(LOT 75)
1911 T205 Cy Young Sweet Caporal Cigarettes PSA 7 NM
While all Hall of Fame members merit some sense of baseball immortality, only a handful of these stars can really be considered a baseball icon. Such a player's stratospheric accomplishments not only surpass statistical expectations, but provide a path of excellence for thousands who follow in their glorious footsteps. Cy Young, the legendary author of baseball's unbreakable record of 511 lifetime victories, certainly falls in this distinct class to the extent that baseball's annual award for pitching excellence will forever carry his name. Coincidently, his representation on this miraculous T205 Gold Border PSA Near Mint 7 offering is worthy of a hollowed stature reserved for only a few existing cards. Currently, only seven other PSA examples have achieved this near-impossible assessment with a meager five specimens graded higher! The 1911 T205 Gold Border Tobacco cards are widely considered among the most artistically ornate cards ever issued due to their gold embossed borders, unique color hues and baseball diamond designs.

Unfortunately, the negative aspect of these majestic gold frames is their condition sensitivity, with serious flaking and/or surface loss an almost common occurrence (similar to 1955 Bowman, 1962 Topps and 1971 Topps issues). For that reason alone, high grade set collectors actively pursue near-mint specimens with this painstaking search a seemingly never-ending challenge. No baseball player could possibly receive a greater honor than having an award named after him, the ultimate compliment to a player's lifetime achievements. Yet, when you consider that Denton "Cy" Young won 511 baseball games, pitched over 7,000 innings, won over 20 games fifteen times and 30 games five times, it was a "no-brainer" when the Baseball Writers of America chose his name to eternally represent the annual pitching excellence award. Considering his incomprehensible statistical achievements, it is only fitting that this Cooperstown worthy offering stands as the perfect testament for his unequivocal legacy. Indeed, this remarkable keepsake provides the elite collector with extraordinary eye pleasing qualities consistent with its original release date some 110 years ago.

Young's classic T205 lithographic image is virtually pristine, such that it portrays an almost life-like aura via its sparkling facial hues. The ornate green baseball diamond, robust orange/red background and stylish baseball equipment all render sparkling hues, and atypical for most T205s, the immortal portrait illustration exhibits outstanding centering (w/only a modest favoritism towards the lower edge). Of course, the four breathtaking gold borders "steal the show", with only a microscopic hint of wear at the lower right corner possibly preventing an even higher assessment. We simply cannot overemphasize the significance of a T205 card exhibiting near-flawless borders as well as four right-angled corners. The super clean Sweet Caporal Cigarette verso compliments the immaculate obverse side attributes, completing one of the most astounding T205 specimens extant. It is unfathomable to imagine this card's overall aesthetics possibly surpassing Young's pitching feats, yet gazing at this Cooperstown worthy masterpiece would make any advanced enthusiast second that notion!

MIN BID $4,000
_