(LOT 8)
Extremely Rare c.1911 Ty Cobb Ide Silver Shirt Collars Advertisement – Measures Approx. 8-3/4" x 11-1/4"
GEORGIA PEACH RARITY!!! By 1911, the 25-year-old Tyrus Raymond Cobb had established himself as baseball's finest player (with all due respect to Honus Wagner), having already won four consecutive AL batting titles and a 1909 Triple Crown. The Georgia Peach would ultimately extend that streak to nine straight seasons, and after falling short to Tris Speaker in 1916, he would capture three more titles from 1917-1919. The toast of Motor City, Cobb's fiery play electrified his ardent fan base, and it didn't take long for manufacturers to begin marketing Tyrus to promote their popular brands. One of the many businesses who sought out the incomparable Cobb was the Geo. P. IDE Co. of Troy, New York, who in 1911, decided to use Cobb's classic Carl Horner portrait image to advertise their IDE Silver Shirt Collars.

Choosing other legendary diamond stars as well such as the immortal Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson, their number one priority was securing Cobb to promote their popular shirts. The 1911 campaign would ultimately see the majestic Cobb win his fifth consecutive batting title via his remarkable .419 average, Cobb's highest mark ever that was achieved via his 248 safeties including a whopping 24 triples! Any sophisticated baseball enthusiast can clearly understand why Geo. P. IDE chose Ty Cobb and this specific image that graces prestigious cardboard issues such as his W600, T206, E103 and M116 subjects, for this exalted pose can induce anyone to skip a beat via its distinguished aura. While we have seen several IDE Shirt Collar magazine advertisement pages representing Cobb and the previously mentioned baseball stars, presented here just happens to be the only store window/counter cardboard poster we have ever encountered reflecting Cobb's Holy Grail image.

Our consignor purchased it over a decade ago in a bygone auction, and to the best of our knowledge, none have surfaced since then. Measuring approximately 8-3/4" x 11-1/4", the ultra-fashionable blue bordered poster reveals a captivating Ty Cobb portrait image that is affixed within a darker blue tinted baseball. Exhibiting the exact T206 Tobacco, M116 Sporting Life and E103 Williams Caramel Cobb pose, the stylish IDE Silver Shirt Collar around his neck is accompanied by a bold blue/black formal neck tie, and the caption to the right provides the "2 for 25 cents" price. Beneath the hallowed exalted image is a bold caption titled "TY COBB in a CRITERION", as well as the following Cobb testimonial: "Not very long ago Ide Silver Collars were called to my attention.

I am more than pleased with their excellent style, fit, and Linocord buttonholes. –Tyrus R. Cobb." The elaborate and extremely bold "Ide Silver Collars" black and silver caption situated in the lower region has lost virtually none of its original quality, with the "GEO. P. IDE & CO., Makers, TROY, N.Y." company title equally imposing. Light toning and spotted foxing are more prevalent in the upper region, and most would agree it does not compromise the original integrity of the sanctified Cobb illustration. Additional front side imperfections include even corner wear, slight water staining and some negligible edge chipping, with the overall presentation ranging in the EX+ level.

The more prevalent flaws are evident on the blank verso including additional evidence of modest water staining, widespread foxing/soiling, and four areas of apparent adhesive removal. Most significantly, the flipside's few light wrinkles and superficial paper loss are minor blemishes that do not compromise the critical front side. In 2019, a rare Carl Horner issued Ty Cobb cabinet depicting this same Georgia Peach portrait image fetched an astonishing $396k, a bona fide testament to the unequivocal prestige associated with this timeless photo. This extremely rare advertisement window poster featuring the exact same Carl Horner portrait image utilized on several of Cobb's illustrious Tobacco, Caramel and Sporting life issues, likewise merits the utmost accolades via its possible unique stature and awe-inspiring Cooperstown worthy presence!

MIN BID $2,500
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