In recent years, the 1946-47 Propaganda Montiel "Los Reyes del Deporte" issue has finally begun to earn its due as a scarce, condition-sensitive set with some extremely important cards.  Intended to be affixed to the pages of a printed album, the Cuban cards were printed on flimsy paper, almost newsprint, most containing the player image inset around a yellow or orange border.  The 180-card set includes Cuban and Major League baseball stars of the era and earlier as well as boxers and wrestlers.

Though Stan Musial had been in the majors since 1941 and by 1946 was a bona fide star (he batted .365 that season), the lack of baseball cards issued during the War years make Musial rookie cards elusive.  Though his earliest mainstream cards are his 1948 Bowman and 1948-49 Leaf,  Musial had several cards issued earlier, this one being the most difficult to find.  During the hobby boom, the Propagandas card of Musial has become the key card in the set, with even the lowest-grade examples reaching close to five-figure sales.

This example has been graded POOR 1 by SGC, but boasts eye appeal that far surpasses the grade.  Light staining and discoloration, along with a few tiny spots of paper loss on the reverse, are likely the result of scrapbook removal.  A few stray creases are evident upon close inspection, two in particular at the left edge.  The image is centered well for the issue, however, with the staining not at all distracting.  Corners are square and chipping or wear at the edges is minimal.  A superb example, particularly for the grade, one of Stan Musial's true rookie cards, and perhaps the most rare.