The 1886 Hancock's cards represent the earliest-known minor league cards, issued by the men's department of a Syracuse, NY department store and featuring members of the Syracuse Stars of the International League.  The cards are among the most rare of all type cards, as just three examples are known to exist, each of a different player. The cards, which feature the player's name and position printed on the reverse (the first baseball card issue to do so), feature a photographic image of the player, surrounded by a dark border. The cards, produced the same season as the N167 Old Judge issue, are among the earliest baseball cards issued.

Described on the card reverse as "the great short stop," Philip H Tomney had a nine-year professional career, including three seasons with the Louisville Colonels, where he served as their regular shortstop in 1889 and 1890 before being replaced by future Hall of Famer Hughie Jennings.  Tomney had five different poses in the N172 Old Judge issue.

This particular card has been graded EX 5 by SGC, with a clear, bold image. The Hancock's cards were produced with round corners; this example does exhibit a bit of whiteness at the edges consistent with its age, most notable at the bottom right corner. Edge and corner wear are, of course, irrelevant, as its extreme rarity and age are the key factors in its appeal. Simply a remarkable card, one of the most impossible type cards to track down, the first instance of its public sale that we can find. The winning bidder will be the only person on the planet to own the only known example of this incredible rarity.