these robust colored hues. With that in mind, presented here is one of the finest “green” background T206 Cobb portrait images, residing in an SGC 86/7.5 holder. Seldom surfacing in this stratospheric grade, SGC has currently encapsulated over 1,300 TOTAL T206 Cobb’s including all four poses. Unfortunately, SGC census report does not distinguish a significant number of the tobacco brand T206 Cobb’s between red/green portrait, “bat on”, or “bat off” versions. Therefore, we must speak to the overall “pop” numbers for all four Cobb poses indicating only 4 other T206 Cobb’s potentially exist at this tier (there are two T206 “red background” Cobb’s indicated on the “pop” report), with only 5 potential copies graded higher. PSA’s population report indicates that of the almost 500 encapsulated green Cobb’s, NONE exist at this tier with only 7 or 1.4% graded higher! Bottom line is the “pop” figures for both prestigious grading companies undeniably validate the extreme paucity of a “near mint+ 7.5 green portrait Ty Cobb, a museum worthy masterpiece seldom surfacing within the hobby.
Cobb’s unparalleled batting achievements including 12 batting titles of which 9 were realized for consecutive seasons are synonymous to the overall aesthetic brilliance of this miraculous century old offering. A virtually flawless bright green background projects his iconic Carl Horner image in an almost “3-D” like fashion, with the facial colored hues providing real life definition to Cobb’s stoic pose. Likewise, a vast array of gray colored palettes assist in providing a lifelike dimension to Cobb’s immortal Detroit uniform. The completely framed image is well centered “side to side”, with the vertical centering somewhat favoring the upper edge. Dazzling white borders, sharp square corners and a flawless surface complete a near perfect obverse side. The reverse side ‘Piedmont Cigarettes 150 Subjects” bold blue advertisement is centered “dead-on” and depicts fine focus with the entire typography set against a clean white surface. Save the moderate off-vertical centering and a diminutively touched imperfect lower right square corner, this card would have unquestionably received the sanctified “NM-MT 88/8” technical grade. However, considering the aforementioned population report data for both SGC and PSA, any encapsulated Cobb at this elevated tier is reason enough to upgrade either your Ty Cobb, Hall of Fame or T206 advanced collections. Aesthetically speaking, it might be quite some time before you find another T206 “Georgia Peach” representation equal to this awe inspiring gem that has miraculously defied “father time” by retaining virtually all of its original pristine qualities!
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