The Incredible "St. Louis Find" of Drum Backed T206 Cards

Legendary Auctions (April 29-30, 2009)

This recent "find" of T206 baseball cards (along with several T205's presented elsewhere in this catalog) is unbelievably special and significant: all of the cards feature the elusive "Drum" branded advertising on their backs! The significance of this discovery is substantial, and it represents an unprecedented assembly of these rarely seen treasures. These noteworthy cards represent a particular thrill for advanced collectors.

Doug Allen, President and CEO of Legendary Auctions, says he has never seen anything to compare with this find. "In over 20 years of collecting and selling, I've handled tens of thousands of T205 and T206 cards," Allen notes. "But this is the greatest quantity of 'Drum' backs that has ever been seen in one place."

As he was growing up, the consignor of the "Drum" cards knew that they were valuable items, he just didn't know how valuable they were. And for a long time, it really didn't matter. The consignor simply enjoyed collecting baseball cards especially since he shared the hobby with his grandfather and treasured the time they spent together immersed in their pursuit.

When it came time to sell the cards, the consignor sent images to Legendary in order to get an idea of how much they were worth. After all, he knew they were pre-war cards, so he guessed that they had value. In total, there were 41 different T206s and eight different T205s—all featuring the "Drum" advertisement. "I was floored," says Allen. "When you consider that this find nearly tripled the amount of known 'Drum' T205s and dramatically enlarged the confirmed, existing total of 'Drum' T206s, the importance of this group becomes obvious."

Doug Allen wasn't the only one who was floored! The consignor was stunned to learn that his collection was worth six figures. Most examples of the T205 and T206 issues found in sports collecting, of course, carry the more common reverse-side designs that advertise tobacco brands such as Piedmont and Sweet Caporal. Cards featuring "Drum" backs are few and very far between. In fact, the "St. Louis Find" items consitute the largest-ever cache of "Drum" T206s, and cards from the "Find" more than double the known population of "Drum" T205s.

Veteran collector and T206 scholar Ted Zanidakis has verified the presence of fifteen newly discovered T206 "Drum" subjects in the "St. Louis Find," and is excited to add this new information to the hobby's body of knowledge about the subject. Now, through the unique offerings seen on the following pages, bidders have the opportunity to enhance their own holdings, as well!

The followings are the final bids (with 20% buyer's premium):

(Apr. 29-30, 2009) Legendary Auctions
• #277, T206 Vic Willis with Drum back PSA-3 $7,200
• #278, T206 Bob Bescher with Drum back PSA-3.5 $5,400
• #279, T206 Chappie Charles with Drum back PSA-3 $3,600
• #280, T206 Dick Egan with Drum back PSA-3 $3,600
• #281, T206 Harry Howell with Drum back PSA-3 $3,000
• #282, T206 Jack Knight with Drum back PSA-3 $3,600
• #283, T206 Frank LaPorte with Drum back PSA-3 $2,520
• #284, T206 Rebel Oakes with Drum back PSA-3 $2,520
• #285, T206 George Perring with Drum back PSA-3 $2,520
• #286, T206 Heinie Smith with Drum back PSA-3 $3,600
• #287, T206 Ed Willett with Drum back PSA-2.5 $2,280
• #288, T206 Jake Pfeister with Drum back PSA-1.5 $2,160
• #289, T206 Eddie Phelps with Drum back PSA-2 $2,040
• #290, T206 George Mullen with Drum back PSA-2.5 $2,400
• #291, T206 Art Fletcher with Drum back PSA-2 $2,040
• #292, T206 Harry Gasper with Drum back PSA-2 $2,040
• #293, T206 Jack Quinn with Drum back PSA-3 $3,000
• #294, T206 Rube Manning with Drum back PSA-3 $3,900
• #295, T206 Kaiser Wilhelm with Drum back PSA-3 $4,200
• #296, T206 Peaches Graham with Drum back PSA-3 $3,300
• #297, T206 Mike Mitchell with Drum back PSA-3 $3,300
• #298, T206 Clyde Milan with Drum back PSA-3 $3,000
• #299, T206 Kid Elberfeld with Drum back PSA-3 $3,300
• #300, T206 Boss Schmidt with Drum back PSA-3 $3,600
• #301, T206 Joe Lake with Drum back PSA-3 $2,400
• #302, T206 Frank Arellanes with Drum back PSA-3 $2,760
• #303, T206 Mickey Doolan with Drum back PSA-3 $3,300
• #304, T206 Otto Knabe with Drum back PSA-3 $3,000
• #305, T206 Rube Kroh with Drum back PSA-3 $2,400
• #306, T206 Solly Hofman with Drum back PSA-3 $3,300
• #307, T206 Harry Steinfeldt with Drum back PSA-2.5 $2,040
• #308, T206 John Titus with Drum back PSA-2.5 $3,000

(June 24-25, 2009) Legendary Auctions
• #277, T206 Bob Rhoades with Drum back PSA-1 $2,400
• #278, T206 Dick Hoblitzell with Drum back PSA-2 $2,520
• #279, T206 Doc Marshall with Drum back PSA-2 $3,000
• #280, T206 Ed Lennox with Drum back PSA-3 $3,300
• #281, T206 Ed Willetts with Drum back PSA-2 $2,400
• #282, T206 Heinie Wagner with Drum back PSA-2 $2,880
• #283, T206 Hooks Wiltse with Drum back PSA-2 $2,520
• #284, T206 Jake Atz with Drum back PSA-2 $2,520
• #285, T206 Tim Jordan with Drum back PSA-2 $2,760