Lot # 1002: Rare 1910 E98 Anonymous "Set of 30" Joe Tinker Red Background PSA GOOD 2 (MK) - "Old Put Cigars" Overprint

Presented is an "Old Put 5 ct. Cigar" E98 overprint, one of card collecting's most unusual and rare sample cards. This example is particularly extraordinary as it features Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Joe Tinker. "Overprinting" is a term commonly used to refer to the rare practice of a company taking cards already issued by another manufacturer and adding advertising, in the form of printing or an ink stamp, to allow the cards to function as its own advertising vehicle at modest cost. In this case, the overprint on this E98 Tinker advertises for "Old Put 5 ct. Cigars." The overprint on the "Old Put" Tinker is an attractive purple and really stands out. "Old Put" may not have been able to afford to issue its own set of cards, or simply chose not to do so. Since E98s have no advertising on the reverse (just a checklist, though the ACC states they were "probably issued by Briggs"), "Old Put" added its own advertising to the backs of these already printed cards. Judging by how few have survived, it can be assumed that this practice was not very successful. This is an outstanding example of one of card collecting's rarest and most unusual sample cards. Graded GOOD 2 (MK, solely due to the overprint) by PSA, the card has a brilliant red background, with a flawless image, even wear to the corners, and is very well centered. Clean reverse. This is an extremely attractive Joe Tinker example of one of card collecting's rarest and most interesting 1910-era sample cards.