12. 1886 N167 Old Judge Cigarettes Tim Keefe (HOF) – SGC GOOD 2
Outstanding, freshly-graded card of Hall of Fame pitcher Tim Keefe from the extremely rare N167 Old Judge set. The card was part of a 12-card set issued in 1886 by Goodwin & Co., each card featuring a member of the New York National League ballclub. The 1 1/2” x 2 1/2” cards were printed on very thin paper, each featuring an illustrated portrait derived from woodcut images made from photographs taken by Joseph Wood. Each portrait is set against a gray back- ground, the brand “Old Judge” featured on the card front, and an ornate Old Judge advertise- ment printed on the reverse. Half of the issue’s subjects would ultimately be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. They are extraordinarily rare, to the point where just one complete set is known to have existed, with two of the cards in that set being the only known examples. We are unbeliev- ably fortunate to offer three different specimens in our Spring, 2026 auction. This example is a stunner, graded GOOD 2 by SGC, certainly a higher grade by N167 standards. Only about 50 examples have been graded; some likely crossed from one grading company to another without removing the original from the population report. The eye appeal of this exam- ple is outstanding, some corner rounding, and very light surface wrinkles near the top, keeping the card from a higher holder. Some light staining is visible on the reverse upon close inspection, along with some very minor pinkish discoloration, all likely the result of long-ago scrapbook mounting that did a fabulous job of protecting the card front. An incredible card featuring a key Hall of Famer from Goodwin & Co.’s first attempt at baseball cards. MINIMUM BID: $5,000
13. 1886 N167 Old Judge Cigarettes Jim O’Rourke (HOF) – PSA GOOD 2
Sensational example of Orator Jim O’Rourke’s N167 Old Judge card, one of just five known ex- amples graded with very few in existence, if any, beyond those. The card has been graded GOOD 2, due to surface discoloration at the bottom corners, along with more pronounced staining on the reverse. All the discoloration is likely the result of scrapbook adhesives; that same scrapbook did a wonderful job of protecting the image. The N167 cards measure 1 1/2” x 2 1/2” and were Goodwin & Co’s first foray into baseball cards. Each card features an illustrated portrait of a New York Nationals player, derived from a Joseph Wood portrait photo. Each of the set’s 12 cards features a portrait against a gray background, each example artfully rendered. The cards are rare enough that at least two of the cards only have one known example; as a result we are aware of just one complete set that has ever been assembled. We are thrilled to offer three different examples in this auction, an embarrassment of riches as it took us more than a decade in business before we handled our first example. Despite the staining at the bottom, the eye appeal of the card is tremendous, an incredibly rare card of a key New York Hall of Famer. MINIMUM BID: $5,000
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