(LOT 494)
1909 T206 Ty Cobb Red Portrait "Tolstoi Cigarettes" (PSA GOOD+ 2.5)
No baseball card collection can be considered complete without a vintage pre-WWI card of the incomparable Ty Cobb, and no affordable Ty Cobb cardboard memento could possibly be more renowned and desirable than the iconic T206 Red Portrait Cobb reflecting his majestic Carl Horner portrait image. It is this "top-ten" hobby jewel that is presented here in a splendid PSA 2.5 holder, and more significantly, this offering just happens to carry the rather obscure Tolstoi cigarette advertisement. Seldom surfacing, the PSA "pop" report currently lists a mere 35 Tolstoi Ty Cobb Red Portrait examples with a meager 2 specimens at the "GOOD+ 2" level. It is no secret that a myriad of T206 enthusiasts strive to augment their collections with "turn of the century" Cobb keepsakes, and arguably none are considered more sanctified than the immortal T206 Ty Cobb portrait subject.

Furthermore, avid T206 purists pursue tobacco Cobb issues reflecting eclectic cigarette advertisements with Tolstoi certainly considered one of the scarcer brands. Cobb's classic Carl Horner pose portrays outstanding facial hues, set against a relatively clean red background. A modest "butterfly cut" does not impede the superb aesthetics and the fine centering is complimented by four bright white borders. Slightly touched corners reflect VG/EX quality, no glaring flaws are evident, an extremely light diagonal crease in the upper left quadrant is barely visible to the naked eye, and the critical Tolstoi ad back only reveals a few areas with modest staining. A stellar example for the grade, it emanates eye appeal beyond its assessment, and a rather scarce ad back highly coveted by the hobby's most sophisticated T206 collectors!

MIN BID $750
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