1917 H801-8 Boston Store #82 Joe Jackson

Sold For:

$18,000

Year:

1917

Auction:

2021 Spring

Lot #:

582

Category:

Prewar Baseball - 1910s and 1920s Cards

Presented is an extremely presentable example of one of the most important and elusive of all Joe Jackson cards. This is only the fifth example of this important card that we ever offered in the last eighteen years. The 1917 Boston Store cards are extremely difficult to find in high grade. Like their E135 Collins-McCarthy counterparts, Boston Store cards of Jackson are rarely offered in any condition. Unlike the somewhat similar 1916 Sporting News card set, these cards were never issued as complete sets to the public. They were also produced on a slightly thinner stock that is far more susceptible to wear, and with a very glossy surface that is very prone to creasing. Boston Store cards are usually encountered one card at a time and in low grade. To find even a common card in anything approaching mid-grade is a challenge, let alone key card "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. PSA and SGC have combined to grade only thirteen examples of Jackson, in any condition, from the Boston Store set. The card features a very unusual batting pose of Jackson. It is interesting to note that this pose appears only in the Boston Store set (and related issues). Joe Jackson cards are few and far between in the card-collecting world. There are only a handful of different issues, including crudely produced strip-card issues. Even fewer picture him with the Chicago White Sox. Because Jackson is pictured in a Chicago uniform, with a great image, and with Black Betsy perched on his shoulder, no less, and the fact that this card is infinitely rarer and far more substantial than the smaller Sporting News issue, this is arguably the ultimate Joe Jackson baseball card. This example offers outstanding photo contrast, centering toward the right, and evenly rounded corners. The important advertising reverse is boldly printed. Graded FAIR 1.5 by PSA due to heavy creasing, light staining, and few touches of paper loss on the reverse. This card provides collectors a rarely seen, relatively affordable alternative to a far more expensive high-grade example. Despite the flaws, this is a very pleasing, technically low-grade example of one of the most significant of all baseball cards. Reserve $5,000. Estimate (open).