(LOT 147)
Scarce 1921 National Caramel E220 Babe Ruth (SGC "Auth)
From 1921 thru 1923, the National Caramel Company in Lancaster, PA. distributed a black & white card set with their caramel brand, dubbed by many hobbyists as one of the scarcest 1920's "E" cards. Rarely seen, these specimens are highly desirable due to many of their ultra-obscure images only appearing on the E220 issue. Rightly so, the most prestigious and highly coveted illustration just happens to belong to the incomparable George Herman "Babe" Ruth; a classic follow through batting image as he watches another mighty clout soar into the Polo Grounds grandstands. Considering the year, and the fact that Ruth is wearing his Yankee pinstripes and white cap, we would assume the Ruth subject was issued in either 1921 or 1922 (1921 was the last year the Yankees wore a white pinstriped cap), with the Polo Grounds grandstands and American Flag providing an iconic background. What photo could possibly better represent America's Pastime than Babe Ruth walloping a pitch into the furthest confines of this historic ballpark with the American Flag and grandstand serving as a spine-tingling setting!

This SGC "Authentic" offering is one of only twenty-seven examples listed on the SGC census report, justifying its sheer obscurity. Extremely condition sensitive, most known E220 Ruth's are "beat-up", reflecting significant wear over the past near-century. Atypically, this offering reveals brilliant aesthetics, portraying an atypical near-perfect contrast and clarity that seldom emanates from any E220 subject. While the "Authentic" assessment is due to assumed edge trimming (primarily at the top edge), the overall presentation of this seldom surfacing Ruthian marvel is spectacular to say the least, synonymous with the "Sultan of Swat's" impact on America's Pastime. This card was issued at the time when the unparalleled "Babe" was virtually out-homering every Major League team, blasting 54 and 59 round-trippers in his first two record setting seasons in the Big Apple while leading the mighty Yankees to World Series appearances from 1921 thru 1923. The absolute splendor of our sanctified hobby continues to be the on-going expectation of the next cardboard "home run" that will surface. Highly underrated for quite some time, this undervalued E220 Ruth subject resides as an extraordinary masterpiece that just might stand as one of the Bambino's next "Holy Grail" heirlooms!

MIN BID $500
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