(LOT 16)
1922 E121 "Babe" Ruth Photo Montage (SGC 3 VG) Only 1 Graded Higher!
While many enthusiasts scramble to obtain the popular 1933 Ruth Goudey cards, it is the "Bambino's" early 1920's black & white caramel cards that are unquestionably rarer and arguably carry greater investment potential. In the early 1920's, the American Caramel Company produced several sets with imposing black & white images. The 1922 E121 set included many high-end Hall of Famers including three different variations of the immortal Babe Ruth. Presented here is the most popular of the three images, Ruth's "Photo Montage" illustration, graded a seldom surfacing SGC 3 VG. At the time this was written, SGC had encapsulated only 7 other Ruth Photo Montage examples at this plateau, with only a single specimen graded higher! Babe Ruth's sheer existence propelled the game to another level, highlighted by his tape measure home runs and spirited personality that captivated an entire Nation. Every vintage collector seeks to obtain an early 1920's card of the great "Bambino", and the offered example is one of his most popular artifacts.
The contrast and clarity of the Ruthian image is virtually un-improvable, as the three different poses (portrait, batting and baseball field) have miraculously eluded any obtrusive blemishes. Fine centering, bold text and a somewhat clean "Series of 120" American Caramel ad back are additional highlights, with the technical assessment due to a diagonal crease in the upper left quadrant as well as even corner wear consistent with the grade. Ruth's status in the hobby continues to multiply at an astounding rate, justified by one of his E121 pitching pose cards selling for a record-setting $338K in our last auction. Rarely do we strongly applaud a "VG" assessment, but this card's extreme condition sensitivity, low population for the grade, and the fact it represents baseball's undisputed all-time greatest player all combine to place it as one of the most significant early 1920's Ruth offerings you will ever come across!
MIN BID $1,500
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