Issued between 1911 and 1914 by the Buffalo NY company the issue known today as D304 and commonly called "Brunners Bread" cards is one of the more unique issues of its era due in part to the size of the cards (the cards are slightly larger than the more widely-distributed tobacco issues of the day) and partially due to the striking images of the subjects. Unlike other baseball issues of the day which often shared poses or images across multiple sets the poses and illustrations in the D304 set are found only in this issue. The D304 issue is also significantly more rare than the popular tobacco issues of the era with its key cards rarely becoming available for sale in the hobby. The 25 cards from this issue are a rarity, and we are pleased to offer several in this auction.
Attractive example featuring Tigers outfielder and Hall of Famer Sam Crawford, reduced in grade due to wrinkling and heavy edge wear, along with corner creasing and rounding. Some mild staining on the reverse also contributes to the grade. Regardless, a desirable card of a key player, sought after by advanced collectors in any grade.