1888 A16 Allen & Ginter "World's Champions" Album - Ex-Buck Barker Collection!

Sold For:

$1,320

Year:

1888

Auction:

2016 Fall

Lot #:

83

Category:

Pre-1900 Baseball Cards (1830-1899)

The beautifully designed 1888 First Series Allen & Ginter "World's Champions" premium album features all fifty cards from the N28 Allen & Ginter set, including ten baseball players (Anson, Kelly, Clarkson, Comiskey, Keefe, Ward, Glasscock, Bennett, Caruthers, and Mulvey) and nine boxers (including Sullivan). In addition to its inherent collectible value, this particular album comes with the unique provenance of having once resided in the collection of hobby pioneer Buck Barker. That fact is evident by his address stamp on the back cover that reads "Charles Barker/206Runyon Ave./St. Louis 11, Missouri." The tobacco companies spared no expense in producing these gorgeous full-color lithographic premium albums, which were available only by mail in exchange for coupons packed with tobacco products (in this case Allen & Ginter). The offered fourteen-page album (including covers), which retains its original string binding, remains in a fine state of preservation compared to most examples. In addition to the aforementioned stamp on the reverse, the front cover displays a small vertical tear along the top border and a tiny chip in the lower right corner. A very small, light pencil notation appears on the back cover. The pages are all clean and bright. In Excellent condition overall. An outstanding example of this classic, extremely popular, and colorful premium which presents the complete N28 set in album form and represents such an outstanding value among nineteenth-century tobacco issues. Reserve $500. Estimate $1,000+.