(LOT 612)
1914 T213 Coupon Cigarettes Ty Cobb Type 2 - Portrait PSA 1 PR
BRILLIANT TYPE 2 COBB PORTRAIT!!!... This absolutely breathtaking PSA 1 PR 1914 T213 Coupon Cigarettes Type 2 Ty Cobb Portrait possibly resides as the finest eye-pleasing example on the planet! While PSA's illustrious population report lists two PSA 4s as the highest graded examples, we cannot imagine either of those subjects besting the mid-grade aesthetics of this eye-popping marvel. Forget the harsh grade folk because the near-perfect centering, striking red background, vivid clarity, and even corner wear all combine to create a museum-worthy masterpiece. Only downgraded due to a number of faint scattered wrinkles (most notably a vertical crease from the upper right edge passing to the right of Cobb's left ear; a diagonal wrinkle extending from the left edge to directly underneath Cobb's right collar; and some negligible wrinkles near the upper right corner), these surface imperfections are barely visible to the naked eye and do not detract from the awe-inspiring Carl Horner image of the Georgia Peach. At the time this was written, PSA had only encapsulated 39 Type 2 Portrait Cobbs, a fractional 1.4% of its 2,500+ 1909-11 T206 Red Portrait brethren. From 1910 through 1919, Coupon Cigarettes released three distinct tobacco card series utilizing similar player images from the classic T206 Tobacco "Monster Set."

Distinctly known for their various sizes that were typically smaller than a T206 subject as well as the blue ink (as opposed to black) utilized for the player's name and team, the 2nd Coupon Series was released in 1914 within the Louisiana Region, revealing a "FACTORY No.3 DIST OF LA." distribution print. The immortal Tyrus Raymond Cobb is still considered by many historians as baseball's greatest all-time five-tool player, and his record-setting .366 lifetime batting average and 12 batting titles in a 13-year span justify this notion. Cobb's undisputed stature as a 1936 HOF charter member will stand for eternity, and this Red Portrait Carl Horner representation of him resides as one of the hobby's cornerstone cardboard images. Entering the 1914 campaign, the mighty Cobb had already secured a record seven consecutive AL batting titles, including two .400+ seasons, and his 1914 league-leading .368 figure marked his eighth successive title. Not done, the Motor City superstar center fielder would pace the Junior Circuit once again in 1915 to extend his record streak to nine campaigns, with Tris Speaker besting Tyrus in 1916 to finally end his miraculous run. Equally remarkable is this absolutely brilliant and time-defying Cobb scarcity that boasts awe-inspiring visual appeal far beyond its extremely strict technical assessment!

MIN BID $2,500
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