Known for his durability and defensive skill, Bill Holbert stands ready to capture a studio-provided ball hanging from its string. This is one of seven different Old Judge poses offered for Holbert, a classic "good glove, bad bat" catcher of the 1880s. His image clarity rates among the best you'll find for N172 singles, with his mustachioed mug, uniform, boots, and background all discernible. The line at his waist appears to be a divide in the backdrop itself, something you might miss on a lesser-condition example.

Given its overall image quality, strong borders, and clean surfaces, the PSA AUTHENTIC grade implies that this card had some amount of trimming or alteration to improve its look. We disagree, as the card appears properly cut, with no signs of alteration that we can discern. Regardless of technical score, the population report shows this as PSA's only encapsulated example to date, making it a minor miracle to be in such appealing shape. It's tough to imagine something better surviving the century-plus since that original release.