Opening Bid :
Current Bid:
Reserve Amount:

Notice: You are the current high bidder on this lot, but the next highest bid is within one increment. That means that any additional bids on this lot will outbid you. To increase your chances of winning, enter your highest maximum bid.

You are the current high bidder on this lot with a secret maximum bid of %s.

You are the current high bidder on this lot.
(Sign-In to see your maximum bid)

Your secret maximum bid of %s has been outbid.

Your secret maximum bid of %s does not meet the reserve.

You have been outbid on this lot.
(Sign-In to see your maximum bid)

Your secret maximum bid does not meet the reserve.
(Sign-In to see your maximum bid)


Previous Lot | Auction Home | Next Lot      Jump to Lot:
Lot: 19032
Auction: 9709  
1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner SGC 10 Poor 1. "There is something Lincolnesque about him," Pulitzer Prize-winning sports journal...
  • Track this lot. You are tracking this item ... updating ... (stop tracking)
 
 
 

BP - Buyer's Premium

A "Buyer's Premium" is charged in addition to the successful bid according to the rate defined in our terms and conditions.

Opening Bid

The opening bid is the minimum amount required to begin bidding, and is generally a percentage of the low estimate.

Bid Information

For your convenience, the bid information on this page automatically refreshes with the most up to date data so you don't have to refresh/reload this page.

Minimum Bid

Bid increments determine the lowest amount you may bid on a particular lot. Normally, bids must be at least one bidding increment over the current bid. However, podium, fax, phone and mail bidders submit bids at various times without knowing the current bid and must be on-increment or at a half increment (called a cut bid). Any podium, fax, phone, or mail bids that do not conform to a full or half increment will be rounded up or down to the nearest full or half increment. However, for Internet bids, these increments only apply to the current bid. Internet bids greater than one increment over the current bid can be any whole dollar amount. It is possible under several circumstances for winning bids to be between increments, sometimes only $1 above the previous increment.

Number of Bidders

This number represents the number of individual bidders prior to the close of Internet bidding on each lot. An individual who bids more than once is still counted only once. During the live session, only the winning bidder is included in this number, although detailed records are kept of all forms of bids.

Status

Reserve (If Any) Not Posted Yet:
Although many lots will not get reserves, this signifies that we have not yet posted any reserves to this entire auction. Reserves are usually posted approximately 3 days prior to the closing for Internet-only auctions, and approximately 7 days prior to the live session for Signature auctions.
Consignor Has Not Yet Submitted a Reserve:
Although the consignor's agreement allows a reserve on this lot, the deadline for submitting such a reserve has elapsed. If consignor submits a reserve post-deadline and the item fails to meet that reserve, we may charge the consignor a higher reserve fee.
No Reserve:
This lot is being sold without a reserve. (Note: By law, consignors may still bid under certain conditions, but they are responsible for paying the full Buyer's Premium and Seller's Commission if they do.)
Reserve Not Met:
A reserve has been posted on this lot, but no bids have met the reserve. The current bid has been set to the reserve amount, and the next bid will meet the reserve.
Reserve Met:
Reserves have been posted for this auction, and there is a reserve on this lot that has already been met.

What's This?

Our Auction Results Archives are not only the best resource for market research, but now you have the opportunity to acquire very rare items that may not be auctioned again for some time by making an anonymous offer that will make the owner sell. Items labeled "Buy Now" indicate that the owner has set a price that would make them sell.

Please note that the winner of this Heritage auction lot may or may not still own this item and may or may not be willing to sell. This service is free to the buyer, protects the identity of both parties, and allows offers and counter-offers. You will receive a response within 72 hours.


View Larger Image

Sold for: Sign-in or Join (free & quick)
Ended: May 2, 2008
 
Buyer's Premium: 19.5% of the successful bid (minimum $9.00 per lot)
Description
1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner SGC 10 Poor 1. "There is something Lincolnesque about him," Pulitzer Prize-winning sports journalist Arthur Daley once wrote, "his rugged homeliness, his simplicity, his integrity, and his true nobility of character." Hall of Fame manager John McGraw considered him the greatest ballplayer of all time, and Ty Cobb recalled him as the one man he couldn't intimidate. Yet despite the universal high praise from friends and foes, and his membership in the 1936 inaugural class of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Honus Wagner is best remembered today as the face on the most valuable and coveted of all baseball cards.

While there is some truth to the argument that Wagner's greatness plays a role in the importance of this ultimate collecting rarity, one must acknowledge that it's a supporting role only. An equal print run to contemporaries like Cobb, Young and Mathewson would almost certainly have found Wagner's value equivalent to those legends' as well. But it was Wagner's refusal of the American Tobacco Company's request for permission to use his image that set him apart and above.

The most popular story to explain this refusal is that Wagner wished to play no role in the promotion of the use of tobacco, though it has been justly stated that he was himself a user, and had appeared in advertisements for many tobacco products previously. Another theory notes Wagner's reputation as a fierce negotiator, arguing that it was nothing more than a case of a failure to agree upon a dollar figure that led the ATC to end production of Wagner's card almost as soon as it started.

This unsolved mystery has only served to further enhance the mystique of the treasure presented here, one of just a few dozen examples of the famed Honus Wagner T206 known to exist. A colorized version of a studio portrait by celebrated early baseball photographer Carl Horner, the unmistakable image on the card face finds the superstar shortstop gazing into the middle distance, set against a backdrop of solid orange. The early spelling of his hometown "Pittsburg" is applied across the chest of his high-collared jersey, and again beside his block lettered surname at the bottom border. The verso provides an advertisement for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes, and the trading cards within, noting "Base Ball Series, 150 Subjects."

Condition is admittedly imperfect, though this is the case for all but a few of the tiny supply of surviving examples. Several creases thread their way through the ancient cardboard, and the passing decades have rounded the corners smooth like water polishing stones in a riverbed. Black fountain pen ink blotches the verso, yet remains mercifully clear of the front. Though the card comes by its Poor rating honestly, it retains a dignified countenance, presenting wonderfully despite its faults.

The opportunity to play a role in the history of a piece such as this is one that should appeal to true collectors of any discipline, not just those with a particular affinity for the sporting world. Stamp collecting has the Inverted Jenny, and comics has Action #1. For baseball card collecting, the T206 Honus Wagner will always hold that special distinction as the ultimate prize, and will establish its owner as one the world's elite hobbyists.

Auction Name: 2008 May Signature Sports Collectibles Auction Session I #9709
Description: Heritage Sports Collectibles' Signature Auctions feature the finest in vintage autographs, game used materials, general sporting memorabilia and trading cards. Those interested in consigning to this historic event are encouraged to call or email one of our experts today.
Auction Type: Signature Internet Phone These Auctions are presented via catalog and online. Bidding is taken by phone or through our website. There are two phases of bidding during this type of auction: 1) Normal bidding: Bids are taken up until 10 PM CT the night the auction closes. 2) 30 Minute Ending: On a lot-by-lot basis, starting at 10:00 PM CT, any person who has bid on the lot previously may continue to bid on that lot until there are no more bids for 30 minutes. For example, if you bid on a lot during Normal Bidding, you could participate during Extended Bidding for that lot, but not on lots you did not bid on previously. If a bid was placed at 10:15, the new end time for that lot would become 10:45. If no other bids were placed before 10:45, the lot would close. If you are the high bidder on a lot, changing your bid will not extend the bidding during the 30 Minute Ending phase (only a bid from another bidder will extend bidding). If you are the only bidder at 10 PM, you will automatically win the lot at 10:30. Important: After normal bidding ends, you must be signed-on to the Heritage site to see the bidding option on lots where you qualify for extended bidding.
Item Activity: 12 Internet/mail bidders, 8,827 page views


Find Auction Prices for Comparable Items
Heritage Auction Archives

Prices realized from 2,325,370 past auction lots.
Great valuation tool!

Photographs


Sign-in or Join (free & quick) to see the full image

Previous Lot | Auction Home | Next Lot      Jump to Lot:
Go to Top


Please Wait

Loading.......

Heritage delivers Value - $694,358,030 sold at auction and in private treaty sales over the past 12 months.

Our 58,461 Sports Collectible bidder-members and 480,234 Heritage bidder-members overall (from 164 countries) enjoy all these free benefits:

  1. Bid on-line
  2. Free Collector newsletter
  3. Want List with instant e-mail notifications
  4. Auction Archives (prices, photos, full descriptions, etc.)
  5. Hall of Fame
  6. Reduced auction
    commissions when
    you resell your
    winnings 

Members Sign In


Free Newsletter and Announcements!

Quality Consignments Wanted

Consign to the 2010 April Signature Sports Memorabilia Auction.

We expect to have one of our Consignment Directors visiting your area soon. Please call to arrange an appointment.

E-mail Chris Ivy or call
1-800-872-6467 x1319

Video Video: Why Consign?

View traffic of HA.com vs. other auctions on Compete.com

In The News

sss

Recent Auctions

Visit Heritage on the Road


Going, Going, Gone!

"Two annual sales hosted by a 31-year-old Dallas outfit, Heritage Auction Galleries, have become the key conclaves for serious collectors, many of whom are spending big bucks to pursue a passion."

[ read more » ]

Barrons 7/17/06