(LOT 12)
1910-11 M116 Sporting Life Hans Wagner Pastel Background PSA 7 NM
NEAR-MINT WAGNER PORTRAIT!!!... The current $3 million+ price tags for even low-grade T206 Wagners have placed this incomparable "Holy Grail" issue out of reach for even the most advanced hobbyists. Thus, the myriad of collectors who cannot afford our hobby's ultimate sanctified keepsake now seek to obtain the next best thing, a card reflecting a similar likeness to 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 magnificent PSA 7 NM 1911 M116 Sporting Life pastel variation that, along with five other examples, has only been bested by a mere five PSA 8 specimens. Interestingly enough, in lieu of the stratospheric T206 Wagner price tags, auction prices for some of the other Carl Horner portrait Wagner cards have experienced a momentous value uptick over the past several years including a PSA 8 M116 pastel Wagner and PSA 5 E90-2 Wagner fetching $91K and $117K, respectively, in Memory Lane's May 2023 auction.

Recently, a low-grade PSA 1.5 FR 1910 Tip Top Wagner also nailed down $81K, further justifying the spiraling price tags for any Wagner subject boasting his iconic Carl Horner portrait pose. Indeed, the floodgates have officially opened for these legendary Wagner cards that, for the longest time, were experiencing suppressed values. Consider that the classic Hans Wagner pose initially struck by Carl Horner irrefutably resides as the cornerstone image of our illustrious hobby, substantiating why collectors are catching on and placing their hard-earned dollars into any issue portraying this timeless pose. The M116 Sporting Life cards are among the most brilliant eye-appealing 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 undisputed 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 than one exhibiting an image synonymous with the immortal T206 Wagner "Holy Grail." Regarding condition, this breathtaking PSA 7 marvel portrays an imposing portrait photo of the immortal shortstop, boasting crystal-clear clarity, sparkling hues including extremely rosy cheeks, near-perfect side-to-side centering (the image only slightly favors the upper edge), sparkling hues, and dazzling white borders.

Wagner's period-style haircut and stoic expression are additional highlights of this majestic pose, and no obtrusive flaws are evident on either side. A pack-fresh pastel background effectively projects the iconic illustration to stratospheric heights, and the fine edging includes four square corners, with modest touching along the lower left corner preventing a higher assessment. The final superlative is the bold midnight blue "SPORTING LIFE" advertisement, stubbornly defying 113 years of potential wear. Our utmost compliments to this card's previous owners who meticulously maintained the majority of its original attributes for over a century. There are only a handful of Hans Wagner issues boasting his sanctified Carl Horner portrait image, and tantamount to the Flying Dutchman's pinnacle hobby stature, this time defying M116 masterpiece would make a centerpiece attraction in any world-class baseball card gathering!

MIN BID $10,000
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