(LOT 28)
1912 M101-3 Sporting News Ty Cobb Postcard with an Extremely Rare Advertisement Back Postmarked 1912 SGC 1.5 FR – The Only Known Example with an Ad Back!
UNIQUE AD-BACK COBB!!!... One of the immortal Ty Cobb's rarest cards, this possibly unique SGC 1.5 FR 1912 M101-3 Sporting News postcard just happens to include an advertisement back, the only such example we have ever encountered! The six different subjects from the M101-3 postcard series were issued by the renowned Sporting News as a premium for their popular newspaper. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only such example boasting the BLISH, MIZE & SILLIMAN HARDWARE CO. advertisement, with this exact specimen fetching $44K in July 2023. Any M101-3 Cobb revealing fine aesthetics is tough to locate, let alone one reflecting the ever-elusive ad back. Most significantly, the reverse side postmark boldly reads "NOV 25, 1912", a bona fide testament that these postcards were actually issued in the 1912 calendar year, with all previous catalogs, checklists, and population charts dubbing them as 1913. This is a major discovery for this super eclectic postcard series, with a "1/1/13" date scripted in pencil directly beneath the extremely bold "-COMING-" caption. One of this six-card set's popular features is the multi-toned colors, offering pastel hues for these 3-1/2" x 5-1/2" postcards. Highly coveted by advanced postcard and Ty Cobb collectors, it seldom surfaces in any grade, let alone one portraying the only known ad-back at this point in time.

Cobb's classic portrait pose is absolutely breathtaking, as he dons his Detroit cap and uniform. Brilliant facial hues depict pastel colors, and both the clarity and contrast are outstanding. No obtrusive flaws are evident, with even corner wear, a postmarked verso, typical flipside writing, some upper edge wear on the obverse side, and a faint wrinkle on Cobb's chest accounting for the assessment. This particular keepsake was addressed to "L.L. Burger", with the one-cent George Washington stamp, previously mentioned November 25, 1912 postmark and following advertisement, the major features of this 112-year-old heirloom: "COMING – WAIT FOR THE BIG LINE – Baseball Goods – Tennis Goods – Hammocks – Fishing Tackle - BLISH, MIZE & SILLIMAN HARDWARE CO. - J.F. Fusselman, Salesman – ATCHISON, KANS." While another M101-3 postcard with a similar ad-back may certainly be tucked away in a private collection, at this juncture, we can only speak to this exclusive Georgia Peach marvel proudly standing as the one and only known copy. Issued during the season when Tyrus would post his sixth consecutive batting title via an unfathomable .409 mark, its one-of-a-kind ad-back places it as a potential centerpiece attraction in one of the finest Ty Cobb cardboard gatherings!

MIN BID $10,000
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