(LOT 26)
1911-1916 T216 People's Tobacco Co./Kotton Cigarettes Honus Wagner Throwing, 2b.- Type 2 Ad Back (NEVER GO OUT - NOT IN A TRUST) SGC 2 GOOD
TOBACCO WAGNER!!!... Presented here is an extremely rare SGC 2 GOOD+ T216 Kotton Cigarettes Throwing, 2b. Type 2 (Never Go Out – Not in a Trust) POP 3 marvel; one of only five SGC encapsulated examples reflecting the Throwing 2b. variation. Due to the immortal Wagner frowning upon the use of his image to advertise tobacco products or possibly not being paid an equitable amount by the ATC to print his T206 subject, mainstream tobacco Honus Wagner cards simply don't exist. The T216 lineage can be traced back to the People's Tobacco Co., originally founded by Joseph Oury in 1899, who issued these cards from 1911 through 1916 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Three different cigarette brands were distributed including Kotton, Mino and Virginia Extra. 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 a 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 Wagner's were issued for all three cigarette advertisements (1. Batting S.S.; 2. Batting 2b.; 3. Throwing S.S.; 4. Throwing 2b.), with his obscure glossy Throwing 2b. subject boasting a stellar pose of the legendary Flying Dutchman. Portraying atypically vivid registration and fine centering, the iconic throwing pose is situated on a Type 2 glossy surface, exhibiting a brilliant array of green, orange, yellow, and blue hues.

While a number of stray wrinkles are evident, including diagonal creases in the upper left and right quadrants, they do not compromise the critical central image. Preventing a higher assessment is corner layering, a butterfly cut at the upper and lower edges, some scattered enamel peel on both sides, and the aforementioned creasing. 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 - NEVER GO OUT – NOT IN A TRUST - PEOPLES TOBACCO CO." verbiage. Extremely rare to say the least, we cannot even begin to estimate its ultimate value since the few surfacing Wagner Kotton Cigarettes subjects reflect the more abundant batting pose, one of which realized a lofty $79K in December 2022!

MIN BID $5,000
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