1910 S74 "White" Tobacco Silks Near-Complete Set (85/92) Plus 21 Duplicates - 101 with Ad Backs!

Sold For:

$9,000

Year:

1910

Auction:

2017 Fall

Lot #:

524

Category:

Prewar Baseball - 1910s and 1920s Cards

Presented is a rarely offered near-complete set of eighty-five different (out of 92) 1910 S74 "White" Tobacco Silks, plus twenty-one duplicates (including four color variations and eleven ad back variations). Including nineteen Hall of Famers, highlighted by Tris Speaker, as well as the ultra rare Smith (Rustlers) variation. Of the 106 silks, 101 have the original advertising backs on reverse intact. This is the largest collection of S74s with advertising reverses intact that we have ever seen, let alone offered! This is an extraordinary collection, which has been assembled over a period of many years by an extremely advanced collector. S74 silks are related to the T205 Gold Border series, and share the same basic player designs. This near-set is missing just seven silks for completion: Cobb, Graham (Cubs), Leach, Mathewson (offered as separate lot in this auction), Raymond, Scanlan, and Steinfeldt (Rustlers). It should be mentioned that the five commons listed as missing in this collection are noted in the Standard Catalog as "Existence now questioned" since no examples have been confirmed over the years. S74 "White" silks are very rarely seen in near-set form. In fact, this is only the second near-complete set of S74 "White" silks that we have ever offered (let alone with virtually all with advertising backs intact). All of the silks (except five as noted) still have the Old Mill (34), Red Sun (4), Helmar (1), or Turkey Red Cigarettes (62) paper backing attached to the reverse as originally issued (usually these advertising backs are missing), and the slightest hint of fraying, which comes with the territory with tobacco silks. Anecdotally, our consignor pursued this collection for over forty years and noted the Helmar-backed silks as next-to-impossible to find (as evidenced by the sole example present in this collection). Red Suns were equally as difficult to find, but ever-so-slightly easier than Helmar. This collection is loaded with highlights, and just a few silks are needed to complete this world-class set. Condition is 10% Ex-Mt, 64% Vg-Ex to Ex, and 26% Gd to Vg (including a few lesser and three with a slight trim). Highlights: Baker (Vg+), Bender (Vg-Ex+), two Bresnahan (Nr/Mt and Fr-Gd, both Turkey Red backs), two Brown (Ex, Old Mill and Vg, Turkey Red), Chance (miscut back centering, otherwise Ex), Chase (Ex), Clarke (Ex), Collins (Vg-Ex), two Evers (Vg-Ex+, Old Mill and slight trim, otherwise Gd+, Turkey Red), Griffith (Gd+), Marquard (Vg-Ex), McGraw (Ex+), Smith (Rustlers, no backing--our consignor has never seen or heard of this rare variation being found with a backing; blue discoloration on front, otherwise Ex), Speaker (Vg-Ex), two Tinker (Vg+, Old Mill and miscut back centering, otherwise Ex-Mt, Turkey Red), and two Wallace (Vg-Ex, Old Mill and Gd+, no back). By any measure, S74s represent one of the very best values of all 1910-era baseball tobacco issues. This is a remarkable collection of these tobacco premiums in their most ideal form (101 with ad backs intact), including many key stars, and highlighted by a very sharp example of key silk Tris Speaker. Total: 106 silks. Reserve $2,500. Estimate $5,000++.