Lot # 50: 1888 G&B Chewing Gum John Ward (HOF) - PSA GOOD 2(MK)

Category: Featured Items

Starting Bid: $2,500.00

Bids: 22 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Summer, 2024 Premier Auction",
which ran from 9/12/2024 4:00 AM to
9/28/2024 9:00 PM



Incredible card from what was, along with the H.D. Smith & Co. issue of 1888, the first baseball card to be issued with candy or gum. The small (1 1/16" x 2 1/8") cards issued by the New York-based Green & Blackwell company resemble the N403 Yum Yum tobacco cards, with many common photos and illustrations shared between the two sets. The cards are exceedingly rare, with just 129 graded examples between SGC and PSA (only 8 by PSA). The combined population reports indicate that just three examples of Hall of Famer John Montgomery Ward's card have been graded, this being the first assessed by PSA (it was consigned ungraded to us, and we submitted it to PSA this summer).  The card is attractive but exhibits wear consistent with the grade, the MK qualifier due to erased pencil writing on the reverse.  An extremely appealing example of a key 19th Century rarity featuring one of the era's most important players.

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