Lot # 196: 1910 E98 Anonymous "Set of 30" Honus Wagner PSA EX 5 - Green Background

Graded EX 5 by PSA. Outstanding mid-grade example of legendary Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Famer Honus Wagner from the E98 “Set of 30” candy-card issue. The manufacturer of E98 is unknown, and the set may be easily confused with other caramel-card sets of the era (E93 and E94 specifically); this is an entirely different set even though it uses many of the same subjects and poses. For many years, E98s were among the scarcest of the 1910-era caramel cards, but the “Black Swamp Find” changed the population dramatically. E98s have always been very desirable, and their increased availability and noteworthiness due to the find may have actually increased the demand as more collectors have become familiar with the set. Set against a beautiful green background, this card offers a crisp image, light corner wear, and natural diamond cut. The reverse is clean and boldly printed. Caramel cards in general are much rarer than tobacco cards of the era. Because they were issued with caramels one card per package and sold to children (as opposed to being sold to adults with tobacco), they also tend to survive in a much lower grade. This is a fantastic example of key Hall of Famer Honus Wagner from this extremely desirable early twentieth-century candy issue.