in several areas on the card front. Similar toning and marking, along with some light paper loss, can be observed on the back. Conversely, the card is sharp, with four square corners, and none of the surface creasing that is consistent with handling. As is the case with all significant hobby rarities, the technical grade, however, is of little importance. Most collectors wishing to own one do not have the luxury of being selective, as only a couple of dozen examples exist, at most.
At the time of this card’s discovery, only a dozen or so examples of a T206 Cobb with Cobb Back were known to exist. Even today, decades later, the card is the most rare of all T206 cards - certainly more rare than the extremely valuable Wagner and Plank cards. An extremely important piece - one that helped solidify that theory that the card was distributed inside the tins of Ty Cobb Smoking Tobacco, auctioned in 2009 by one of the hobby’s great pioneers. In a class by itself, one of the hobby’s most significant rarities.
MINIMUM BID: $10,000
7. c.1880’s Macintyre Bros. Studio Sam Thompson (HOF) Cabinet Photo - SGC FR 1.5
Magnificent cabinet photo featuring Hall of Fame outfielder Sam Thompson posing for a studio portrait, courtesy of the MacIntire Brothers studio of Philadelphia. Photographer James A. MacIntire maintained his studio at 1528 Ridge Avenue in Philadelphia between 1885 and 1890, which theoretically increases the likelihood that the photo was taken between 1889 and 1890, after Thompson was purchased from the Detroit Wolverines in October of 1888. While it is certainly possible that Thompson had this photo taken while he was traveling to Philadelphia with the Wolverines, that ballclub was no stranger to photography studios, as the Tomlinson Studio was responsible for many Wolverines studio photos between 1886 and 1887. Thompson was a big right fielder who averaged nearly 1.5 RBI per game in his career, batting .331 lifetime with 126 lifetime home runs. With good speed and great power for his day, Thompson was baseball’s first 20/20 man, his lifetime home run total ranking second all-time behind Roger Connor at the end of the 19th Century. Thompson still ranks among the all-time leaders with 61 double plays from the outfield. This cabinet photo, part of a recent discovery of 19th Century baseball photos, is a gorgeous one, with very few imperfections, and virtually zero issues with the photo. The gold leaf edges are still intact and virtually new in appearance, the photo exhibiting virtually no wear or surface issues. Extremely close examination of the reverse reveals what could be very light glue staining and mild discoloration from being mounted in an album for many years. That same album preserved the photo, which exhibits no foxing or image fade, and appears virtually new. Simply a stunning example of a rare cabinet, one of just two examples we have encountered, featuring one of the most important players of the 19th Century. MINIMUM BID: $2,500
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