1912 S81 Large Silk Premium #108 Christy Mathewson

Sold For:

$960

Year:

1910

Auction:

2018 Spring

Lot #:

720

Category:

Prewar Baseball - 1910s and 1920s Cards

Crisp, clean, super high-grade example of key Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson from this popular and rare circa 1910 era tobacco premium issue. S81s were issued at the same time and as part of the same promotion as T3 Turkey Reds and L1 Leathers. The S81 silks could be obtained only by mail, in exchange for twenty tobacco coupons per silk. The redeemable coupons were inserted one coupon per pack, so it is not surprising that these premiums are extremely rare. They are also one of the most beautiful and highly regarded of all baseball tobacco issues. Longtime collectors may notice that Mathewson turns up with far greater frequency than perhaps any other player in the S81 set. Approximately twenty-five years ago there was a find of S81s. We do not know the exact number of silks in the find, but suspect that it may have been as many as fifty. Most were in high grade, and all were of Mathewson. They have long since been absorbed by the collecting world, and today (especially for old-timers who remember when S81 Mathewsons were around and looking for homes) it is actually surprising that they don't turn up more often. The fact that Mathewson is one of the great stars of the set, and of all time, and that the S81 of Mathewson is one of the most attractive of all Mathewson issues, has no doubt played a role in making these beauties seem to disappear from the marketplace. But they still turn up every once in a while, and offered is a gem example from the original find. The appearance is Mint, with just a few strands of silk fray at the top and bottom, which is how most were originally found (these fray strands are usually snipped away by collectors but this example is in its original untouched state), and accompanied by the original paper backing. An extraordinary, bright, and exceptionally crisp S81 of Christy Mathewson from the original find over two decades ago. Reserve $500. Estimate (open).