(LOT 155)
Amazing 1933 Blue Bird Babe Ruth "Front View" (SGC EX 5) & Two Ultra-Rare c.1930's Blue Bird Grape Drink Cardboard Advertising Signs - "1 of 1" SGC 5; Only 4 SGC Examples Graded Higher"!
If you are looking for a nebulous Babe Ruth oversized card from his playing days, then his 1933 Blue Bird issue is the one for you. In 1933, the "Blue Bird" soft drink manufacturer produced two separate Babe Ruth photo postcards with their brand advertisement on the backside. For 29 bottle caps and $1.39, anyone could receive a Babe Ruth model glove valued at $3.50, while the same number of bottle caps and $0.89 was good enough to purchase a $2.00 Official baseball. With similar back advertisement, the two separate Ruth issues are distinguished by a front and sideways batting pose. The front image should be widely recognized for it is the classic Charles Conlon image portrayed on several of his 1933 Goudey R319 issues, with this stellar SGC EX 5 offering now available for the taking. Consider that it resides as the SOLE SGC copy at this tier with only four other SGC examples graded higher!

The verso is likewise magnificent, for it reveals an elaborate Blue Bird Grape Soda ad that states "let's drink Blue Bird – More Delicious than Grape Juice." The top of the ad boldly states: "29 is your lucky number" with the 29 referring to the aforementioned bottle cap redemption plan that result in receiving either a Babe Ruth model glove or Official Wilson baseball. Even more impressive is that the SGC 5 classic Ruth card is accompanied by two extremely scarce c.1930's "Blue Bird" store advertising pieces consisting of thick cardboard stock; one measuring some 8-7/8" x 11-3/4" and the other measuring approximately 3-1/8" x 6". The larger ad reveals a bright yellow surface with red checkered and black verbiage, while the smaller ad exhibits an individual drinking the popular Blue Bird Grape Soda with all of the print depicted in an eye pleasing purple hue. The larger ad reveals some paper loss near the upper right edge with various stray wrinkles not negating its overall superb aesthetics, and it should be noted that both ads portray the very similar redemption ads as the 1933 Blue Bird Ruth card (29 bottle caps for either a glove or official baseball).

The major disparity in the store ads versus the Blue Bird Ruth card are the ads referencing a required $1.29 for a Wilson Major League Horsehide Glove as opposed to the card indicating an additional $1.39 is required for a Spalding Babe Ruth Professional Glove (Redemptions for the Official Wilson Baseball are exactly the same). An extraordinary compilation to say the least, it would be easier to locate a "needle in a haystack" than to come across another opportunity to capture the seldom surfacing Babe Ruth Blue Bird cabinet sized card and several related cardboard ads that perfectly compliment the imposing 1933 "Sultan of Swat" Grape Soda issue.

MIN BID $1,000
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