Lot # 577: 1912 L1 Large Leather Premium #127 Ty Cobb - Newly Discovered!

Rarely offered and newly discovered L1 Leather tobacco premium of legendary Hall of Famer Ty Cobb. L1 Leathers were issued as part of the same promotion as T3 Turkey Reds and S81 Silks. All three of these issues were available only by mail in exchange for coupons packaged with Helmar "Turkish Trophies" brand tobacco. Ten coupons were needed to get a T3, 25 coupons for an S81 silk, and 50 coupons were required to obtain each L1 Leather. The L1 Leathers are by far the rarest of these three classic tobacco-premium issues. Ty Cobb, of course, is the key to the L1 set, and this is one of the rarest and most desirable of all Cobb tobacco issues. To the best of our knowledge, fewer than five L1 Ty Cobb premiums are known to exist. This is the first example we have offered in the past 21 years! The offered leather is technically in modest condition due to horizontal creasing, staining front and back, and moderate surface wear. Despite the condition flaws, this is an extremely pleasing Hall of Famer example from this rare and desirable 1910-era tobacco-premium issue that would be a significant addition to any extremely advanced Ty Cobb or prewar-card collection.