(LOT 26)
1916-20 W-UNC "Big Head" Babe Ruth PSA Authentic
BEANTOWN BABE!!! One of the scarcest strip card issues is the W-UNC "Big Head" blank-back subjects released between 1916 and 1920. The 20 different cartoon subjects include an oversized head affixed to a non-proportional body, with the set's most prominent subjects being Ruth, Cobb, Johnson and Hornsby. Of course, the set's most prestigious and valuable subject is the incomparable Sultan of Swat, presented here in a PSA Authentic holder. One of only nine PSA encapsulated examples, this extremely rare Ruth marvel has only been bested by a single PSA 4 specimen!

Most significantly, while no solidified issue date has ever been determined for these eclectic strip cards, considering the projected era was 1916-1920, this Sultan of Swat rarity most likely resides as one of his few known Red Sox subjects! A possible 1916 rookie-era issue, the cartoon-colored illustration portrays the Babe completing his mighty left-handed swing, and as is the case with so many strip cards, the Authentic assessment is due to an irregular manually cut perimeter. Considering its pre-1920 release date, its potential value is unlimited, with several other Authentic examples already fetching $20K and $15K over the past several years. To reiterate, while we cannot say with 100% certainty when this rare Ruth offering was first distributed, there is significant hobby speculation that it represents one of the Bambino's few known Red Sox issues, joining forces with his 1916 rookie and 1917 second-year cards as a bona fide Beantown Babe!

MIN BID $3,000
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