1921 E121 American Caramel (Series of 80) "Babe" Ruth

Sold For:

$42,000

Year:

1921

Auction:

2018 Fall

Lot #:

693

Category:

Prewar Baseball - 1910s and 1920s Cards

Graded VG-EX+ 4.5 by PSA (submitted by REA). Presented is a superb E121 American Caramel card of Babe Ruth. This is one of the premier early Ruth cards and one of the very few dating from the early 1920s. Perfectly clean front and back, with light wear on the corners and clean, white borders framing a perfectly centered, virtually flawless, bold image. The black text on the reverse is crisp, bold, and essentially flawless. It is interesting to note that the young, but already very celebrated, Ruth is pictured on this card in a Boston uniform, though he is appropriately identified below as a member of the New York Americans. "Boston" (mostly covered by Ruth's throwing arm) can be clearly seen across Ruth's chest upon close examination. In fact, this photograph of Ruth is the very same image that was used on Ruth's 1917 E135 Collins-McCarthy candy card. Apparently the American Caramel Company was going to print and did not have the time to pursue an updated image of Ruth with his new team. This is an exceptional example of this classic Babe Ruth card worthy of any advanced Babe Ruth or prewar-card collection. Reserve $5,000. Estimate $10,000+.