Signed 1939 R334 Play Ball #56 Hank Greenberg PSA VG 3 with GEM MINT 10 Signature - Extremely Rare "Sample" Back!

Sold For:

$4,800

Year:

1939

Auction:

2024 Summer

Lot #:

1136

Category:

Autographed Baseballs/Flats/Photos

1939 Play Ball Hank Greenberg card #56 with the rare “Free Sample” stamp on the reverse, signed by him in red ink on the front. PSA/DNA has encapsulated the card (submitted by REA), grading the signature GEM MINT 10 and the card VG 3. In 1939, Gum, Inc. was all set to produce and distribute baseball cards. To introduce its new product, the very first baseball card set issued by Gum, Inc., a small quantity of low-number cards (#1-115) were overprinted with advertising for the set, and distributed as “Free Samples” (as noted on reverse) to help generate interest and excitement in the new offering. The red advertising message is printed horizontally directly over the standard text of the reverse, and reads in full: "FREE SAMPLE CARD. GET YOUR PICTURES OF LEADING BASEBALL PLAYERS. THREE PICTURE CARDS PACKED IN EACH PACKAGE OF "PLAY BALL AMERICA" BUBBLE GUM. AT YOUR CANDY STORE 1 CENT." In every other way, these advertising cards were identical to the production cards issued in packs. These were promotional cards provided to retailers strictly for the purpose of giving away. We don’t see many of these rare advertising cards in the hobby today, let alone the key card of Hank Greenberg, but it must have been very exciting for youngsters to be given a free sample of this new issue in 1939. This is one of only three examples of this particular card ("Free Sample" back) certified by PSA/DNA and the first we have ever offered. Opening Bid $300.