Outstanding example from the vastly underappreciated George Ruth Candy Company issue, a small set released around 1928 and including photos of Ruth taken during a 1924 West Coast tour and also including scenes from the film "Babe Comes Home." The original, authentic cards are very scarce today, perhaps because the set was accompanied by a redemption offer that promised a baseball with "Babe Ruth's genuine signature on it" in exchange for the complete set of six.

The reason we refer to "original, authentic" cards is because there is some confusion about the cards and their authenticity.  Essentially, there are two different styles of George Ruth Candy Company cards. The first was an extremely high-quality version, printed on thicker, white stock, with incredibly clear, detailed printing. The second was an inferior version, printed on more of a tan, lightweight stock, with printing of lesser quality.  To add to the confusion, the second version - the tan stock - was reprinted in the 1970s or 1980s, and the reprints are very difficult to discern from the originals, which has led grading companies to stop grading all the cards from the issue. As a result, they are very scarce.

Presented here is an example from the higher-quality white stock series, the #1 card in the set, featuring the Babe in his uniform from the film "Babe Comes Home."  The quality of the printing is undeniable, featuring a crisp, detailed image of Ruth (so detailed that one can make out features in the people in the crowd behind Ruth), each pinstripe vivid, the buttons on his jersey visible and clear.  Generously graded VG-EX 4 by PSA, the card does exhibit some wear and soiling at the edges and corners, as well as on the reverse.  However, it is the quality of the printing and the clarity of the image that is so appealing about this card.  The card itself was once a part of the collection of actor and celebrity Charlie Sheen, though not marked as such on the grading label, and was sold as part of an auction of his collection some years ago.  A very rare and underappreciated card of superior quality.