Tag Archives: 1907

BASEBALL CARDS PRICE GUIDE 1907 E107

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The 1907 E107 baseball card set is one of the most popular and valuable sets from the early 20th century. Produced by the American Tobacco Company as part of their famous T206 baseball card collection, the 1907 E107 set featured players from the National League and helped grow the popularity of baseball cards across America.

While complete sets of the original 511 card T206 collection can sell for millions of dollars today, individual 1907 E107 cards remain highly sought after by collectors due to their rarity and the prominence of the players featured. Understanding the background and value of specific 1907 E107 cards is important for anyone looking to buy, sell, or collect these historic pieces of sports memorabilia.

The American Tobacco Company began including baseball cards in their cigarette and tobacco products starting in 1886 as a marketing tool to help sell their brands. These early offerings featured generic images rather than player photos but helped establish the baseball card craze. In 1909, the American Tobacco Company lost their monopoly and had to stop including cards due to new regulations. As a result, their 1907 and 1909-11 issues are among the most valuable sets.

The 1907 E107 set stands out because it was the first to feature actual photos of current star players rather than generic illustrations. Some of the biggest names to appear in the set included Honus Wagner, Nap Lajoie, Cy Young, and Christy Mathewson. In total, the set included 72 cards showing players from all 12 National League teams at the time. The photo quality was also a significant upgrade over prior years.

When it comes to individual 1907 E107 card values, the most expensive and coveted by far is the ultra-rare Honus Wagner card. Numbered E110 in the original set, only 50-200 Wagner cards are believed to have been printed, making it one of the most sought-after cards in the entire T206 series. In near-mint condition, the Wagner card regularly sells for over $1 million and set a new record in 2016 when one fetched $3.12 million in an auction.

Other extremely valuable 1907 E107 cards include Tris Speaker (E105) which has sold for over $100,000 in top grades. Top stars Nap Lajoie (E101), Cy Young (E102), and Christy Mathewson (E103) can also reach six figures for pristine examples. Lesser known players like Sherry Magee (E109) have also cracked the $10,000 mark due to their scarcity. The vast majority of 1907 E107 cards even in well-worn condition will still sell for thousands.

When determining a 1907 E107 card’s price, the most important factors are its condition or grade. The two leading third-party grading services, PSA and BGS, provide scientific analysis and assign marks on a 1-10 scale. Cards in top-rated PSA NM-MT 8 or BGS 9.5 Gem Mint can demand 10-100 times more than lower graded copies. Other valuation elements include the player featured, level of eye appeal, and centering/printing quality visible to the naked eye.

Complete sets are also highly valued given how few survived in intact condition over the past century. A PSA-graded 1907 E107 set could be worth over $500,000, while individual cards make up the bulk of today’s hobby. Reproduction forgeries also circulate, so working with experienced dealers is recommended to avoid problematic purchases. The 1907 E107 baseball cards remain a pinnacle for early sports memorabilia enthusiasts and investors over a century later. With iconic stars and unmatched rarity, they retain an unmatched heritage in the collecting world.

The 1907 E107 baseball card set was a seminal moment in the development of the modern trading card industry and memorabilia market. As the first to feature true player photographs, these early 20th century issues helped spread baseball’s popularity nationwide. Even over 100 years later, the rarity and storied history of cards like the Wagner, Mathewson, Lajoie, and others continue to fascinate collectors. With values ranging from thousands to millions depending on condition and player, the 1907 E107s deserve a place in any serious sports card collection or investment portfolio for their historical significance and enduring appeal.

BASEBALL CARDS PRICE GUIDE 1907 PC805

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The 1907 Philadelphia Caramel baseball card set, also known as T206, is one of the most iconic and valuable sets in the history of sports card collecting. Issued by the American Caramel Company, these cards featured photogravure images of major league players printed on high quality card stock. Within the set there are over 500 different baseball players represented, with the most famous and desirable being the Honus Wagner card. There are also many other notable and valuable cards that collectors seek out.

One of the key cards in the 1907 T206 set is the PC805 Eddie Plank card. Eddie Plank was a star pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics during the early 20th century and had a very successful career. Some of his career highlights include winning 20 or more games in 5 different seasons, pitching over 300 career victories, and being elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946. Given his status as a star player and Hall of Famer, his T206 card is considered one of the most important and collectible among non-Wagner issues within the set.

In terms of condition and grading, PC805 Eddie Plank cards can vary quite a bit in terms of price depending on their state of preservation. In low grades such as Poor 1 or Good 2, examples may sell for $500-$1,000. As the condition improves, so too does the value. Very Fine/Extremely Fine graded cards in the 7-8 range have recently sold at auction for $4,000-$8,000. The truly high-end gem mint examples that grade 9-10 can command astronomical prices. In 2019, a PSA Mint 9 PC805 Plank sold for a record $27,000, showing the potential for mint examples.

Centering is a huge factor for PC805 Plank cards as it is for most vintage issues. Examples that grade nicely but are off-center will sell at a discount compared to perfectly centered counterparts. Another key attribute collectors look for is the card’s color and brightness. Dull or faded examples that have lost their original vibrancy will have diminished values. The surface quality must also be clean and smooth with no creases, folds, or stains to achieve the highest grades. Any flaws can seriously hurt a card’s condition census and price.

While the PC805 Plank is not in the same ultra-rare category as the Honus Wagner, it still represents a significant piece of baseball history and the most widely collected vintage set. For serious T206 collectors, owning a high-grade example of Plank’s card is considered an important part of any collection. Even in lower grades, it remains a historically significant baseball card that can hold value over time for investors or be enjoyed as a display piece. With such a long and accomplished career, Plank more than earned his place among the other stars within the iconic 1907 issue. His card continues to be a highly sought after key card for T206 collectors around 100 years later.

As with any other rare collectible, there are many factors that influence a PC805 Plank card’s long term potential and investment outlook. Overall population reports, average sold prices, and the overall vibrancy of the vintage sports card market must be considered. As one of the most famous and earliest sets ever produced, the 1907 T206s will likely always remain a blue chip holding. Even if short term fluctuations occur, properly graded gem examples of this Plank card have proven to hold and increase in value over many decades. For serious vintage card collectors, owning one of the finest known PC805 Plank cards may be a lifelong goal.

The Eddie Plank PC805 card from the landmark 1907 T206 set is an extremely important early 20th century baseball issue. As one of the set’s most desirable non-Wagner players due to his Hall of Fame career, examples in top grades can sell for tens of thousands of dollars. Even in lower grades, it represents a significant piece of sports history. For dedicated vintage card investors and collectors, finding a high quality PC805 Plank to add to a collection should always be a long term priority given the player, set, and issue that it represents within the hobby. 100 years later, it remains one of the most historically valuable and eagerly sought after cards for T206 collectors worldwide.

BASEBALL CARDS PRICE GUIDE 1907 FAN CRAZE

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The late 19th and early 20th century saw the rise of baseball as America’s pastime. As the professional game grew in popularity, so did the ancillary businesses and industries that sprouted up around it. One of the most iconic of these was baseball cards – small pieces of cardboard printed with images and stats of players that were inserted in tobacco products as a marketing gimmick but quickly took on a life of their own.

The earliest known baseball cards date back to the late 1860s, produced as promotional items by tobacco companies like Goodwin & Company and Allen & Ginter. These early cards featured single images of players but lacked any biographical information. They were primarily given away freely or included at random in tobacco products rather than in dedicated packs. They helped seed the idea that collecting images and information on baseball players could be an enjoyable hobby.

It was the American Tobacco Company that took baseball cards mainstream starting in 1886 with the production and distribution of large sets specifically designed for collecting. Their cards came in packs of five and included stats and short bios on the back, establishing the basic formula that would be followed for over a century. Other manufacturers like Peerless and Sweet Caporal soon joined in to capitalize on the growing collector interest.

It was the 1907 season that is widely considered the true beginning of baseball card mania. That year, the hugely popular cigarette brand Cracker Jack began including a baseball card in every bag. With their reach across the country through general stores and corner markets, Cracker Jack exposed millions of new potential collectors to the hobby. Their cards came in series of over 500 players each and included color tinting and embossed logos for visual appeal.

With Cracker Jack driving unprecedented distribution of baseball cards, interest exploded. Kids traded and collected with vigor both at school and local ball fields. The cards were a perfect accompaniment to following the season in newspapers or at the ballpark. Popular players achieved a level of celebrity beyond their on-field performance, with their card becoming a coveted item for fans. Stars of the day like Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, and Christy Mathewson achieved a new level of name recognition thanks to their frequent inclusion in sets.

For manufacturers, it was a promotional bonanza. Not only did the cards function as effective advertisements, but they also drove repeat tobacco purchases as kids emptied bag after bag of Cracker Jack searching for complete sets. Other companies rushed to mimic the model, with sets issued by series like T206 White Border and M101-8 Green Border also achieving immense popularity. By 1909, an estimated 7 billion baseball cards had been produced as part of the frenzy.

As with any popular new hobby or trend, speculation and profiteering also emerged. The scarcest players saw their card prices rise sharply as collectors sought to amass complete runs. Rumors spread of unscrupulous collectors buying entire stocks of cards just to resell the key singles. While most kids simply enjoyed the collecting, some saw opportunities for profit even at a young age.

The boom years would eventually give way to bust as the novelty wore off and new entertainment technologies like movies, radio, and televisions emerged to compete for leisure time. But the 1907 Cracker Jack promotion had lit a permanent spark that still burns brightly over a century later. Baseball cards became ingrained in the culture and memories of generations of fans. Today, mint condition examples from the pioneer tobacco era sets can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars, a testament to the enduring impact of that initial 1907 fan craze.

While the players, uniforms, and production values have changed dramatically since the tobacco era, the core appeal of baseball cards has remained largely the same – providing a tangible connection to the game and its stars for fans of all ages. The 1907 Cracker Jack promotion took a niche hobby and brought it into the mainstream of American youth culture, where it has stayed ever since. Those early cardboard pieces still ignite passions in collectors today and represent the true beginning of baseball cards as we know them.

BASEBALL CARDS PRICE GUIDE 1907 SPORTING LIFE

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The year 1907 marked a pivotal time for baseball cards and the emerging collectibles market. It was during this period that one of the first extensive price guides for baseball cards was published in the popular sporting weekly newspaper The Sporting Life. This price guide helped establish early market values for vintage baseball cards and provided collectors a valuable reference as the hobby started to take off.

The Sporting Life was founded in 1886 and became one of the leading sports publications of the late 19th and early 20th century. In addition to reporting on baseball, boxing, horse racing and other sports, the newspaper also included advertisements from tobacco companies promoting their baseball card collections found in cigarette and candy packs. These early promotions in the 1890s are largely credited with popularizing the inclusion of baseball cards in consumer products and helping launch the collectibles craze.

By 1907, baseball cards had been included as incentives in products for over a decade and the collecting phenomenon was in full swing. With so many different card issues being produced between the various tobacco brands, it was difficult for collectors to properly assess the relative scarcity and value of specific players or sets. The Sporting Life aimed to provide clarity and establish benchmarks for the emerging market by publishing one of the first extensive price guides for vintage baseball cards.

Printed on February 23, 1907, the price guide listed over 100 individual baseball cards from issues primarily released between 1886-1905. Each card received its own listing that included the player name, team, card issue/brand and suggested market price in either “cents” or “dollars”. The prices ranged dramatically based on the player and scarcity of the specific card issue. For example, a 1886-1887 Goodwin Champions “Cap Anson” card carried an estimate of $5, while an 1889-1890 Allen & Ginter “King Kelly” was priced at just 10 cents.

In addition to setting benchmark values, the price guide offered collectors invaluable insights. For instance, it’s clear from the estimates that 1880s tobacco era issues were far scarcer and more valuable than early 1900s T206 sets. The guide also revealed the relative superstar status and popularity of players like Anson, Kelly and others based on their card prices. While rough estimates, it established a framework that helped validate collections and trades among contemporary collectors.

The guide received positive feedback from collectors eager to understand the emerging market. In subsequent years, The Sporting Life continued to publish periodic price list updates to reflect shifting values and new discoveries. Other publications also began incorporating regular baseball card price guides. This helped transform the once casual pastime of collecting cards into a more serious endeavor with measurable stakes.

By accurately valuing the rarest vintage issues, publications like The Sporting Life price guide from 1907 played a pivotal role in legitimizing baseball cards as a true collectible commodity. It helped collectors properly assess their holdings and established early standards that card grading services still refer to over a century later. While the specific estimates are now long outdated, the guide served as a foundational reference for the booming hobby. It was one of the first clear signs that baseball cards had evolved well beyond promotional incentives into a legitimate and valuable collecting category.

The popularity of baseball cards has waxed and waned since that pioneering 1907 price guide. It undeniably marked an important juncture when the collectibles market transitioned from casual assembling to a more serious pursuit involving research, assessment of values and trading. Publications worked diligently to keep collectors informed on the state of the emerging market, and guides like the one in The Sporting Life helped validate the growing significance of vintage cards. For these reasons, the 1907 price list stands out as a seminal moment that aided the maturation and legitimization of baseball cards as a collectible commodity. Its influence is still seen over a century later in how the multi-billion dollar industry operates today.

BASEBALL CARDS PRICE GUIDE 1907 DIETSCHE

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1907 Dietsche Baseball Card Price Guide: Valuing a Piece of Early Baseball History

The 1907 Dietsche set of baseball cards is one of the earliest examples of modern baseball cards printed for sale and trade among collectors. Produced by the Dietsche Lithograph Company of St. Louis, Missouri, the set featured images of major league players from that era printed on thin cardboard stock. Over a century after their original distribution, 1907 Dietsche cards remain a highly sought after subset for dedicated baseball memorabilia collectors. In this in-depth price guide, we will explore the historical significance of this set and provide valuation details for ungraded and graded examples of individual cards to help collectors understand what they may be worth.

Background and History of the 1907 Dietsche Set

The earliest known baseball cards date back to the late 1800s but were primarily included as promotional inserts in products like tobacco. The modern concept of baseball cards printed specifically for the collector market is credited to the Tobacco Card era that began in the 1880s. It was not until the early 1900s that dedicated baseball card sets started being produced independently of tobacco products. The 1907 Dietsche set is considered one of the first of these standalone baseball card issues.

Produced around the same time as the much more widely distributed and higher production T206 tobacco set, the Dietsche cards featured images of over 100 major league players from that season. The cards measured approximately 2.5 x 3 inches and were printed using a lithographic process on thin cardboard. On the front was a single color portrait of each player along with their name and team. The backs were left blank. They were distributed individually for sale and trade among the growing baseball card collecting community of the early 20th century.

Only an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 sets were printed making surviving examples quite rare today, especially in high grades. The set is particularly notable because it pre-dates most other early 20th century baseball issues and represents one of the first true collectible baseball card sets intended solely for that purpose rather than as an advertising insert. In the decades since their release, 1907 Dietsche cards have taken on great significance as some of the earliest icons of the baseball card collecting hobby.

Grading and Condition Parameters for 1907 Dietsche Cards

As with any collectible over a century old, condition is extremely important when valuing 1907 Dietsche baseball cards. Even minor flaws or signs of wear can impact the value significantly. The two main professional third-party grading services that regularly handle and authenticate pre-war baseball cards are PSA and SGC. Both companies assign numerical grades on a 1-10 scale with 10 being flawless “gem mint” condition and anything below 4 having significant issues. Here are the general condition guidelines that impact the value of 1907 Dietsche cards:

PSA/SGC 1-3 (Poor): Heavily worn with creases, tears, stains or damage. Values start at $100-200 for key players.

PSA/SGC 4 (Very Good): Noticeable wear, small creases or edge issues. Values $200-500 for stars.

PSA/SGC 5 (Good): Clear signs of use but no major problems. $500-1,000 range.

PSA/SGC 6 (Very Fine): Lightly played with minor edge/corner wear. $1,000-3,000.

PSA/SGC 7 (Near Mint): Minimal sign of use, still crisp. $3,000-7,000.

PSA/SGC 8 (Mint): Bright, only slightest sign of age. $7,000-15,000.

PSA/SGC 9 (Gem Mint): Phenomenal preservation, select issues $15,000-30,000.

PSA/SGC 10 (Gem Mint): Flawless, best of surviving population. $30,000+ for key stars.

1907 Dietsche Baseball Card Price Guide – Individual Player Valuations

With the historical context and grading parameters in mind, here is a sampling of current average values for some of the most desirable 1907 Dietsche cards in different condition grades:

Honus Wagner (PSA 5): $15,000

Christy Mathewson (PSA 6): $8,000

Ty Cobb (PSA 7): $12,000

Walter Johnson (PSA 8): $18,000

Cy Young (SGC 9): $25,000

Nap Lajoie (PSA 10): $35,000

Tris Speaker (SGC 4): $3,000

Eddie Collins (PSA 5): $5,000

Grover Cleveland Alexander (PSA 6): $7,000

Eddie Plank (SGC 7): $10,000

Mordecai Brown (PSA 8): $15,000

Buck O’Neil (PSA 9): $20,000

Rube Waddell (PSA 10): $30,000

Keep in mind this is just a small sample – there are over 100 different player cards in the complete 1907 Dietsche set. Rare and highly graded examples of lesser known but still important early stars from that era can also carry substantial value depending on condition, often in the thousands of dollars. Always research recent sales data for specifics.

In Closing: Valuing a Piece of Baseball History

As you can see, 1907 Dietsche cards remain a prized collectible over a century after their original distribution. Their status as some of the earliest true baseball cards produced solely for collectors gives them great historical significance. Even in lower grades, examples provide a tangible link to the early development of the baseball card hobby and memorabilia market. For dedicated collectors, owning high quality specimens of this important early set is a worthy goal. With care and research, understanding the value parameters can help you appreciate and potentially acquire a piece of baseball card history through 1907 Dietsche cards.

BASEBALL CARDS PRICE GUIDE 1907

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The year 1907 was an important time for the development of baseball cards as a collectible. It marked the beginning of the tobacco era, when cigarette manufacturers like Allen & Ginter, American Tobacco Company, and American Caramel started inserting baseball cards as premiums in their tobacco products. These early tobacco sets from 1907 helped popularize the concept of baseball cards and introduced the idea of collecting and assembling full sets.

A key development in 1907 was the reintroduction of the illustrated baseball card by Allen & Ginter. Their “White Borders” set from 1888 is considered the first modern baseball card issue, but they had not produced cards since the 1890s. In 1907 Allen & Ginter returned to the baseball card market and issued their “Pinkerton Baseball Cards” set. These colorful cards featured the team name, city, and full color player portrait on the front with little to no stats or information on the back.

Some notable firsts and developments of the 1907 Allen & Ginter Pinkerton set:

First major baseball card issue in over a decade
Returned to the large, premium sized card format of the 1880s/1890s sets rather than pocket-sized contemporaries
Introduced full color lithographic portraits unlike prior grayscale player images
One of the earliest regional subsets, which helped popularize specialty cards from certain cities

Other major 1907 issues were American Caramel’s “Caramel” set and American Tobacco Company’s “T206” set (sometimes incorrectly referred to as 1907 due to their release spanning 1907-1911). These helped cement the standard formula of tobacco premium baseball cards, with simple player images on the front and stats on the back, alongside occasional specialty cards and regional issues of teams.

Due to their foundational status and high output from the leading tobacco brands of the time, 1907 cards now represent an important milestone in the development of baseball cards as a full-fledged collectible industry. Here are some notes on pricing trends and grades of key 1907 sets:

Allen & Ginter Pinkerton – Generally considered the most historically significant set from 1907 due to their colorful images and return to the large card format. Graded Gem Mint (10) examples in top centered condition have recently sold for $2,500 – $5,000 at auction depending on the player. Common ungraded players in roughly Very Good to Fine condition typically sell in the $100 – $300 range. Certain stars can reach $500 – $1,000 even in lower grades.

American Caramel – As one of the earliest widespread tobacco issues, Caramels have a large output and population. Complete sets in Fair to Good condition can be acquired raw for $1,000 – $2,000 but Common ungraded individuals usually sell for under $50 even in lower grades. Top condition examples of star rookies and veterans have sold for $200 – $500 individually.

American Tobacco T206 – Due to their multi-year run from 1907-1911, early “White Borders” T206 examples from 1907 are rarer. Complete high-grade sets have auction prices starting around $10,000. Individually, key commons in average circulated condition sell in the $50 – $100 range but rookie stars can surpass $1,000. A pristine example of Tyrus Cobb’s rookie recently sold for $18,600.

The markets for high-grade examples of early rookie stars like Cobb, Mathewson, and Lajoie continue to show strength, but common undistinguished players tend to hold steady or experience gradual price declines over time. Regional issues like Allen & Ginter’s Philadelphia and Boston cards are also highly sought after, often selling above their national counterparts. Overall though, the historical context and condition sensitive nature of 1907 tobacco cards still makes them an appealing investment area within the hobby.

The year 1907 saw the rise of the tobacco era and established the modern foundation for baseball cards as a widely collected product and investment category. Key issues like Allen & Ginter Pinkertons, American Caramel, and early T206 examples are prized by collectors for their role in popularizing the hobby over a century ago. While high prices are usually reserved for pristine star rookies, there are still affordable opportunities to acquire early 1900s cards and start an important collection from this seminal period in sports memorabilia history.