October Legends Closing November 1
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/2/2014
Presented is the Number 1 All Time Finest PSA/DNA collection of signed checks of the five original Hall of Fame elected members. This five check complete includes cancelled and hand signed checks from Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson, with each graded by PSA/DNA as MINT 9 or GEM MINT 10. All five of these original Hall of Famers are highly desirable, but the Mathewson signed check brings this collection in to a new dimension. Mathewson was infamously poisoned with mustard gas during World War I drills, died several years later in 1925 at Saranac Lake, NY, and actual signatures of The Big Six are extremely rare. None of these beautiful signatures are affected by the usual cancellations, and all checks are completely in the HOFers own hand. Includes: Christy Mathewson – large size check (8.5 x 3 inches), with his name pre-printed on the left. Dated “Oct 15, 1924”, written on Adirondack National Bank of Saranac Lake, NY for “$5.75” paid to “Saranac Lake Village”. Very boldly signed “Christy Mathewson” in black fountain pen. Graded by PSA/DNA as GEM MINT 10. Ty Cobb - large size check (8.125 x 3 inches), with his name pre-printed on the left. Dated “7/10/ 1957”, written on First National Bank of Nevada for “$12.61” paid to “Stanford Laundry Co”. Very boldly signed “Tyrus R. Cobb” in blue ink. Graded by PSA/DNA as GEM MINT 10. Babe Ruth - large size check (8.25 x 3 inches), with his name pre-printed on the left. Dated “April 20, 1941”, written on Chemical Bank of New York for “$100.00” paid to “Cash.” Very boldly signed “GH Ruth” in black fountain pen ink. Unusual but completely unendorsed on the verso. Graded by PSA/DNA as GEM MINT 10. Walter Johnson - small size check (6.25 x 2.75 inches). Dated “March 10, 1944”, written on The Germantown Bank for “$134.10” paid to “The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co”. Very boldly signed “Walter Johnson” in black ink. Graded by PSA/DNA as GEM MINT 10. Honus Wagner - small size check (6.75 x 2.75 inches), but is not his personal check but a company check. Dated “June 14, 1919”, written on Carnegie National Bank of Carnegie, PA for “$10.50” paid to “John Gray, Jr.” Very boldly signed “Carnegie House Defense Fund J. Honus Wagner, Treas” in black ink. Graded by PSA/DNA as MINT 9.While the individual values of these checks are quite significant, the complete collection has to be valued at even a greater amount than the individual value due to the immense challenge of acquiring high grade examples of each of these Hall of Famers, especially Mathewson whose authentic checks are near impossible to locate in this high grade. The Number 1 All Time Finest 1936 Hall of Fame Inductee Cancelled checks collection, grading a superb 9.897 GPA.
This lot has a Reserve Price that has not been met.