(LOT 1340)
1921 E220 National Caramel Babe Ruth PSA 1 PR-FR
From 1921 through 1923, the National Caramel Company in Lancaster, PA. distributed a black and white card set with their caramel brand, dubbed by many hobbyists as the scarcest 1920s "E" cards extant. Rarely seen, these specimens are highly desirable due to many of their ultra-obscure images only appearing on the E220 issue. Rightly so, the most prestigious and highly coveted illustration just happens to belong to the incomparable George Herman "Babe" Ruth; with this scarce PSA 1 PR National Caramel offering portraying a classic Ruthian follow through batting image as he watches another mighty clout soar into the Polo Grounds grandstands. Considering that Ruth is wearing his Yankees white cap and home pinstripes, we would assume the Ruth subject was issued in either 1921 or 1922 (1921 was the last year the Yankees wore a white pinstriped cap).

What photo could possibly better represent our National Pastime than Babe Ruth walloping a pitch into the furthest confines of this historic ballpark with Ruth, the American Flag and grandstands all combining to form a perfect "Americana" setting! Incredibly, the PSA population report only lists some 20 encapsulated copies for ALL GRADES, with its immense condition sensitivity justified by a meager three specimens reflecting grades between 3 VG and 5 EX. Any card of the great "Bambino" immediately arouses interest amongst the memorabilia circuit, especially his scarce pre-1930s black and white issues that seldom surface for the taking. "Pop" statistics don't lie, and the E220 Ruth is highly regarded as one of his most obscure and desirable subjects. Issued at the time when the unparalleled "Sultan of Swat" was virtually out-homering every Major League team, Ruth blasted 54 and 59 round-trippers in his first two record setting seasons in the Big Apple (1920 & '21) while leading the mighty Yankees to World Series appearances from 1921 through 1923.

Regarding condition, the Bambino's classic swinging pose reveals typical light contrast evident on a majority of his existing E220 subjects, with the image favoring the upper left edges. Most significantly, the image reveals virtually no "tilt" whatsoever, with the critical central batting pose eluding many of the surrounding stray creases. Three of the corner regions portray diagonal creases, with the aforementioned wrinkles, rounded corners, and scattered areas of toning accounting for the assessment. Considering its unquestionable rarity and fine aesthetics for the grade, the PSA 1 assessment is less prevalent than the "right to own a copy". The sudden rise in early 1920s black and white Ruth cards has certainly extended to his E220 issue, with a "1.5 FR" example recently fetching $25K earlier this Spring, and a "2 GOOD" specimen realizing $27K in 2021. Highly underrated for quite some time and previously undervalued, price tags for low-grade E220 Ruth's are certainly starting to "break the bank", with the elusive National Caramel Bambino subject possibly residing as one of "The Babe's" next "Holy Grail" heirlooms!

MIN BID $2,500