October Legends Closing November 1
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/2/2014
In 1916, the Chicago based printing/publishing company, Felix Mendelssohn, issued a 200 card set of Major League baseball players with black & white photos on the front side and reverse side “blank backs”. They were distributed through the Sporting News publications. One of the most coveted subjects from this popular set is the incomparable Honus Wagner, one of baseball’s charter members of the Hall of Fame. Offered is the Hans Wagner M101-5 Blank Back in unparalleled SGC 84 NM 7 grade. According to the company’s population report, this is the only SGC graded #184 Wagner and, therefore, highest graded specimen in an SGC holder! A check of the PSA pop report indicates only seven graded blank back M101-5 Wagner’s with a single PSA NM 7 equivalent copy. Adding any high end Wagner card to your collection is an enormous feat, but a true highest graded by SGC is certainly chart topping. The black and white batting image radiates with eye appeal with its strong contrast and crisp, unfettered registration. Four super clean “off-white” borders are centered towards the left border, but still provide perfect vertical positioning. Four sharp corners, a near flawless glossy surface and immaculate blank backside are the final high end qualities which remain on this pasteboard. Save for the centering, this offering is, unquestionably, one of the best preserved M101-5’s in existence. Add the fact that it is one of the highest graded M101-5 Wagner’s on the planet, allows justification for going the extra mile in obtaining this highly regarded example. Graded by SGC 84 NM 7.