Masterpieces and Uncommon Commons XXV
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on:
2/12/2010
It doesn’t take a HOF player, nor a high grade limited Population Report for a baseball card to be sort out by advanced collectors. Such is the case with this Ray Demmitt ‘St. Louis’ version T206 that has been graded a stellar PA 6. Currently, PSA has encapsulated approximately 100 examples with a SOLE other copy existing at this tier and only 3 specimens graded higher! The prestigious T206 Tobacco set issued between 1909 – 1911 is first renowned for the 4 high end cards to obtain including Wagner, Plank, the Magee error (Magie) and Doyle variation. After these famous four, the two rarest variations are the St. Louis Demmitt and O’Hara versions produced by the Polar Bear cigarette company. After Demmitt was traded from the New York Giants to the St. Louis Browns of the American League, only the Polar Bear company reflected this change in their tobacco issues. All other factory issues printed Demmitt in a New York Giants uniform. Hence, a significant T206 variation was born! While the exact count is unknown, the limited number of St. Louis Demmitt’s now command significant dollars, and are amongst the toughest top ten T206’s to obtain.
This PSA 6 Demmitt offering provides spectacular eye appeal worthy of its technical assessment. Clear registration and superb contrast of the classic “Hands on Hips” pose is set against a background consisting of pleasant orange and green hues. The frame is well centered “top to bottom” and slightly favors the left edge. The four corners still retain a majority of their original right angle shape, with only the lower left corner’s wear preventing this card from achieving “near mint” status. Bright white borders, a blemish free obverse surface and fine edging complete a magnificent obverse side. The standard St. Louis version Polar bear back depicts strong eye appeal with the vivid white advertisement print set against a clean dark blue background. Bottom line is this offering provides the enthusiast with a high grade T206 Demmitt “St. Louis” variation card that has only been bested by 3 other PSA examples. Many advanced vintage collectors continue to tackle the challenge of trying to build the T206 “Monster Set”. For most, accumulating 520 of the 524 cards (excluding the aforementioned top 4) is satisfaction that they have, indeed, completed the set. With that in mind, here is a rare opportunity to add one of the toughest “high grade” pieces to your T206 puzzle!
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