Lot # 489: Rare 1913 Christy Mathewson Cravats Souvenir Felt Pennant

Exceptionally rare example of New York Giants Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson from the 1913 Cravats Felt Pennants series. This is only the second Cravats Mathewson pennant we have ever seen. The pennant, which measures 4-1/8 inches wide at the top and 9 inches from top to bottom, features an illustration of Mathewson in white, with his last name and team name printed underneath. Above the illustration is a bat and baseball, with "Cravats" printed inside. A metal ring reinforces a small hole punched near the top, directly above the baseball. The exact origins of the set are unknown, as are many details surrounding the manufacturer, intended use of the pennants, and even the complete checklist. We had always thought that "Cravats" was the name of a candy manufacturer. According to the Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards, the Cravats name "may represent the issuer or describe the issue. . .[as] 'cravat' is an arcane term for a triangular piece of cloth." The pennant presents as Excellent, but would technically grade lower if assigned a numerical grade due to a crease directly above Mathewson's name. This is an extraordinary sample worthy of the finest Mathewson, Hall of Fame, or type-card collection.