(LOT 38)
Ultra-Rare 1912 "The Story Of My Baseball Life" by Christy Mathewson Foldout Postcard – Issued by Klee & Company
Presented here is one of the rarest Christy Mathewson cardboard relics from his playing days; a remarkable 1912 foldout postcard providing Christy Mathewson's viewpoint of his life-story through 1911. Measuring approximately 4" x 6.45" and issued by the New York based Klee & Company clothier manufacturer, it resides as one of the rarest "Big Six" cardboard artifacts extant. When completely unfolded, it includes 8 pages of clothier advertisement via black & white line drawings, 9 pages of Mathewson's own account of his baseball life to date, and a full "Day & Evening Wear" grid listing various types of available clothes from the Klee & Company Spring 1912 inventory.

Most significantly, an imposing pastel colored classic Matty pitching pose graces the front cover against a stadium backdrop including the bold white text: "THE STORY OF MY BASEBALL LIFE - BY CHRISTY MATHEWSON". The remaining two panels of the tri-fold front/back cover include an extension of the front side stadium including the Klee & Company advertisement, and a pastel baseball diamond including a fine black facsimile Mathewson autograph near the upper left quadrant. Of interesting note is the "R.F. Jones – Milford, CT." text enclosed in a baseball bat bordered box directly above the Klee & Company name. We can only assume that this postcard was given to various salesmen to promote the New York based clothier's products, with this breathtaking example unmarked and exhibiting miraculous near-mint aesthetics.

Entering the 1912 season, Mathewson has already compiled a sensational 289 lifetime victories (on his way to 373 lifetime wins), and would post another 23 wins and microscopic 2.12 E.R.A. in 1912 as he led the Giants to their second consecutive N.L. pennant. One of the greatest pitchers to ever toe the pitching rubber, we cannot imagine another Mathewson cardboard issue exhibiting the coupled rarity and outstanding visual appeal of this incredible memento. If you are a world-class Matty cardboard collector or advanced postcard enthusiast, we highly advise you to ride this "Big Six" rarity directly to the winner's circle for it may be a lifetime before it surfaces again!

MIN BID $900
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