Lot # 172: Extremely Rare 1909 E92 Croft's Cocoa Honus Wagner Throwing PSA VG 3 - Wet Sheet Transfer!

Graded VG 3 by PSA. Extremely rare Honus Wagner card (throwing pose) from the 1909 E92 Croft's Cocoa set, with advertising for "Croft's Swiss Milk Cocoa" of Philadelphia on the reverse. The same designs were also issued with advertising on the reverse for Croft's & Allen Candy. It appears that both varieties of these cards were issued by the Croft & Allen Co. of Philadelphia to be handed out as advertising items to promote their candy and cocoa, which, as noted on the back of this card, is "Served Hot at our fountain 11 South 15th St. Montague & Co. Philadelphia, Pa." The offered example of legendary Hall of Famer Honus Wagner (one of two poses of Wagner in the set) is bright and clean, both front and back, with a crisp image, bold colors, and honest corner wear. The card has an unusual imperfection that has occurred in the printing process. At a glance it might appear that the text has "bled through" from the back to the front, but what has really happened with this card is that when it was printed, the sheets were stacked on top of one another while still wet, in this case causing a transfer of ink from the reverse (text) of another sheet to the obverse of the offered card. We rarely see this type of printing imperfection so prominent. The reverse is entirely clean with bold black text. This is a very attractive mid-grade sample card of the key Hall of Famer from this rare set.