(LOT 30)
Magnificent 1910 American Caramel E90-2 Honus Wagner PSA 5 EX – Only One PSA Example Graded Higher!
WAGNER PORTRAIT RARITY!!!... The T206 Honus Wagner will forever be the Holy Grail collectible of the baseball memorabilia circuit, and while every cardboard collector dreams about owning this card, even "beater" examples now require a $2 million+ budget. For even the most advanced enthusiasts, capturing a T206 Wagner has evolved into a near-impossible conquest, justifying why recent prices for similar pre-WWI Wagner issues portraying a similar Carl Horner portrait image have likewise escalated through the roof. One such example is the hallowed E90-2 Honus Wagner subject that was issued in early 1910 as part of an 11-card Pittsburgh Pirates set by the American Caramel Company to commemorate Pittsburgh's momentous 1909 World Series win over the Detroit Tigers.

Seldom offered in any grade, this card has recently skyrocketed in value, with an SGC 1.5 FAIR example fetching a staggering $22.2K in January 2023, and an SGC 2 GOOD copy realizing $23.4K in November 2022! No longer a best kept hobby secret, the E90-2 Wagner is no longer regarded as a sleeper card, proudly elevating itself over the past year as one of the most desirable vintage cards on the planet due to its coupled Carl Horner lithographic Wagner portrait pose and relative scarcity. Of course, like so many other turn of the century candy cards, it is subjected to extreme condition sensitivity, with the highest graded PSA example being a single 6-EX-MT specimen. That said, presented here just happens to be one of the finest preserved E90-2 Wagner's, a stellar PSA 5 EX keepsake joining only five other PSA examples at this obscure plateau, with only that one previously mentioned PSA 6 subject graded higher!

The floodgates have officially opened with regard to the illustrious stature of any Honus Wagner pre-WWI card depicting the hallowed Wagner portrait image originally struck by Carl Horner. Obviously, the Flying Dutchman's T206 subject has elevated the value for all of his vintage cards, with all of Wagner's "portrait" brethren truly capitalizing on his unparalleled popularity. Also consider that this legendary player is widely regarded as our National Pastime's greatest all-time shortstop, with his slick fielding and remarkable batting skills (he did win eight batting titles!), as well as his 1936 HOF Charter Membership substantiating that notion. For all these reasons, this grand offering merits the utmost attention from the most sophisticated collectors, for it may be quite some time before another mid-grade offering surfaces for the taking.

Synonymous with his revered T206 subject, the classic Honus Wagner portrait image has been portrayed on the obverse side with this offering's imposing illustration exhibiting extremely robust facial and gray uniform hues. The imposing blue background has eluded any notable defects, and the image somewhat favors the right edge between four relatively clean borders. Finding an E90-2 Wagner that is crease free is a near-impossible task, yet this stunning memento appears to have eluded any glaring creases. While there might be a faint wrinkle under heavy magnification, both sides have managed to side-step any obtrusive surface flaws to the naked eye. For full disclosure, preventing a higher assessment is even corner wear and some diminutive enamel peel situated on the upper left corner, rendered virtually negligible versus the remaining outstanding aesthetics.

The bold blue "WAGNER, PITTSBURGH" text, is completely intact, and the moderately toned verso reflects a bold black AMERICAN CARAMEL advertisement including the very popular two crossed bats, glove and baseball line drawings. Save the T206 Wagner Holy Grail, this PSA 5 EX E90-2 offering arguably suffices as one of Honus' most desirable and valuable cards. The sheer combination of overall rarity and the iconic Wagner portrait pose have propelled even low-grade examples to the $22-$25K plateau, and we will let the elite enthusiast ultimately decide the true value of this exalted PSA 5 masterpiece that would be the centerpiece attraction in any world-class compilation!

MIN BID $10,000
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