(LOT 172)
Scarce 1910 Honus Wagner Hermes Ice-Cream Pin
Pin-back enthusiasts are going to have to jockey for position and stand in line for this one! Presented here is, arguably, Honus Wagner's rarest celluloid collectible, the virtually impossible to find regionally issued 1910 Hermes Ice Cream pin that was distributed by the renowned Whitehead & Hoag manufacturer to commemorate the Pirates 1909 World Championship. In our nearly 25 years of handling baseball cards & memorabilia, this is only the second Wagner Hermes Ice Cream pin we have come across, and to the best of our knowledge, only 3 or 4 known to exist. The Hermes Ice Cream pins are very similar in style to the Morton's Bread and Buster Brown Pennant Winner Detroit Tiger pins also issued in 1910; however, the Hermes Ice Cream pins are significantly rarer, with a mere two to three dozen known for ALL of the 12 Pirate subjects. Any collectible of the 1936 Charter Hall of Fame member Honus Wagner is highly coveted by vintage enthusiasts, let alone one that qualifies as one of his scarcest keepsakes. Due to the unparalleled prestige of his iconic T206 specimen, Wagner's hobby status resides near the top of the charts.

We have all heard the stories regarding Wagner's distain for tobacco products eventually leading to the withdrawal of his T206 card by the ATC, yet Wagner's status as the greatest shortstop to ever grace a baseball diamond certainly added additional mystique to this alleged tale. With that in mind, consider the incredible disparity between the approximate 60 T206 Wagner's and this majestic pin for which only a handful are known! The overall condition of this sanctified Wagner pin is superb, starting with a classic black & white portrait pose of the "Flying Dutchman" that is well centered within a circular yellow border. Vivid clarity and splendid contrast finely project Wagner's timeless image, with the 1.25" diameter pin revealing no obtrusive flaws on its obverse side. Above Wagner's cap clearly reads: "All Cream HERMES Ice Cream" with "World's Champion's" situated within the center circle. An ornate style Pirate style flag is filled with a blue tint, and includes the "Pittsburgh" team name as well as a traditional Pirates skull.

Some diminutive soiling is situated on the yellow border near the lower left rim, and the entire circumference is completely intact. Unfortunately, the reverse side Whitehead & Hoag advertisement has been removed, yet considering the unequivocal paucity level of this museum like marvel, the obverse side's stellar eye appeal carrying Wagner's hallowed image is far more prevalent. Miraculously, this pin has managed to survive over a century of time, with its sheer existence resulting in one of the most valuable and significant pin-backs in the hobby. It will may be quite some time before another one surfaces, and regarding its ultimate value, we will leave that in the hands of the elite celluloid hobbyists who will surely be fighting for its decisive ownership!

MIN BID $500
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