Auction #26
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on:
11/4/2009
This is One of only a handful of surviving examples depicting The Key Hall of Famer from one of the rarest and most desirable of all tobacco related issues. While 25 Baseball Players were represented, the complete checklist consisted of 100 different, with the 75 additional subjects including actresses, generals, Indian chiefs, etc.). Amazingly, 16 of the 25 baseball players are Hall of Famers including the offered example, L1 Leathers were distributed as part of the same promotion as T3 Turkey Reds, and S81 Silks. All three of these Titanic premium issues were available only by mail in exchange for coupons packaged with Helmar "Turkish Trophies" brand tobacco. Ten coupons were needed to get a T3, twenty-five coupons for an S81 Silk, and fifty coupons were required to obtain just one L1 Leather. The L1 Leathers are by far the Rarest of these three premium tobacco issues and always draw the attention of advanced hobbyists when offered. This is one of the Rarest and most desirable of all Ty Cobb tobacco issues, One of fewer than 6 or 7 known to exist, I am told. The offered specimen while technically in Fair condition due to partially ragged edges and surface cracks that surround the subject is amazing at the very least, and the central Image remains undisturbed and free of flaws, while portraying a bold, black sketched likeness of "The Classic Cobb". The most feared Ball Player of his day and the Most coveted Player from the Tobacco Era combined with an element of scarcity and obscurity not easily matched. It goes with my highest recommendation!
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