October Legends
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/2/2013
We sold the famed Jumbo T206 Wagner in our last Goldin Auctions catalog, and we know you wanted it for your collection. But the timing, and the money, just didn’t work out. Here is another chance to acquire the Wagner. Not an actual example of card but a period likeness of Honus, exactly the same as used on the rare T206 Wagner. This classic Carl Horner photograph of Wagner is located at center left, opposite another well-known Hall of Fame likeness from the T206 set, Fred Clarke, also a Carl Horner photo. Horner was one of the premiere photographers back in the early days of baseball, and his portrait shots are legendary, and used to produce many T206 cards. The remaining championship team members (and the various masterminds who assembled this squad) are situated around a large, red-stitched baseball. They include: Abbaticchio, Hyatt, Leach, Miller, Gibson, Powell, Simon, Abstein, Wilson, Byrne, O'Connor, Locke, Barney Dreyfuss, Maddox, Leifield, Leever, Phillippe, Brandom, Frock, Vic Willis, Adams and Camnitz. Dreyfuss was the Pirates owner and Willis is also a Hall of Famer. This baseball comprises the majority of the 16” x 20” paper composite, and is surrounded by "WORLD'S CHAMPIONS PITTSBURGH 1909." If there were any differences of opinions, a sturdy looking buccaneer figure in the lower-left corner appears ready to alter those thoughts. Printed in white along the bottom of the baseball is "Copyright Geo. B. Hess - G.L. Junge, Pittsburgh, PA 1909." At the very bottom of the baseball is a red insignia with “Robert Rawsthorne Engraving, Pittsburgh” within the confines. The composite is within a period style ornate frame measuring 21-3/4” x 25-3/4” and while presentable, this thin offering is not without its issues. A dark stain covers a large portion of the upper left quadrant, and there is a smaller, lighter stain along the right hand side impeding into Clarke’s image. There are a few edge tears plus multiple creases and wrinkles, including one which intersects Wagner’s image. Another wrinkle affects a portion of his name. However, quite a few of the remaining portraits are unaffected. The original cardboard backing, while at one time was likely sturdy enough to handle the job, is now very fragile, and almost completely loose from the frame. All things considered, when the backing is fixed, this framed composite will still display very well. While only a small number of collectors have the opportunity (and the finances) to own a T206 Wagner baseball card, more collectors could certainly vie to own this larger and more substantial Carl Horner Wagner portrait, plus all the other 1909 World Series Pittsburgh Pirate heroes.