1914 T216 Kotton Tobacco Nap Lajoie Portrait SGC POOR 1

Sold For:

$5,760

Year:

1914

Auction:

2025 February

Lot #:

22

Category:

Prewar Baseball Cards (1900-1941)

Extremely rare tobacco card of Nap Lajoie (portrait variation) from the 1914 Kotton Tobacco set. The Kotton Tobacco set shares designs with several other closely related caramel and bakery issues (E90-1 American Caramel Company, E92 Dockman & Sons, etc.) from the same era. All Kotton Tobacco cards are extremely rare, but an example of Hall of Famer Nap Lajoie is especially desirable to serious collectors. This is a particularly fascinating card in the set as it lists Lajoie as a member of the Philadelphia Athletics on the bottom. Lajoie was purchased from Cleveland by Philadelphia in January 1915. (Two variations of Lajoie with Cleveland also exist within this set.) Produced by the People's Tobacco Co. of New Orleans, the Kotton Tobacco series was regionally issued only in the Louisiana area. The offered card has a flawless image set against a striking red-orange background. The reverse is lightly soiled and has a bold advertisement for Kotton Cigarettes. Graded POOR 1 by SGC, flaws include scattered creasing and rounded corners. A fascinating and noteworthy Hall of Famer example from this rare set.