(LOT 14)
1909 T206 DRUM Clark Griffith "Batting" (PSA 4) - One of ONLY 4 PSA Encapsulated Copies!
Assembling T206 "rare backs" stands as one of the most fascinating collecting angles in the vintage market. With 16 different cigarette brands to choose from as well as a myriad of diverse "Series" counts and "Factory" distributions, it is a seemingly infinite quest to gather every possibly variation. For that reason, many enthusiasts may consolidate their search to advertisement variations for prominent Hall of Famers. Most elite T206 enthusiasts would agree that the five scarcest T206 cigarette backs include Brown Old Mill, Brown Lenox, Broadleaf 460, Drum and UZIT.

Seldom surfacing in the hobby are Hall of Fame specimens carrying the cigarette advertisements of the aforementioned tobacco brands, justifying why this remarkable PSA 4 Clark Griffith "Batting" offering reflecting a DRUM ad back is one of the most coveted cards within the T206 collecting community. Substantiating its rarity is the COMBINED PSA and SGC "pop" charts listing only 4 other "Griffith Batting" specimens within the DRUM category. Furthermore, PSA currently lists approximately 190,000 T206s with identified ad backs of which only 122 or a microscopic 0.06% depict the extremely rare DRUM Cigarettes advertisement. Clark Griffith was nicknamed the "Old Fox", and while winning 240 games over a super major league career was more renowned for his 20-year managerial stint with four different ball clubs as well as becoming the major owner of the Washington Nationals.

His renowned batting image retains a majority of the original blue orange, yellow and green hued luster from its original release date a century ago. The well-centered image (only a hint of favoritism towards the lower border) is situated between four relatively clean borders with an eye pleasing even corner wear preventing this card from achieving "EX" status. Of utmost significance is the super clean "DRUM Cigarette" advertisement, as well as the vivid "Factory #25, 2nd Dist. VA.", and "350 SUBJECTS" typography that have eluded any obtrusive flaws over a century of time. In closing, we cannot over emphasize the extreme rarity of this magnificent DRUM keepsake that atypically emanates superb aesthetics and portrays a super popular Cooperstown inductee along with its ultra-scarce DRUM verso!

MIN BID $1,500
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