1917 E135 Collins-McCarthy #147 Babe Ruth

Sold For:

$90,000

Year:

1917

Auction:

2017 Fall

Lot #:

651

Category:

Prewar Baseball - 1910s and 1920s Cards

Graded FAIR 20 by SGC. Presented is an extremely attractive E135 Collins-McCarthy card of Babe Ruth, one of Ruth's most significant, rarest, and in our opinion, most overlooked cards. We think the reason this card doesn't get the attention it deserves is simply because it is so rare. This is one of the premier early Ruth cards and one of the very few dating from the beginning of his legendary career. This is only the third example of this important card that we ever offered in the last fifteen years. (A PSA FR 1.5 example appeared as lot #948 in REA's Spring 2017 sale, where it realized $66,000.) 1917 Collins-McCarthy candy cards are one of the few major card issues dating from the mid-teens. They are somewhat similar in design to the M101-4/5 Sporting News cards, are from the same general era, and also have 200 cards in the set, so they are somehow overshadowed by the popular M101-4/5 issues. E135 Collins-McCarthy cards, however, are considerably rarer, and were never issued as complete sets to the public. They are usually encountered only in small groups and usually in low grade. They were also produced on a slightly thinner stock (compared to M101-4/5) that is far more susceptible to wear, and with a very glossy surface, which is very prone to creasing. The offered card is bright and crisp, with outstanding picture quality, even corner wear, a few creases, and centered to the left. The card has a Very Good appearance, but is technically Good due to heavy soiling on the reverse. The image on this card is an early pitching pose of Ruth. It is interesting to note the image on this card is the very same used on Ruth's 1921 E121 American Caramel candy card. This is an exceptional modestly graded example of one of Babe Ruth’s most elusive cards dating from very early in Ruth's career. Reserve $5,000. Estimate (open).