Issued by the American Tobacco Company in 1910 and 1911, the Turkey Red series is widely considered the most beautiful sports set ever produced. The set consists of 100 baseball players, listed as T3's and broken into two series (#1-50 and #77-126) with 26 boxers, referred to as T9's, in between. Unlike tiny tobacco cards that were placed in cigarette packs, Turkey Red cards are 5 3/4" x 8" artistic masterpieces that were shipped from the company when 10 coupons from Turkey Red cigarettes or 25 coupons from Fez and Old Mill cigarettes were redeemed. According to the vouchers, you were instructed to list three selections in order of your preference, and that the baseball players would be ready to ship one month earlier than the boxers. Many of the poses for the T3 baseball subjects were also used in the legendary T206 set while the T9 boxers share the same image used in the T218 Champions set. One of the most coveted issues ever produced, these cabinet cards offer a full-color lithography with deep, varying pigments that is unrivaled for eye-appeal, impressiving enthusiasts even in low grades. The collection of featured subjects is equally extraordinary with one of every four, including Home Run Baker (though the image on the card is actually Jack Barry), Chief Bender, Ty Cobb, Eddie Collins, Walter Johnson, Nap Lajoie, Christy Mathewson, Tris Speaker and Cy Young, a member of the baseball Hall of Fame. Even with such a power-packed lineup of players in the T3 series, one cannot help but wonder what a specimen of Shoeless Joe Jackson or Honus Wagner would look like had it been produced, not to mention the astronomical price they would bring in today's market. Four variation cards exist in the set to reflect updated information: Card #28 of Harry McIntrye is found with his team name as either "Brooklyn" or "Now With Chicago Nat'l," #112 Dode Paskert is found as either "Cincinnati" or "Cin. and Phila. Nat'l", #122 Fred Tenney is found as either "N.Y. Nat'l" or "N.Y. and Boston Nat'l" and #90 Mickey Doolan's card has his last name listed as either "Doolin" or "Doolan." The presented set represents one of the finest achievements in the hobby's history, a complete T3 Turkey Red Set that rates #3 Current Finest on the PSA Set Registry, flaunting a robust Grade Point Average of 5.034. Seven of the cards are unique specimens; the one and only example at their grading tier with none rated higher (#45 Jordan/Herzog at First PSA 6, 78 Home Run Baker PSA 6, 83 Bridwell PSA 6, 89 Criger PSA 7, 91 Downey PSA 7, 101 Wee Willie Keeler PSA 7, and 120 Street PSA 6), while 7 are one of just 2 with none graded higher (#16 Evers PSA 6, 77 Ames PSA 6, 100 Jones PSA 5, 102 Kling PSA 6, 104 Lennox PSA 4, 115 Schlei PSA 6, and 116 Schmidt PSA 6), and 14 others reside at the highest tier possible with none graded higher, including Hall of Famers Speaker (PSA 5), Waddell (PSA 6), and Wallace (PSA 6). And then there are the headliners, a trio of amazing specimens in the form of Ty Cobb (PSA 6), Walter Johnson (PSA 5), and Christy Mathewson (PSA 5), that epitomize both the exclusive beauty of the T3 series as well as emphasize the nearly impossible task of amassing such an elite assemblage. Since the set is being offered as a whole and as individual cards, you have the opportunity to examine each specimen, taking note of the astonishing attention to color and detail, the remarkably well-preserved corners and edges, and any minor blemishes that are inevitably going to result from over a century of handling. Whether you're a serious contender for one of these prizes or just appreciate the sheer beauty of the Turkey Red series, we hope you enjoy what this auction has to offer as much as we enjoy bringing it to you. Opportunities like this rarely come along, because a set such as this only exists amongst the world's greatest collections! For a complete card by card breakdown with grade and population information, please visit our website for a link to the PSA Set Registry.
http://www.psacard.com/PSASETREGISTRY/publishedset.aspx?s=78069
At the end of the auction, the set will be sold to the highest aggregate bidding, whether that is the sum of the individual lots or the highest bid for the complete set. Our website will automatically reflect whichever portion has received the highest bidding total. Placing a bid on this lot constitutes bidding on the complete card group.