(LOT 27)
"The First Football Card" - 1888 N162 Goodwin Champions Harry Beecher (SGC Near Mint 7) – "1 of 1"; Highest Graded SGC Example!
What could possibly be more rewarding than being the proud owner of one of the finest preserved inaugural Pro-Football trading cards! Courtesy of Memory Lane, that dream could now be a reality for presented here just happens to be a brilliant SGC NM 7 Harry Beecher 1888 Goodwin Champions N162 gem that stands as a "Pop 1" and the highest SGC Graded example! One of the most significant sport cards extant, it resides as one of the noteworthy components within the breathtaking 1888 N162 set that included 50 different sport subjects distributed in packs of Gypsy Queen and Old Judge cigarettes. Along with a handful of the baseball Hall of Famers, the Beecher arguably stands alongside Cap Anson and King Kelly as the set's most momentous subject, as well as being the most coveted 19th century football card.

Beecher's star status and ultimate placement on an N162 subject evolved from being Yale's star quarterback from 1884-1887, with the popular Ivy League signal caller leading Yale to two consecutive Collegiate National Championships in 1886 and 1887. Regarding this world-class offering's remarkable aesthetics, its vast array of sparkling hues, sharp edging, right-angled corners, bright white borders, fine centering, (only revealing a slight hint of favoritism towards the lower left edges), and relatively clean surfaces all combine to justify the pinnacle SGC assessment. Considering its inaugural football card stature and "best of the rest" census report standing, we highly expect a vast number of elite gridiron enthusiasts to wage a fierce battle for its final ownership!

MIN BID $8,500
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