This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/22/2010
Presented is the hobby's single finest example of Cy Young's charming 1911 D304 Brunners Bread regional issue. Recently graded SGC 84 NM 7, it shares the market's "highest graded" status with one competitor in the NM 7 class over at PSA, a similarly sharp and vibrant example that sold in auction just over a year ago but featured obverse centering no better than 25/75 left-to-right. As anyone can clearly admire from our high resolution scan, the offered Buffalo-area bakery relic of the dead-ball era showcases near perfect centering, like a professionally-framed miniature masterpiece. And indeed it is! Not only is the presented time-capsule the finest of the two highest-graded specimens in the hobby, it's also one of just 2 total Brunners Bread examples to grade NM 7 at SGC, with just one higher from the entire submission pool. PSA, on the other hand, reports a record of 10 total D304 Brunners examples in the NM 7 category, with 14 higher, yet both firms have graded comparable quantities of the issue, 259 at SGC and 234 at PSA. Looking at these numbers, and judging by PSA's centering tolerance on the lone PSA 7 D304 example of Cy Young, which can be found online, I think it's safe to proudly proclaim the offered Young not only the champion of the two finest-graded examples extant but also one of the very finest examples from the entire D304 issue, comprehensive of all five backs and recognizing the existence of the 14 superior NM/MT 8s and 8.5s over at PSA, almost all of which also sold in auction just over a year ago and produced some of the biggest sales tags in recent memory. Microtouches to the very tips of all corners of the offered example appear to be the primary catalyst for the NM opinion from SGC, as almost every other facet appears to at least approach NM/MT, if not significantly higher: predominantly clean NM+ surfaces, NM/MT to NM/MT+ edges, and a brilliantly registered and MINT image of the then Boston Rustler, depicted in the final season of his immortal, untouchable, record-in-stone-carving, 22-year career. For accuracy's sake, note some minor toning and a minuscule red print dot in the deeply and evenly saturated yellow obverse backdrop as well as a mildly scuffed area along the reverse lower border, which shows some microscopically fine fibers almost imperceptibly lifted from the cardstock. Also note, however, the delightful accuracy of the fine, black image outlines and the bold red of Cy's sox, the contrast of the image, and especially the surprisingly expressive countenance of the central subject, whose lifted chin exudes a gentle air of confidence perfectly appropriate for the game's most prolific pitcher as featured on perhaps his final trading card issued during his playing days. Nearly 100 years later, we are proud to offer what we sincerely believe is the finest-surviving example extant.