(LOT 552)
1910 Mello-Mint Gum E105 Christy Mathewson SGC 1 Poor - "POP 2"; Highest Graded SGC Example!
Here is one you don't see very often! This 1910 Mello-Mint Gum E105 rarity, graded an SGC 1 Poor, just happens to be one of only three SGC encapsulated examples and the highest of the three! Considered extremely condition-sensitive, Mello Mint candy cards seldom surface in any grade, with the handful of existing examples revealing numerous flaws. PSA's "Pop" Chart likewise justifies the E105 scarcity level, also listing a meager three Mathewson copies. Highly coveted by type-card and Matty collectors, the last SGC 1 Mathewson offering fetched nearly $4,500 some three years ago, while a PSA 1.5 Matty realized $7,800 back in June 2016.

The Mello-Mint lineage can be traced back to 1910, when the Texas Gum Company in Temple, Texas issued a 50-card baseball set (similar to the E101 issue) to promote their "Smith's Mello-Mint Gum." While eight of the subjects are more commonly seen due to a "1980's find", the remaining 42 subjects are extremely scarce, with only a handful tougher to locate than the hallowed Christy Mathewson. Printed on thin paper stock, and folder over in gum packages, many of the remaining few in circulation are in "beater" condition, substantiating why this Mathewson offering as well as so many other E105 examples reveal numerous blemishes. This offering portrays the classic sideways Mathewson pitching pose depicted on many candy/tobacco cards issued between 1909 and 1916.

Super popular with advanced collectors, this museum worthy image is set against a brilliant array of light blue, orange, green and yellow hues, and includes the typical misspelled "Matthewson" name along the right border. Unfortunately, this particular E105 Matty has been somewhat compromised by a horizontal crease running through the center of the card, with some other stray wrinkles and heavy corner wear accounting for the grade. The ultra-scarce "Mello-Mint Gum" reverse side green typography has fortunately eluded any serious damage over the past 112 years, also compromised by the aforementioned crease. Truly a case where the significance of "the right to own a copy" supersedes the technical assessment, this extremely rare E105 Matty keepsake irrefutably stands as one of the "Christian Gentleman's" most elusive cards extant!
MIN BID $1,500
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