2. Impossibly Rare 1887 N172 Old Judge Cigarettes California League #268-1 Charles Krehmeyer – PSA PR 1(MK)
Considered one of the rarest of all Old Judge cards, Charles Krehmeyer is part of the highly coveted N172 California League cards. The Califor- nia League cards were a special subset of cards issued only in 1889, all but one of which were derived from photographs taken outdoors at the ballpark (the only Old Judge cards besides those of Brooklyn players to be photographed outside). Just 19 different players are known to be part of this subset, and just one is known to have poses outside the California League subset. Almost certainly distributed solely in sparsely populated West Coast markets, the cards are incredibly rare today: in the case of some players, there is just one example known. Indeed the 18 California League players who do not have N172 cards with other teams are con- sidered the 18 “ultimate rarities” in The Photographic Baseball Cards of Goodwin and Co. St. Louis native Charles Krehmeyer played just two seasons in the majors, playing for the Browns in 1884 and splitting 1885 between the Louisville Colonels and the St. Louis Maroons. Records exist showing 12 seasons of pro ball including a stop in Sacramento, with which he is pictured here. The definition of “journeyman,” Krehmeyer played with at least 23 teams in that time period, his Old Judge card the only known card documenting his baseball career. There are likely only three or four examples of this card in existence. California League Old Judges are unbelievably rare and highly prized among advanced collectors. In the past, common players in low grade have reached six figures, as serious hobbyists find these cards to be the most desirable 19th Century cards. They seldom become available for sale; this is the first we have ever handled, and we may never see another. It is a privilege just to have this card in our office! A truly elite rarity, an incredible card, and certainly one of the most important artifacts we have ever offered. MINIMUM BID: $20,000
7
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online