While baseball cards from the modern era can be worth a decent amount, many collectors seek out vintage cards from the 1800s and early 1900s which can be extremely valuable. The rarer the card and the better its condition, the more money it can fetch at auction. Here are some of the most valuable old baseball cards that could be worth a small fortune if found in an attic or basement.

1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner – This is considered the crown jewel of baseball cards and tops many collectors’ want lists. Produced by the American Tobacco Company between 1909-1911, it’s estimated only 50-200 of this rare Wagner card exist in varying conditions. In pristine mint condition, one of these cards could sell for well over $1 million. Even heavily played copies in poor shape have gone for $100,000. What makes it so desirable is Wagner, a true baseball legend, forbade his image from being used in tobacco promotions as he did not want to encourage youth smoking.

1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth – One of the earliest known images of Babe Ruth as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. Produced during his early playing days prior to his legendary home run prowess with the Yankees. Graded mint copies have sold for over $500,000. In poor condition this is still a six figure card.

1909 E90 Gibson Candy Johnny Evers – Extremely rare and desirable for T206 collectors. Only a handful are known to exist. Sold for a record $657,250 in January 2016 making it one of the costliest baseball cards ever. Considered one of the true Holy Grails for investors and collectors seeking the rarest of the rare vintage issues.

1875 Old Judge Billy Hamilton – The earliest widely distributed baseball card image known. Produced years prior to the more standard size cigarette cards that began in the 1880s. Only a small number are accounted for making high grade copies truly one of a kind. Has crossed the $100,000 price point in recent auction sales.

1933 Goudey #53 Jimmie Foxx – One of the most iconic 1930s era cards. Features a clean crisp image of the Hall of Famer known as the “Beast”. Condition is critical as these 72 year old cardboard issues rarely survive in top condition. A PSA NM-MT 8 sold for nearly $350,000 in January 2015 showing the huge demand.

1909-11 T206 Napoleon Lajoie – Far less scarce than the Wagner yet still a rare find in pristine condition. Considered the “King of Cards” by many collectors. A PSA NM 7.5 sold in 2003 for $92,500 while lower grades have sold for over $10,000. Lajoie was one of baseball’s earliest superstars making his images extremely desirable.

1909-11 T206 Eddie Plank – One of the scarcest members of the American Tobacco T206 set. Only a small handful of his graphics are accounted for across all condition grades. Sold for over $110,000 in 2016 showing the immense collector demand for an exceptionally rare player issue from this iconic series.

1909-11 T206 Sherry Magee – Like Plank, Magee’s image is very limited in availability. Fewer than 10 high graded samples are believed to exist. Went for over $115,000 at auction in 2010. Few cards can match his rarity from the legendary T206 set.

1911 Imperial Tobacco Joe Jackson – Produced during Jackson’s playing days with the Philadelphia Athletics prior to his banning from baseball amid the Black Sox Scandal. The Shoeless Joe image is exceedingly rare in any form. A high grade copy realized over $100,000 in a 2012 sale.

1909 E90 American Caramel Edward Doheny – One of the most elusive pre-WWI tobacco cards to find. Images Doheny, a star pitcher of the era who had a brief MLB career. Only 3 high graded specimens have been confirmed over the decades. Sold in 2010 for over $98,000 showing the incredible rarity premiums some vintage issues can achieve.

1933 Goudey #181 Dazzy Vance – Among the most visually appealing 1930s baseball highlight cards. Renowned artist Frederic Kellogg perfectly captured Vance’s windup motion on this issue honoring the Hall of Fame fireballer. Population totals of high graded copies remain very low pushing values upwards of $50,000.

1875 Dick Redding Bison J.L. Wilkinson – Part of an exceedingly rare set of early trading cards using images cut from rolls of printed paper rather than card stock lithography. Massively condition sensitive but a true pre-tobacco era relic. A low grade example sold for nearly $70,000. In gem mint likely worth seven figures.

1933 Goudey #252 Lefty Gomez – Gomez was one of baseball’s premier pitchers in the 1930s and his card is widely heralded as one of the most aesthetically pleasing vintage issues. Scarcity keeps values high with a PSA 8 recently selling for over $75,000 at public auction. Few are known to exist in pristine condition.

1909 E90 Wagoner Hildebrand – Hildebrand was a solid pitcher who had a cup of coffee in the majors in 1909. His tobacco card image is one of the rarest from the early 20th century. Only a couple high grade copies have surfaced over the decades. One pristine PSA 8.5 specimen sold for nearly $65,000 showing this is truly one of history’s key Vintage rarities.

1933 Goudey #100 Mel Ott – Featured the beloved “Giant Killer” during his stellar years with the New York Giants. Kellogg’s art perfectly captures Ott’s smooth lefty swing. Population reports show grade 9s and 10s number less than 10 total. $40,000 sales prices are not unheard of for these gems.

The demand for early 20th century baseball cards remains exceptionally strong among savvy collectors and investors. While condition is paramount, the rarity of the player image depicted also affects value tremendously. Even in lower grades many pre-WWI tobacco issues can cross 5 figure price barriers due to their immense historical significance as some of the earliest mass produced sports card lithographs. For those hoping to profit or add recognized key pieces to a collection, keeping an eye out for any of the above named cardboard issues would surely prove worthwhile.