Among the most rare of all the tobacco issues the 1913 Fatima premiums are large-format versions of the popular T200 Fatima team photo cards that were inserted into cigarette tins that year. The premiums could be obtained by redeeming 40 coupons from the cigarette packs and are virtually identical in nature to the cards but are enormous (21" x 13") and do not contain the Fatima tobacco advertising found on the cards themselves. Despite being mounted on heavy board the enormous size of the pieces made them susceptible to considerable condition flaws and the difficulty in obtaining them in 1913 makes them particularly rare today. Those that do make themselves available typically exhibit significant flaws including paper loss folding and creasing staining writing and worse. Presented here is one of the finest examples we have seen featuring the 1913 New York Giants. The Giants premium is among the most desirable in the issue not only due to the presence of Hall of Famers Christy Mathewson Rube Marquard and John McGraw but due to the appearance of Jim Thorpe (front row left) one of the most widely-collected non-HOFers of his era. The quality of the image is simply stellar; wonderfully clear and crisp with very few blemishes to the photo itself. The mount is intact though exhibits some mild paper loss (particularly at the lower corners) and some "notches" along the edges. The reverse exhibits some paper loss foxing and vintage writing. Still it is the incredible clarity and focus of the image that provides the piece with its visual appeal; one of the finest Fatima premiums we have seen. A rare piece with incredible desirability.