Considered by many to be the "true" Honus Wagner rookie card the highly desirable 1899 M101-1 Sporting News supplement is rare and incredibly desirable. Due to their large size (roughly 8 3/4" x 11") and lightweight stock the cards are typically found with significant condition issues including paper loss tearing tack holes scrapbook remnants and significant trimming. The premiums were each issued on one single day distributed with copies of The Sporting News. Wagner's supplement was issued only on August 19 1899 depicting him as a third baseman with the Louisville Colonels. They are quite valuable - trimmed examples still sell into the thousands and examples in lower technical grades routinely reach five figures on the rare occasion that they find their way to public sale. The large size of the M101-1 supplements - like many supplements - has lent itself to a variety of different uses from wallcovering to folk art and this example is no exception. It was discovered by our consignor attached with glue to a vintage wooden picture frame along with three other examples from the set (two of which are featured elsewhere in this auction). The frame had become broken and stained with water and the glass shattered - leaving a very dangerous and yet very valuable - display. We carefully removed the glass shards as well as the outer portion of the frame leaving four M101-1 supplements glued to a wooden frame. From there we submitted the frame and its contents to a professional paper conservator who carefully separated the supplements from the frame removed the glue staining and repaired a few minor tears that had taken place along the edges. From there we submitted the supplement to Beckett - the only company with a holder large enough to accommodate this issue - so that it could be encapsulated and labeled "AUTHENTIC - ALTERED" so that the existence of the professional restoration would be noted on this and future sales of the piece. While we are not fans of restoring cards in this case a rare and historically important piece was subjected to significant damage that could be reversed and repaired revealing what is certainly one of the most attractive known examples of Honus Wagner's earliest issue. An extremely attractive rare and desirable supplement with the alteration designed to save and restore the piece properly noted by the grading company.