Newly Discovered T206 Ty Cobb back SGC-2.5 sold for $337,704

Robert Edward Auctions (Dec 8, 2024)

Lot #3: Newly Discovered 1909-1911 T206 White Border Ty Cobb Portrait Red Background SGC GOOD+ 2.5 - Extremely Rare Ty Cobb Back!

Presented is a remarkable newly discovered example of one of card collecting's most legendary rarities: the T206 Ty Cobb with "Ty Cobb" back. For many years there were only fourteen examples of the Ty Cobb with the "Ty Cobb" back known to exist until a number of exciting finds in recent years, which has pushed the total to fewer than thirty known.

This card comes to us from a family outside of Greensboro, North Carolina, where the card was the centerpiece of a large vintage baseball card collection built between the 1970s and 1990s. Originally purchased at a flea market in the 1980s by our consignor's father, the card was highlighted in an August 1990 feature story in their hometown newspaper, a copy of which accompanies the card. The collection, and this incredible rarity, was eventually passed from father to son, where the T206 Ty Cobb with "Ty Cobb" back stayed in its original ungraded state until just earlier this year.

Graded GOOD+ 2.5 by SGC, the offered card is a magnificent example in every way! The card boasts a brilliant red background, flawless registration (which can sometimes be a problem with this card), and perfect centering. The important advertisement is boldly printed in green ink, which is of course of monumental significance on an ideal Ty Cobb card with "Ty Cobb" back example. Only a few unobtrusive creases, including one in the lower right corner, along with very light discoloration along the reverse are responsible for the assigned grade. These are of no consequence whatsoever, in our opinion, when reviewing the card's incredible overall visual appeal. This is one of the finest examples of this card we have ever handled!

A T206 Ty Cobb with "Ty Cobb" back is one of tobacco-card collecting's greatest prizes in any grade. This is an exceptionally attractive card that, as can easily be seen, presents at a level that is far superior to many of the known examples. Exactly how these cards were distributed has always remained one of the great mysteries of the card-collecting world. The T206 set is the premier set of the era and the single most significant and widely collected of all baseball-card sets. A strong case can be made that the T206 Ty Cobb with "Ty Cobb" back should be assigned its own catalog number as a "one-card set," but due to its great similarity to the T206 series, this card has always been considered a T206. This is an exceptional example with tremendous eye-appeal of one of card collecting's most significant rarities with the added distinction of being entirely new to the modern hobby!

Final Bid with Buyer's Premium (20%): $337,704