(LOT 25)
Miraculous 1933 Goudey Sport Kings 14" x 14-1/2" Window Sign/Poster Including Babe Ruth & Ty Cobb Subjects – One of the Finest Known Examples Extant!
Along with their colossal 240-card landmark 1933 baseball card set, the Goudey Gum Co. also issued a 48-card 1933 compilation titled "Sport Kings". Innovative to say least, the Sport Kings gathering included the top sports figures in 18 different sports, with baseball's legendary Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb heading the list of sports immortals. One of the most sanctified collectibles relating to this iconic Sport Kings issue is the seldom seen Sport Kings paper poster, with most of the few known examples discovered during the famous 1970s Goudey find. Presented here just happens to be one of those remarkable Sports Kings posters originally surfacing from that historic find, with this 14" x 14-1/2" marvel one of the finest known specimens on the planet! As was the case for the Goudey baseball posters, these window advertisement signs were issued to retailers to further promote the sale of Goudey's chewing gum cardboard collectibles. Few and far between, these sanctified artifacts seldom surface for the taking, and arguably reside as the most coveted of all Goudey related keepsakes.

The first 24 subjects of the classic Sport Kings set are presented on this miraculous offering, with the most prominent athletes being Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Red Grange, Jack Dempsey and world class athlete Jim Thorpe! Six subjects are portrayed in four rows, with no known advertising poster ever issued for the remaining 24 subjects of the iconic 48-card Sports King set (all 24 athletes are listed at the end of this description). It is with no surprise with the renowned Goudey Gum Company chose both Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb as the Sport Kings first two subjects, with these two majestic players the primary focal points when promoting their landmark bubble gum gathering via this revered poster. Most important is the fact that this extremely condition sensitive masterpiece presents itself in conservative "EX+" condition, with no folds or glaring surface abrasions evident.

Two extremely bold red banners are situated across the top and lower edges; the top one reading: "STARS AND CHAMPS OF TODAY AND YESTERDAY" with the lower banner stating: "FREE – LARGE PHOTOGRPAHIC PICTURES – WITH SPORT KINGS CHEWING GUM – START COLLECTING NOW - OTHER SERIES FOLLOWING". For full disclosure, we need to point out there resides some extremely minor professional restoration in the form of in-painting near the poster's top center, virtually invisible to the naked eye. Nearly all of the brilliant colors have remarkably retained their original rich hues, with no glaring surface abrasions evident throughout this astonishing window advertisement. Professionally matted and framed to its current 20" x 20" square dimensions, of the few existing examples, we cannot imagine any of those other window signs possibly matching the breathtaking aesthetics of this world-class heirloom. Furthermore, elevating its collecting stature to a pinnacle level is the appearance of George Herman Ruth.

The "Bambino's" stature as our National Pastime's "greatest player ever" is written in stone, and his earth shattering achievements on a baseball field will "echo for eternity". We can safely assume that the prestigious Goudey Gum Company carefully chose its subjects, surely capitalizing on the presumption that an upcoming Ruth card would entice a myriad of avid baseball fans to purchase a seemingly countless number of wax packs to capture their beloved hero. True, there are many superior athletes on this poster including the hallowed "Georgia Peach" and Jim Thorpe, but as the hobby surely dictates, it is Babe Ruth's unparalleled presence that will ultimately dictate the final value of this truly extraordinary treasure!

Listed below are all of the 24 subjects (from left to right) along with their respective Goudey issued checklist #'s: Bobby McClean (12), Gene Sarazen (22), Reggie McNamara (15), Red Grange (4), Johnny Weissmuller (21), Charles Jewtraw (11), Babe Ruth (2), Nat Holman (3), Ty Cobb (1), Jack Dempsey (17), Bobby Walthour Sr. (7), Gene Tunney (18), Walter Hagen (8), William Tilden (16), Ed Blood (9), Anton Lekang (10), Jim Thorpe (6), Jim Londos (14), Howie Morenz (24), Vincent Richards (23), Eddie Shore (19), Laverne Fator (13), Ed Watcher (5), Duke Kahanamoku (20).

MIN BID $2,500
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