(LOT 43)
1911 M116 Sporting Life Hans Wagner PSA 8 NM-MT – Highest PSA Graded Example!
PSA 8 WAGNER PORTRAIT!!!... Nobody would expect even a high-end cardboard enthusiast to purchase the next "Holy Grail" T206 Wagner that becomes available for the taking. Simply stated, the current $2 million+ market value for even low-grade examples is not a conceivable price tag for a majority of most budgets. The myriad of collectors that cannot afford our hobby's ultimate sacred relic seek to obtain the next best thing, a card reflecting a likeness of Carl Horner's classic T206 depiction of the revered Hall of Fame shortstop. Fortunately, there are a few somewhat affordable pre-WWI issues that emulate the T206 Hans Wagner in appearance, including this highest graded PSA 8 NM-MT M116 Sporting Life "Pastel Version" that joins a paltry four other examples as the finest of its kind! Interestingly enough, in lieu of the stratospheric T206 Wagner price tags, auction prices for some of the other Carl Horner portrait Wagner cards are likewise experiencing a sudden value uptick. Low-grade examples include an SGC 3 VG M116 Pastel Wagner fetching a record-setting $13K in November 2022, and an SGC 1.5 Fair E90-2 American Caramel Wagner realizing a $22K pricing point earlier this year.

This can only make one ponder what is the true value of this momentous PSA 8 offering that appears as if it was recently issued by the prestigious Sporting Life Company. Considering that the classic Hans Wagner pose initially struck by Carl Horner irrefutably resides as the cornerstone image of our illustrious hobby, collectors are catching on and placing their hard-earned dollars into any issue portraying this timeless pose. The M116 Sporting Life cards are amongst the most brilliant eye appeal cards ever manufactured, enhanced by their stunning palette of pastel colors. These cards were offered to subscribers of the Sporting Life periodical in 24 separate series of 12 cards each. A majority of the portrait images are replicas of the classic Carl Horner photographs including the offered example of the immortal Hans Wagner. Unquestionably, the unparalleled aura of the T206 Wagner coupled with his title as baseball's greatest all-time shortstop has ignited the hype of capturing as many Wagner related keepsakes as possible, from both a collecting and investment perspective. With that in mind, what better card could one hope to obtain that one that carries an image synonymous with the immortal T206 Wagner.

Regarding this particular PSA 8 marvel, Wagner's imposing portrait photo reflects vibrant pink facial hues, with his period style haircut and stoic expression all retaining virtually all of their original factory-issued attributes. A near-flawless pastel background effectively projects the iconic pose to stratospheric heights, with the illustration only slightly favoring the left edge between four blizzard-like white borders. Razor-sharp edges and four pinpoint corners are consistent with the assessment, and the impeccable surfaces, including a bold midnight blue "SPORTING LIFE" advertisement, have stubbornly defied 112 years of potential wear. Our utmost compliments to this card's previous owners who meticulously maintained its original qualities for over a century of time. There are only a handful of Hans Wagner issues boasting his sanctified Carl Horner portrait image, and synonymous with the Flying Dutchman's pinnacle hobby stature, this miraculous M116 offering truly resides as one of the finest preserved examples on the planet!

MIN BID $10,000
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