Circa 1910 E-Uncatalogued Honus Wagner SGC 10 PR 1. Card collectors are accustomed to having their treasures classified, designated and clearly identified. Some cards defy that desire and remain complete mysteries. What we do know is that the subject is one of the greatest players of the game, Honus "Hans" Wagner of the Pittsburgh Pirates. We also know that this is the second said example known and there is in fact another card of this same format. Could this be an example from a totally unknown set of cards or could this be the concept piece, much like the famed T206 5-card strip, used to promote what would become the "E" class of collectibles associated with candy and caramel companies? The card is of the same stock quality, print quality, ink color, and is approximately the same size of the E104 editions connected with the Nadja Caramel releases. The card is just shy of the commonly accepted 1-1/2" x 2-3/4" dimension we know and the robust color quality is impressive. The only difference is the somewhat hasty composition and the manner in which Wagner is depicted. The art lacks detail and brightness we are accustomed to seeing from "E" sets, even those of one or two color. Thus the exciting possibility this card was one of the first e-cards ever produced, made solely at the time to secure printing rights for an entire class of collectibles. In the comic field, an "ashcan" copy is a quickly assembled, black and white book needed to secure copyright to titles, characters and logos. The multi-creased rarity could be the equivalent of the ashcan. The factory finishing suggests circulation publicly or only among a select few. Aside from the mentioned creases, the blank back shows an area of surface loss and an adjacent area of notebook paper or index card stock still securely adhered to the card surface. Regardless of its unknown origin or possible significant role in the card hobby, it is for sure one of the rarest Honus Wagner cards in existence. Still visually impressive after a century of uncertainty.

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