1923-1924 Billiken Cigarettes Cristobal Torriente

Sold For:

$5,875

Year:

1923

Auction:

2011 Spring

Lot #:

595

Category:

Prewar Baseball - 1910s and 1920s Cards

Graded FAIR 20 by SGC. 1923-1924 Billiken Tobacco card of Hall of Famer Cristobal Torriente. One of the rarest of all Cuban card issues is the Billiken Tobacco set issued in 1923-1924. Of special note with this set is the inclusion of many Negro Leaguers who played in the Cuban Winter League, including several major Negro League stars who appear in very few sets. Offered is one of the key highlight cards from this rare set, one of only several examples known to exist of Cristobal Torriente, featuring him as a member of the "Marianao B.B.C." The photographs used in the Billiken set are unique to this issue. Billiken cards feature striking real-photo style images with advertising on reverse. This card is an extremely pleasing technically low-grade example, with decent but slightly light photo quality (which can vary from card to card in this series). Technically grading Fair due to a few creases (including a vertical crease through the center), evenly rounded corners, and evidence of a pencil mark and a small red ink mark on the reverse. Reserve $500. Estimate $1,000/$1,500. SOLD FOR $5,875