The T206 set is, of course, the most widely collected of all prewar card issues, with good reason: there is no shortage of different ways to collect the cards.  In the case of a small but powerful group we are proud to feature in this auction, one collector focused less on the content of the cards, and more on the cards themselves. Concerned with what many feel is an epidemic of card alteration in the hobby, our consignor looked for cards with exceptionally wide borders, an indication that the card edges and corners were natural, and not subject to trimming. We are thrilled to present them here, a fascinating grouping of cards with an unusual appearance, including many of the issue's key cards.

There are three different Napoleon Lajoie cards included in the T206 set. This version is a gorgeous portrait of the Hall of Fame infielder in front of a yellow gradient background. Centering is far south on this one, to the extent that half of his name on the bottom has been cut off, and half of the name from the card above is present. Nevertheless, the corners are nice and the edges are fantastic for a card of this grade. Further, the odd cut has resulted in an extremely wide top border, and close examination reveals the left and right borders are particularly wide as well. A small crease in the top left doesn't come close to affecting the image of one of baseball's first great hitters. The Piedmont back is mostly clean, with some light soiling near the bottom left corner. Despite it's flaws, this is a card with lots of eye appeal.