Lot # 444: 1912 T227 "Series of Champions" Ty Cobb (Miners Extra) PSA VG 3

Graded VG 3 by PSA. Very attractive mid-grade example of the key card of Ty Cobb from the 1912 T227 tobacco series, issued by Honest Long Cut and Miners Extra. The T227 Cobb is literally more than 100 times rarer than the T205 or T206 tobacco cards of Ty Cobb, but its much greater rarity is far from fully reflected in its value. This may, in part, be because T227s so rarely survive in technically high grades that they are not a focus of high-grade collectors. The belief is that these cards are rarely found in high grade because cards from this set were packaged in tobacco pouches without protection from either tobacco or general handling. T227 Series of Champions are unique in design and have the look of “giant T206s.” There are only 25 cards in the set, including four ballplayers. The offered card is centered toward the top, with brilliant colors, outstanding registration, and light, even corner wear.

A very light wrinkle near Cobb's right elbow, along with a tiny touch of paper loss on the front factors into the assigned grade. The reverse features a biography of Cobb along with advertising for Miners Extra Smoking Tobacco. This is a tremendous example of this rare, uniquely designed, and in our opinion, extremely overlooked tobacco issue. One of the best of all Ty Cobb cards!