(LOT 196)
1911-16 T216 People's Tobacco Co./Kotton Cigarettes Type 1 (1-2-3 Ad Back) Honus Wagner Batting, 2b. SGC 2.5 GOOD+ - Tobacco Honus Wagner!
TOBACCO WAGNER!!! A tobacco Honus Wagner card…is that possible? Indeed, it is because this SGC 2.5 GOOD+ T216 Kotton Cigarettes Batting, 2b. Type 1 (1-2-3) POP 2 marvel just happens to be one of the few known tobacco Wagner issues, bested by a meager four SGC specimens reflecting the Batting 2b. variation. Due to the immortal Wagner frowning upon the use of his image to advertise tobacco products or possibly not being paid enough (or at all) by the American Tobacco Company to print his T206 subject, mainstream tobacco Honus Wagner cards simply don't exist. This Honus T216's lineage can be traced back to the People's Tobacco Co., which issued these cards from 1911 through 1916 in New Orleans, Louisiana, originally founded by Joseph Oury in 1899.

Three different cigarette brands were distributed, including Kotton, Mino and Virginia Extra, with the Kotton Cigarettes subjects revealing three different ad back variations, including a Type 1 (1-2-3; cardboard stock; glossy finish); Type 2 (Never Go Out – Not In Trust; cardboard stock; glossy finish); and Type 3 (Never Go Out; thin paper stock; matte finish). Ultra-scarce and extremely condition-sensitive, these tobacco cards closely resemble the E106 and D303 sets issued during that same period, with the 104-subject checklist including several player variations. Four different Wagners were issued for all three cigarette advertisements (Batting S.S.; Batting 2b.; Throwing S.S.; Throwing 2b.), with his obscure glossy Batting 2b. subject boasting a stellar pose of the legendary Flying Dutchman. His renowned batting image is widely recognized on many other candy or bread cards, with the crystal-clear central pose exhibiting fine centering, sparkling hues, and a robust red background.

No obtrusive blemishes are apparent, with the assessment due to a light vertical crease to the right of Wagner's upper body, general surface wear on both sides, soiling along the borders, even corner wear, and what appears to be a faint factory-issued vertical print line. The lower border depicts the critical "Wagner, 2b., Pittsburgh Nat'l." caption (as opposed to "S.S."), and the significant ad back portrays the scarce KOTTON CIGARETTES "1-2-3" verbiage (1st. Made in New Orleans - 2nd. Made by Labor Union – 3rd. Has no Equal). Extraordinary to say the least, a similar Wagner Batting 2b. variation subject graded an SGC 4 sold for a staggering $79K in December 2022, a resounding testament to the future prosperity of this Honus tobacco heirloom!

MIN BID $10,000
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