Lot # 275: Signed 1909-1911 T206 White Border Elmer Flick - Beckett/JSA

Presented is a signed example of Cleveland Naps Hall of Fame outfielder Elmer Flick from the T206 White Border series. Flick has signed the card on the front in blue ink. Beckett/JSA has encapsulated the card, certifying the signature as "Authentic." Despite the fact that T206 White Border tobacco cards have been popular and widely collected since 1909, signed examples are extremely rare, because few collectors had either the inclination or opportunity to get cards signed. If the opportunity to get an autograph arose, few fans happened to have a T206 card of the given player handy. To get a T206 card signed took planning or was accomplished with great effort by mail. The interest in signed cards is relatively recent, and with the passing of players from the 1910 era, every signed T206 card is unusual and noteworthy. Flick was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1963 and died in 1971, so he was available for just a short time to Hall of Fame collectors who appreciated the significance of autographed tobacco cards as the hobby matured through the 1960s and into the 1970s. The offered example displays creasing, honest corner wear, and evidence of album removal on the reverse. Piedmont 350/25 reverse. This is a tremendous prewar collectible that will be of great interest to card and autograph collectors alike and would make a worthy addition to even the most advanced T206 collection.