Amazing "Lucky 7" Ty Cobb w/Cobb Ad Back - PSA 2.5

One of the most fascinating concepts of the illustrious card hobby is the on-going potential for the next "new find".

While a seemingly infinite number of magnificent cardboard issues currently dominate the market, collectors anxiously await for the next "spine-tingling" discovery.

Ty Cobb - Front
Ty Cobb - Back

Through the years, there have been some incredible finds including the unearthing of the historic 1952 Topps vending boxes and amazing Black Swamp candy cards, just to mention a few.

In February 2016, another world-class discovery took place when a suburban southern family uncovered 7 T206 TY COBB AD BACK cards within a paper bag!

Shuffling through some of their grandparent's artifacts, they came across a torn paper bag that included several paper products including a small pile of seven Ty Cobb tobacco cards lying face down at the bottom of the bag.

In lieu of the hobby's immense exposure with regard to staggering cardboard values, the family contacted a renowned dealer who in turn passed the information along to the illustrious PSA Grading Company.

The cards were submitted to PSA and to the amazement of PSA's senior staff, were indeed authentic, with the seven cards including grades of "VG/EX+/4.5", "VG+/3.5", four "Good+/2.5's", and a single "Fair/1.5"!

We at Memory Lane are now honored to present one of those monumental "Lucky 7" cards to an anxiously awaiting collecting community, one of the superb PSA 2.5 examples that has only been bested by a handful of the 22 known existing examples.

History

Historically speaking, the T206 Ty Cobb Ad Back tobacco card has been one of the hobby's most valuable and treasured rarities, as well as residing as one of its biggest conundrums (with respect to its definitive issue status).

"The T206 Monster Set" continues to suffice as the most renowned card collecting compilation, with four different Ty Cobb cards included in the set (Red & Green portrait; Bat On; Bat Off).

While 15 different tobacco brands were issued for a myriad of the T206 subjects, there was only a single subject chosen for the rarest of all tobacco brands, the ever-elusive "TY COBB – KING OF THE SMOKING TOBACCO WORLD" green text ad back that was SOLELY reserved for the Red Portrait Ty Cobb card.

Adding to the mystique of this remarkable heirloom is its absolute issue methodology that remains shrouded in mystery. Was it distributed in the likewise rare Ty Cobb Tin? Why do virtually all known examples include a glossy front (as opposed to the standard non-glossy T206 cards)?

What is its exact distribution date? For many years, sophisticated enthusiasts would debate these issues; however, most hobby experts now agree that the Ty Cobb Ad Back card truly merits "T206 Status"; with this concept documented by hobby icon Jefferson Burdick in his 1960 American Card Catalog.

Its now accepted T206 nature places it as the rarest of all 16 tobacco brands, and save the hallowed T206 Honus Wagner, the most coveted of all tobacco cards on the planet.

Rarity/Value

The sensational "Lucky 7" find added seven new Ty Cobb Ad Back cards to the previous known 15 examples. Its sanctified stature even surpasses the likewise magnificent John W. Hudson 1997 Georgia find of five Ty Cobb Ad Back copies that were supposedly situated in a book.

The now updated 22-total still places the Ty Cobb Ad Back obscurity as a much rarer card than even the iconic T206 Wagner, with approximately 60-70 examples of Honus known to exist. Indeed, the Cobb scarcity represents roughly one-third of the T206 Wagner tally, more than substantiating its unfathomable paucity level and potential investment value.

Its eclectic standing also places it as a much scarcer card than other hobby icons such as the T206 Plank, T206 Magie Error, 1916 M101 Babe Ruth rookie and 1933 Goudey Lajoie for which over 10 graded examples exist for each of these world-class issues.

Realized prices continue to skyrocket for the Ty Cobb Ad Back marvel with a PSA 1 specimen exceeding $150K, a PSA 1.5 fetching $192K and a PSA 2.5 tallying a $240K record price. Similar to other hobby vintage rarities carrying the hallowed names of Ruth, Cobb, Wagner and Shoeless Joe, there certainly appears to be no limits on the spiraling pricing surge for this sensational keepsake.

Keep in mind that it was only a few years ago that low grade Babe Ruth rookie cards were fetching $15 - $30K, with "Good/2" examples now realizing amounts upwards to $150K+.

With no apparent end in sight for this market up-tick and considering the immortal Tyrus Raymond Cobb stands right alongside the 'Sultan of Swat" in collecting popularity, it would make sense that the "Georgia's Peach's" most valuable and sought-after Cobb Ad Back gem continues to soar in value!

Population Status Report/Condition

Most of the graded examples for this regal issue exhibit low assessments due to the glossy surface cracking/creasing as well as the typical tobacco stains that plague the Ty Cobb Ad Back specimen.

Extremely condition sensitive, a PSA 4.5 example stands as the finest of its kind, with the combined PSA/SGC "Pop" Chart status listed as follows: 1 PSA "VG/EX+/4.5" (Lucky 7); 1 PSA "VG+/3.5" (Lucky 7); 1 PSA "VG/3"; 1 SGC "VG/3"; 4 PSA "Good+/2.5's" (Lucky 7); 3 PSA "Good/2's"; 3 SGC "Good/2's"; 3 PSA "Fair/1.5's" (one of which is a Lucky 7); 1 SGC "Fair/1.5"; 3 PSA Poor/1's"; 1 SGC "Poor/1" (note: one of the 22 known examples is not listed on the PSA /SGC census reports).

This population status clearly substantiates the previously mentioned condition sensitivity for the Ty Cobb Ad Back specimen, with only 3 other examples carrying a 2.5 assessment and a meager 4 examples graded higher than this prize offering!

This example's iconic Ty Cobb portrait pose taken by the renowned Carl Horner exhibits magnificent facial hues and crystal-clear clarity, ably assisted by the classic bold red background. The light horizontal crease extending from border to border does NOT impede on Cobb's timeless image and a diminutive surface discoloration exists near the upper left border.

Atypically, the corners have retained a majority of their original square formations, revealing only modest wear, and the well-centered image only partly favors the left edge.

Most important, the critical "TY COBB KING OF THE SMOKING TOBACCO WORLD" ad back still retains a majority of its original bold green verbiage and no glaring tobacco stains are evident. All factors considered, this truly stands as one of the finer preserved Ty Cobb Ad Back subjects, bested by only 4 examples and somehow eluding the unsightly tobacco stains that typically plague this exalted issue.

Summary

From a tobacco card collecting perspective, most hobbyists agree that only the T206 Honus Wagner card exceeds the overall reverence and desirability of the Ty Cobb Ad back rarity. Similar to the Wagner subject, there is an unparalleled "hype" affiliated with this card that literally transcends the collector back to an era when Cobb ruled "turn of the century" baseball.

It is no secret that the majestic "Georgia Peach" resides as our National Pastime's most prolific batsman with respect to batting average, posting an unfathomable .366 lifetime mark that included 4,189 safeties, a remarkable 12 batting titles, and 3 seasons of batting .400 or better!

His uncanny batting prowess and fiery play earned him a nod as one of baseball's five 1936 Hall of Fame Charter Members, and for all these reasons his cardboard collectibles are highly coveted by the most advanced enthusiasts.

None of Cobb's subjects could possibly compare with the legendary "Ty Cobb King of the Tobacco Smoking World" issue that stands tall as his most valuable card.

Always a hobby icon, the recent "Lucky 7" find has further elevated its prestige to an incomparable level, for it now strongly stands alongside other hobby icons such as the 1909 T206 Wagner, 1910 Old Mill Joe Jackson, 1914 Baltimore News Ruth, 1916 M101 Ruth Rookie and 1952 Topps Mantle.

If history has taught us anything, the value of such exalted cardboard mementos continues to rise with the driving force of an uncontrollable tsunami, with this miraculous "Lucky 7" Ty Cobb Ad Back safely residing as one of the finest investment cards extant.

Who would have ever thought that a simple torn paper bag carrying seven Ty Cobb Ad back cards could miraculously appear over a century of time, revealing one of the most magnificent baseball card finds in our hobby's glorious history.

Now, courtesy of Memory Lane and our esteemed consignor, we offer you a golden opportunity to own one of the immortal "Lucky 7" Cobb heirlooms that would reside as the centerpiece attraction in virtually any world class compilation!