Love of the Game Auctions Fall, 2018 Catalog

has been an extraordinary level of demand on the rare occasion that a card becomes available, and extremely high prices realized. Presented here is a magnificent example of Hall of Famer John Ward, a crisp, clean card with outstanding image quality that, at first glance, appears to be a VG/EX card. The existence of a John Ward card in this issue is a relatively recent discovery; this particular card only became known to the hobby in 2005. The example has been encapsulated as AUTHENTIC by SGC, however, with restoration

noted. When the card was initially discovered in 2005, the Four Base Hits ad at the bottom border had been removed. Very careful and painstaking professional restoration has reattached a Four Base Hits ad from a more common actress card. The work is exemplary, careful to maintain the integrity of the original card and remain respectful of the rarity of the set, while utilizing original components to restore the card to its original form. As part of the restoration, some light cleaning has also been employed to remove light soiling from the card surface. Extraneous and unnecessary restoration was not employed, however, as one can still see the signs of paper loss on the reverse from scrapbook removal. This is one of just two examples of John Ward’s Four Base Hits card known; the other has never been made available for public sale but did sell privately for more than $200,000 several years ago. A very similar Kalamazoo Bats Ward, which utilized the identical photo and is identical in size, sold in 2008 for $141,000. On the rare occasion that a Hall of Famer from the issue makes itself available publicly, collector demand is invariably strong, pushing the sale price to new heights. Please note that this card is being offered with a modest reserve, well within the range of past sale prices and consistent with past sales of this very card. As is the case with any item offered with a reserve, we will publish the exact dollar figure of the reserve within approximately 7 days of the auction close, provided that the reserve has not been met prior to that date. An extraordinary card from one of the hobby’s most rare and highly desirable 19th Century issues, one of very few Hall of Famers known to exist. One of the most important baseball cards we have ever had the privilege of offering. MINIMUM BID: $6,000.00

3 Incredible 1887 Four Base Hits John Ward (HOF) - One Of Just Two Known Examples! Four Base Hits cards are considered among the most important rarities in the hobby; the beautiful photographic cards are similar in appearance to the Kalamazoo Bats cards and also have design (if not size) similarities to the Yum Yum Tobacco issue of 1888. The cards have become legendary in the hobby due to their rarity as well as due to player selection; of 18 different subjects known, six are Hall of Famers, and of those players, several boast just one known specimen. The result

Fall 2018 Premier Auction – Closes November 24, 2018

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