1906 W601 Sporting Life Detroit Tigers Team Composite Postcard with Ty Cobb

Sold For:

$9,000

Year:

1906

Auction:

2016 Spring

Lot #:

158

Category:

Prewar Baseball - Early 1900s Cards

Graded VG/EX 50 by SGC (submitted by REA). Exceptionally attractive 1906 Detroit Tigers W601 Sporting Life team composite postcard, of special note as it is highlighted by the inclusion of Ty Cobb (1906 is extremely early for any item featuring Cobb). This is a smaller, postcard version of the Sporting Life team composites (13 x 14 inches) issued by the Sporting Life newspaper, which were available to fans either by individual purchase (for ten cents) or as a complete set in a bound volume. Although the 1905 Detroit Tigers team composite featuring Cobb is considered by many to be one of the earliest images in existence of Cobb as a member of the Tigers and one that predates his rookie card by one or two years (Cobb's true rookie card is often debated by collectors), this 1906 composite, issued just one year later, features the exact same image of Cobb (who made his debut on August 30, 1905, at the age of eighteen). This postcard, along with the two large-format composites from 1905 and 1906, undoubtedly represent some of the earliest promotional issues featuring Ty Cobb, who is situated in the bottom row of this team composite. Included among the remaining eighteen team members are Sam Crawford, William Armour (Mgr.), Wild Bill Donovan, Germany Schaefer, Bobby Lowe, George Mullin, and Matty McIntyre. The offered example is extremely attractive, with a flawless image and light, even wear to the corners. Clean reverse, never addressed or mailed. This is one of only eight examples of this rare postcard ever graded (at any level) by PSA or SGC. While we realize that the definition of what is a player's rookie card can sometimes be very controversial and can vary from collector to collector, this postcard is certainly worthy of consideration for that claim, a distinction that is reasonably shared with several issues dating from Cobb's earliest days in the Majors. This is an extraordinary example of one of the key team composite postcards from this rare set, and one of the earliest of all Ty Cobb cards, that would be a monumental addition to any Hall of Fame, world-class postcard, or Ty Cobb collection. Reserve $1,000. Estimate $2,500++.