(LOT 12)
1909 T204 Ramly Eddie Plank SGC 5 EX – POP 3; Only 2 SGC Examples Graded Higher!
SCARCE TOBACCO PLANK!!! One of the most underrated pre-WWI cards is the 1909 T204 Ramly Eddie Plank portraying his iconic Carl Horner portrait pose made famous on Plank's renowned T206 subject. We are all familiar with the legacy of the T206 Wagner and how his disdain for tobacco products prompted him to discontinue the distribution of his tobacco Sweet Caporal subject, resulting in the few surviving examples. Likewise, there are a reduced number of Eddie Plank T206 subjects available, with the reason for the Plank shortage shrouded in mystery. Tantamount to Wagner, most Plank issues are "E" candy cards, most likely due to his similar contempt for promoting tobacco products. The fact remains that only a handful of Plank tobacco cards were issued in the 1909-1916 period, including his T206 and T204 issues, with less than 50 examples posted on the COMBINED SGC and PSA census reports.

The T204 Plank remains one of the significantly tough cardboard prizes to capture, and one of the most ornate and aesthetically brilliant baseball cards manufactured from the Deadball Era. Presented here is a stellar SGC 5 example; it's joined by only two SGC 5 subjects and bested by a meager two SGC 5.5 copies! Atypically, the immortal portrait image boasts stellar centering between four bold hued borders, with the illustration revealing crystal-clear clarity and near-perfect contrast. No notable creases and/or surface flaws are evident, with the lower right corner wear and some scattered soiling near the upper right corner and on the verso preventing a higher grade. The combined outstanding central pose, excellent centering, and relatively clean elaborate gold borders all combine to justify the rare mid-grade assessment, with this extremely underrated Plank marvel one of the finest preserved examples!

MIN BID $2,000
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