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.

With respect to the T206 Cy Young Portrait card, we often refer to the observation of a longtime collector friend who described the card as "looking like it belongs above a fireplace mantel, rather than in a card collection."  Such is the aesthetic beauty of the image, picturing the veteran hurler near the end of his career, yet looking youthful and stately in the image, which is derived from a Horner portrait photo from at least six years earlier.  

Centering is far south on the canvas, leaving a large top border and unfortunately cutting off the bottom part of the text under his image. Corners are soft and rounded, with a bit of edge chipping on the right side. The printing on the Piedmont back is bold with some light soiling particularly evident in the top left quadrant. One of the key cards to the popular T206 issue.