(LOT 13)
1904 W600 Honus Wagner - Uniform "Type 3" Variation (PSA 2MK) – The Only PSA Listed "Type 3" W600 Wagner!
The seemingly "timeless" T206 Wagner image originally taken by renowned photographer Carl Horner is one of the most recognizable illustrations on the globe, and we continue to ponder how the stature of other rare Wagner baseball cards carrying this iconic image will eventually climb the ladder with regard to their overall desirability and value. What many hobbyists may not realize is that the inaugural cardboard appearance of the immortal Carl Horner portrait Wagner image was realized near the turn of century on his extremely scarce 1904 W600 Sporting Life Cabinet. The W600 Sporting Life Cabinet Photo-types were issued from 1902 thru 1911 by the Sporting Life weekly newspaper in 5" x 7-1/2" size and are highly desirable for any avid vintage baseball card collector.

The first two years (1902 & '03), Honus Wagner's subject was issued in a "Street Clothes" format, with both these Type 1 and Type 2 versions portraying Wagner in period-style formal attire. In 1904, the Sporting Life Company decided to issue Wagner's W600 cabinet with a resounding Carl Horner baseball uniform portrait illustration that would eventually become the hallowed image for the "Flying Dutchman's" immortal T206 subject! With that in mind, presented here is a spectacular PSA 2MK 1904 W600 Wagner in a "Type 3" format, with that designation based on "crossed baseball bats" along the lower border that EXCLUDE the text "Compliments Of" (W600's including the verbiage "Compliments Of" directly above the crossed bats are deemed "Type 2" versions). Its utmost rarity is substantiated by the PSA "Pop" Chart that lists this "fresh to the hobby" offering as the SOLE Type 3 example, with only eleven other "Uniform" encapsulated versions (3 of which are designated as Type 4's with the other 8 examples having undisclosed "Types").

Issued in 1904 (five years earlier than his exalted T206 subject), this W600 Type 3 portrayal of Wagner effectively transcends time from today's game to the "turn of the century" via its iconic portrait image. It would make perfect sense that the value of this oversized heirloom will likewise escalate in similar fashion to an uncontrollable brush fire, especially considering the W600 pre-dates the T206 Wagner Holy Grail, and its availability represents a fraction of the approximate 60+ known T206 Wagner's. It suffices as a true masterpiece of one of baseball's five original Hall of Famers, a player who resides as the greatest shortstop to ever grace a baseball field via his incomparable statistical achievements including eight National League batting titles.

Regarding its brilliant aesthetics, it is clearly obvious that the strict technical assessment serves as a virtually useless barometer with respect to the breathtaking central image. Crystal-clear clarity, sparkling sepia tones, strong square corners and no glaring creases all combine to paint a significantly finer picture than the "2" grade. The impressive surface is only somewhat compromised by modest soiling/foxing situated in the beneath the central frame and barely visible to the naked eye. While the obverse side reflects solid "VG/EX" aesthetics, the "2" assessment is solely due to an obvious scrapbook removal scenario with some glue residue on the blank verso. Most significant and needless to say, the unparalleled Carl Horner T206 Wagner portrait pose "steal the show!" Certainly, we are not suggesting that this W600 Wagner will ever reach the stature of Wagner's T206, for it is his T206 subject that will forever suffice as the pinnacle hobby collectible, from both a value and desirability perspective.

The sole implication is amongst the myriad of valuable pre-WWI cards, this is THE card that "mirrors" the T206 hallowed Horner pose with a favorable "Pop Chart" rarity factor of approximately 3 to 1! This museum worthy masterpiece provides the elite collector an extraordinary opportunity to obtain a brilliant eye pleasing W600 Wagner at a fraction of the cost of the T206 "Holy Grail", and you would be shrewd to capture it now before the price tag eventually soars to an unattainable level. Furthermore, since this Type 3 W600 won't send you into immediate bankruptcy, even the legendary Nostradamus would advise you not to let it slip away, for it arguably represents Honus Wagner's most imposing cardboard treasure!

MIN BID $3,000
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