This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/26/2009
As if the advanced Tris Speaker enthusiast didn't already have enough scarce, high-dollar cards to choose from in this auction, here is unquestionably the best one of them all, an impossible E125 American Caramel Die-Cut "Batting" example graded SGC 50 VG/EX 4. This set is so scarce, says the "big book," that it wasn't even known to exist until the late 1960s. PSA has graded a total of just 6 specimens, with no Speaker examples on record, while SGC has graded significantly more, yet not enough to confirm the existence of all 42 cards believed to comprise the set. 1 of just 2 examples in its VG/EX grade with none higher from 5 on record at SGC, you are looking at one of the top 2 finest Speaker examples extant. Measuring nearly 6" tall, it features the legendary Red Sox centerfielder in a relaxed and almost recumbent batting pose, as if captured in the midst of a gentle warm-up swing from within the batters box, with an expression that says something like, "Go ahead, meat. Put it here. Right... here." Powerfully impressed on his right sleeve is an elaborate "B" for Boston, while his hip pocket shows his folded glove just beside his brilliant red belt. I'm not sure what criteria the SGC graders have used to evaluate this seemingly like-new specimen, but it displays no major imperfections: no creases or paper loss, no unsightly stains, and absolutely no traces of advanced wear. The perimeter looks about EX/MT to me, if not better, and both surfaces are clean, save for what may be a tiny spot of black ink impressed over a small red diamond in the extreme bottom right obverse field. A comparison to an altered example that sold through REA for over $7,000 in 2007 shows the same small red diamond, but not the black. As far as I can tell, this is the only feature precluding the offered specimen from perhaps ranking as the single finest example extant from the entire set. Interested bidders should be aware, however, that other E125 examples do in fact display both marks, red and black.