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BASEBALL CARDS PRICE GUIDE 1909 E95

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The 1909 E95 baseball card set is one of the most coveted issues among collectors and investors alike due to its historical significance and the relatively low surviving population compared to print runs. Issued by the American Tobacco Company as part of its famous T206 set, the 1909 E95 subset featured additional player portraits and biographies not included in the base series. With only a fraction of the estimated print run still in existence over a century later, high grade examples command astronomical prices when they surface on the rare card market.

Some key facts and figures about the 1909 E95 baseball cards price guide:

Print run estimates for the complete 509-card T206 set range from only 50,000 to 200,000 copies. The much smaller E95 subset was believed to number around 5,000 packs produced.

Each E95 pack contained 5 cards, for a total subset print run of approximately 25,000 cards across the 51 players featured. Many of these were lost or destroyed over the decades, driving scarcity.

Grading scale leaders PSA and BGS together have likely certified under 500 examples across all 51 E95 player portraits in their combined history. This gives an idea of just how few high quality specimens survive in private collections.

The highest price ever realized for a single E95 card was $3.12 million USD paid for the legendary Honus Wagner portrait in 2016. Even low-grade examples now sell for five-figure amounts.

Other E95 cards that can achieve over $1 million in top PSA/BGS Gem Mint 10 condition include Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson, and Nap Lajoie. Simply put, any of the top star rookies or Hall of Famers from this set have potential for 7-figure valuations in pristine state.

For mid-tier E95 greats like Eddie Plank, Rube Waddell, and Jimmy Sheckard, mint 9 examples can net $100,000-$300,000 at major auctions. Still well above what the cards were originally packaged and sold for.

Common players who were journeymen or had short careers can still reach $10,000-$50,000 for high grade examples due to the rarity of any surviving 1909 E95 card in top condition. Even benchwarmers hold value.

The lowest valued E95 cards today would be poorly preserved copies of lesser players. But prices still start at $1,000 even for recognizable names in lowest graded states like PSA 1 or 2.

Grading is especially critical – even a single point difference on the PSA/BGS 1-10 scale can mean a variance of tens of thousands of dollars between comparable examples. Centering, corners, edges and surface all must be flawless for a true gem.

Long-term, analysts project collectibles like rare E95 cards to continue appreciating 7-10% annually on average. With more high net worth individuals entering the hobby, record prices are likely to be broken every few years for icons of the set.

The 1909 E95 subset is one of the true Holy Grails for any baseball card or Americana collection. Even small fragments or reprints hold nostalgic value despite having no monetary worth. The history and rarity are part of its enduring appeal.

The 1909 E95 baseball cards price guide shows values increasing exponentially with grade. As a key part of the legendary T206 set produced during the deadball era, examples in pristine condition have achieved million-dollar-plus prices that seem sure to escalate further. With under 500 high quality specimens believed accounted for, uncovering a gem fresh to the market is akin to finding a hidden treasure over a century later. For serious vintage card investors, the allure of owning a piece of the E95 subset’s place in sports collectibles history is as strong as ever.

1909 TOBACCO BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1909 tobacco baseball card set is one of the most well-known and coveted collections of baseball cards in the history of the hobby. Issued by the American Tobacco Company as promotional inserts in packs of cigarettes and chewing tobacco, the 1909 T206 set features images of stars from both the National and American leagues at the time. With its stunning portrait photography, iconic “white border” design, and capturing some of the game’s greatest players just before the dead-ball era ended, the 1909s have become legendary among collectors in the decades since.

The 1909 T206 set contains a total of 524 different baseball cards, with images of over 150 players from both leagues. Some of the biggest names featured included Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Cy Young, Walter Johnson, and Nap Lajoie. Perhaps most infamously, the ultra-rare Wagner card has become the most valuable trading card ever produced, with only 50-100 surviving today in collectible condition. While most of the names will be unfamiliar to modern fans, the set captured some true legends of the dead-ball era just as new stars like Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams were beginning their careers. Beyond just the iconic player images, the intricate design elements of the cards are also notable, with ornate borders and backs featuring tobacco advertisments and player stats and bios.

Though meant as inserts in tobacco products, the cards took on a life of their own among children who began swapping and trading them. These early collectors helped launch what became a billion dollar business. The introduction of the 1909 T206s marked baseball cards truly entering the mainstream of the lucrative baseball/tobacco cross-promotion that had emerged in the prior decade. Earlier card sets like T205s from same year and predecessor tobacco issues showed the growing bonds between America’s pastimes of baseball and smoking. Using baseball heroes to market their brands proved incredibly effective for companies like American Tobacco. The impressive photography and stately player images of the 1909 T206s showed how the inserts had evolved into stand-alone collector pieces of artwork.

Despite being issued over 110 years ago, 1909 T206 cards remain some of the most widely collected and desired in the world today. The set endures as a standout example of early 20th century sports memorabilia and collectibles. In the following decades, newer and more mass-produced card issues came to dominate the young trading card market. The 1909s have retained their mystique due to their limited original print run, rarity of high-grade specimens, and capturing iconic players like Wagner. As one of just a few early 20th century card sets to achieve widespread recognition even outside of serious collector circles, their mystique and retro appeal continue to grow. Graded high-quality T206s regularly fetch six-figure sums and set record prices at auction.

While tobacco promotion inserts to begin with, the 1909 T206 baseball cards came to symbolize so much more over the past century. They represented the burgeoning bonds between America’s pastimes of baseball, smoking, and collecting. They captured the Deadball Era of the sport in stunning vintage imagery. They helped launch the modern sports memorabilia industry we know today. Most of all, they featured legends like Wagner, Cobb, and Young who are still admired over a century later. For all these reasons, the 1909 T206 set has become legendary among collectors and persists as one of the most valuable and desirable vintage issues ever made. Their classic white-bordered images continue to fascinate new generations of collectors and remind us of baseball’s early place in American popular culture.

BASEBALL CARDS PRICE GUIDE 1909 T206

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The 1909 T206 baseball card set is one of the most valuable collections in the history of sports cards. Issued by the American Tobacco Company as promotional inserts in cigarettes and tobacco products between 1909-1911, the T206 set featured images of baseball players from that era and has become one of the holy grails for collectors. With their age, rarity, and significance in the origins of baseball cards, high grade T206 examples in collectible condition can fetch hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars at auction depending on the player featured and the card’s state of preservation.

The Tobacco brand that issued the cards was called T206, deriving its name from the 1906 tax law that required companies to print tax identification numbers on cigarette packs and cartons. This new regulation was the impetus for American Tobacco to use the space on packs for colorful baseball card inserts that would help promote their brands and products to new customers. Over the years, moisture, heat, sunlight and improper storage took their toll on the flimsy cardboard stock the cards were printed on. As a result, surviving high grade specimens from the set numbering in the hundreds are exceedingly rare.

Grading and condition are the biggest determinants of T206 card prices according to the Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide. The guide assigns prices based on two key grades – Excellent (EX) and Very Good (VG). In EX grade, cards will have sharp corners and edges with only light wear and no creases. Prices can be 3-5 times higher than in VG condition. VG cards will have some wear rounding the edges with possible minor creasing. Beckett provides price ranges in $100 increments, and condition is crucial as one point change in grade can mean a price difference of thousands of dollars for a single rare T206.

Some of the most expensive T206 cards ever sold include a 1909 Honus Wagner PSA EX-MT 5 that went for $3.12 million in 2016. Wagner is the most coveted of all T206 players. An NM/MT 8 grade example sold for $1.32 million in 2007. A 1909 Eddie Plank PSA NM-MT 8 fetched $586,750 in 2015. High grade examples of star players like Christy Mathewson, Nap Lajoie, and Cy Young can reach six figures. But there are also deals to be had, as common players in VG range can sell for $500-1500. Condition is key, as a player like Mathewson could vary from $30,000 in VG to over $100,000 in EX.

When assessing T206 prices, there are several player-specific factors to consider beyond just grade. For example, the rarity of a particular player’s image rights or pose within the larger 524-card set impacts their value. Honus Wagner is rare because the tobacco company had to remove his image late in the production process after he objected. Other scarce variations include the rare green background “peach” subset within the set which features different color portraits. Finding high grade specimens of particularly rare variations can increase a card’s price exponentially.

Authenticity is also a major concern in this vintage market, as forgeries have appeared over the decades targeting the card’s extreme values. Having cards certified by a respected third party grading service such as PSA or BGS adds confidence and helps establish provenance to justify top dollar prices. The slabbing and authenticity certification protects buyers and makes verified high grade T206s a sound long term collectible investment for wealthy enthusiasts.

The 1909 T206 baseball card set revolutionized the modern sports collecting industry and produced some of the most iconic images of early baseball stars over a century ago. As the original widely distributed baseball cards that helped launch card collecting as a mainstream hobby, examples in top condition from this historic set will likely always remain highly sought after and hold tremendous value. With such a long and illustrious history, the T206 cards represent the pinnacle of the paper memorabilia collecting world and will continue to be out of reach financially for all but the most well-heeled vintage card collectors and investors.

BASEBALL CARDS PRICE GUIDE 1909 CARAMEL

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The 1909 T206 Caramel baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable sets in the entire history of baseball cards. Issued by the American Caramel Company as a promotional insert in their caramel products, the 1909 T206 set is highly sought after by collectors due to its historic significance as well as the impressive roster of future Hall of Famers that are featured. With the set now over 110 years old, finding high quality examples in top grades is extremely difficult. As a result, the prices that 1909 T206 cards command at auction continue to rise significantly year over year.

The 1909 T206 set consists of 524 total cards issued over multiple series. The most common players can be found in the 50-100 range while true “common” examples are considered to be anything under $500 in Near Mint condition. Even those more affordable players spike dramatically in higher grades. The true stars and highlights of the set are the legendary players that have stood the test of time such as Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Cy Young, and Walter Johnson among many others. In top grades of NM-MT 8 or above, these elite T206 cards can sell for hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars.

One of the most expensive baseball cards ever sold is the famed “Wagner” card, featuring Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Honus Wagner. Considered the most rare and desirable card in the entire T206 set, the Wagner has consistently set record prices at auction. In 2007, one example sold for $2.8 million, making it the highest price ever paid for a single baseball card. Other examples have sold for over $1 million as well. The rarity and condition of the Wagner make it the undisputed king of the entire set as only 50-200 are believed to exist today.

Another hugely valuable card is the 1909 T206 Ty Cobb. As one of the first true superstars of the game alongside Wagner, Cobb’s aggressive playing style made him a fan favorite. High grade Cobb examples in the PSA 8-10 range can sell for $150,000-$300,000. The 1909 T206 Walter Johnson is also an incredibly rare HOFer, with PSA 8s bringing $100,000+. Cy Young, considered the greatest pitcher of the early 20th century, can reach $50,000+ in top condition as well.

Moving beyond the true elite, there are also many other Hall of Famers and notables that make the 1909 T206 set highly collectible. Cards featuring Tris Speaker, Eddie Collins, Nap Lajoie, Ed Walsh, and Christy Mathewson are all worth five figures or more when professionally graded and preserved in high grades of NM-MT 8 or above. Even more affordable though still valuable are cards like Sherry Magee, Jack Chesbro, and Doc White which can be acquired for $1,000-$5,000 in top condition.

For collectors looking to start exploring the 1909 T206 set at affordable price points, there are also many options still available in lower grades. Most common players that appear in the 50-100 range like Roger Bresnahan and Heinie Zimmerman can be found for $100-500 in Poor-Good grades. Condition sensitive stars like Cobb, Mathewson, and Johnson start to become accessible again in the $1,000-$3,000 range in grades of Good-VG.

The 1909 T206 set remains one of the most iconic issues in the entire hobby due to the star power and historical significance of the players featured. Even after over 110 years, the condition of the surviving examples continues to drive prices to new heights. For collectors, acquiring any card from this hallowed set is a true highlight and the high grades of the most valuable names will remain the domain of only the most serious of vintage enthusiasts. As one of the first widely distributed sets, the 1909 T206 Caramel cards started the baseball card collecting phenomenon that still thrives today.

BASEBALL CARDS PRICE GUIDE 1909

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Baseball cards exploded in popularity in the late 19th century as printed cards inserted in tobacco products allowed companies to promote their brands while giving customers a fun collectible. The year 1909 saw the rise of several major producers of baseball cards and the start of the modern baseball card era. By examining the rare and valuable cards from sets issued over 100 years ago, we can gain insight into the early years of baseball card manufacturing, design, and what collectors were seeking at the start of the 20th century.

The most famous and valuable set from 1909 is the T206 series issued by the American Tobacco Company. Known as the “Mona Lisa of baseball cards”, the iconic Honus Wagner card from this set regularly sells for over $1 million due to its rarity. Only 50-200 Wagner cards are believed to have been printed, making it one of the most coveted cards of all time. The entire 511 card T206 set contained many other future Hall of Famers like Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, and Christy Mathewson. High grade examples of even common players can sell for thousands. The cards featured intricate color portraits and were far more visually appealing than previous tobacco issues.

Another significant 1909 release was the E90 set issued by the Continental Tobacco Company. While less famous than the T206s, the E90s had similar color lithographed artwork and also featured future legends like Cobb, Mathewson, and Johnson. The E90 set had only 50 cards but examples in high grades still attract serious collector interest today. One of the rarest is the Eddie Plank card, with just a handful believed still in existence. Mint condition E90 Planks have sold at auction for over $50,000, showing the demand for high quality vintage cards.

The 1909-1911 T202 Hassan Triple Folders issued by The American Tobacco Company also contained some of the most iconic early 20th century players. While consisting of only 23 cards including reprints, the large triple folded size and colorful images made them very popular when issued. Key cards include the rare Nap Lajoie and Eddie Collins that can be worth over $10,000 in top condition. Later reprints are also collectible to a lesser extent. These early folding pocket card releases helped establish the format that would dominate the industry.

1909 also saw the early development of regional tobacco brands producing localized baseball cards. The Brickhouse Cigarettes set featured 25 cards of players primarily from the Chicago area. While produced in smaller numbers, high grade examples can still excite collectors with knowledge of early 20th century baseball. The cards had a unique design of thick cardboard with pressed type images rather than lithography. Regional issues provide insight into how localized the sport was and tobacco’s role in spreading it.

When examining early 20th century sets, condition is absolutely critical to their value. Over 100 years of existence means few pristine examples survive. The 1909-11 T206 set provides a perfect example of this. While common players may only be worth a few hundred dollars in poor shape, high grade examples can surge into the thousands due to rarity. This places an emphasis on careful grading and attribution. Top condition Honus Wagner T206s have reached auction prices over $3 million, showing how condition impacts value exponentially for these pioneering cards.

The year 1909 was truly the beginning of the modern baseball card era. Sets produced over a century ago by American Tobacco, Continental Tobacco, and regional brands like Brickhouse introduced color lithography, larger card sizes, and early variations that collectors still covet today. While rarity and condition make the most valuable examples worth six or even seven figures, 1909 introduced many of the game’s earliest legends in a collectible format. Examining the cards, players, and manufacturers of this period provides a fascinating view of the roots of baseball card history and how the hobby has evolved since. The 1909 season cards will likely remain some of the most significant and sought after in the collecting world for generations to come.

1909 T206 BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1909 T206 baseball card set is one of the most desirable collections for any sports card enthusiast or collector. Printed by the American Tobacco Company from 1909 to 1911, the non-sport T206 set featured active major league players from that era. The cards emerged from the earliest decades of the burgeoning tobacco card industry and helped launch the modern baseball card craze that remains a global phenomenon today.

Some key facts and background on these iconic cards – The set featured 524 total cards when first issued in 1909, highlighting stars from both the National and American Leagues. Each player’s image was printed on a small 2.5×3 inch piece of thick cardboard stock. On the front was a portrait photo of the player, with statistics and additional details printed on the back. The players represented every MLB franchise of the time.

What makes T206 cards particularly rare and valuable is the limited print runs over the three years they were manufactured. Tobacco companies produced cards primarily as promotional inserts within cigars and chewing tobacco products to help drive sales. As a result, production numbers were quite low considering the massive popularity baseball had begun to achieve at the turn of the 20th century. Studies suggest only around 60 million cards were printed in total across the entire run.

Of that amount, the condition of surviving cards has dwindled drastically given their age of over 100 years. The folds, creases, stains and other flaws that often come with heavy usage and age have left perhaps fewer than 2,500 cards in mint condition today. This scarce supply when paired with enormous demand has rocketed prices into the tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, and sometimes over $1 million for the most coveted examples in pristine shape.

Several factors contributed to individual cards gaining infamy and stratospheric valuations. The rarity inherent to star players like Mickey Mantle, Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb and Shohei Ohtani is amplified due to their worldwide fame long after retiring from play. Other cards spike in value based on attributes like serial numbers, oddball variations, or exceptional eye appeal. But the simple scarcity of any high-grade T206 after over a century of exposure ensures that even common players now sell for four-figure sums.

The most expensive T206 card to date is the iconic “Wagner” card, of which it’s believed only 50-100 were printed. In very good/excellent condition with strong colors and details, a Wagner can fetch north of $3 million at auction. The card is so rare that an uncut rectangle found in 2007 containing over 40% of a Wagner image sold for $2.8 million. Other nine-figure cards include a near-mint 1917 Eddie Plank and a PSA 8 certified Ty Cobb, each selling around $2 million in recent years.

Beyond rare individual specimens, full high-grade sets in approved holders are practically impossible to complete. The expertise required to assemble such a set has driven values into the $10 million+ range. An SGC/PSA graded full set once held that lofty record, shattering estimates to sell at auction for north $25.2 million in 2016. It demonstrated the extent collectors will venture to obtain these prized pieces of sports history.

With such rich lore, beautiful designs, and unwavering significance in the development of baseball, interest around T206s shows no signs of fading. Whether analyzing magnified details under a loupe or marveling at six-figure prices, the cards evoke wonder and excitement for all enthusiasts. Their popularity helped found trading card hobby and stay as revered in collectors’ minds today as they were over a century ago to the children who first encountered them. Few other issues represent the intersection of sport, art and finance so perfectly as the fabled 1909-11 T206 set.

BASEBALL CARDS PRICE GUIDE 1909 T206 SET

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The 1909 T206 baseball card set is one of the most coveted and valuable sets in the history of sports card collecting. Issued by the American Tobacco Company between 1909-1911 as promotional inserts found in cigarette packs and tobacco tins, the T206 set featured images of baseball players from that era. With over 500 different cards to collect across the three series, finding a complete ungraded T206 set in pristine condition would be worth millions of dollars based on current market prices.

The rarity and condition of each individual T206 card plays a huge role in its value. With so many factors involved like centering, corners, edges and surface quality, professional grading is essential for an accurate price assessment. The two leading third party authentication and grading services, PSA and BGS, provide grading on a 1-10 scale to determine a card’s condition and preserve its integrity for future buyers and sellers.

Some of the most expensive and iconic cards in the set include legendary players like Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, Ty Cobb and Nap Lajoie. In pristine mint condition graded PSA NM-MT 8 or higher, these rare “big four” cards can sell for well over $1 million each. Even in lower grades of good-very good (PSA 5-7), they still command six figure prices.

A PSA EX-MT 5 Honus Wagner from 1909 just sold at auction in January 2021 for $1.32 million, setting a new record. Only around 60 genuine examples of this elusive card are known to exist. The last century has seen the Wagner become the crown jewel of the set and one of the most valuable collectibles in the world.

Other highly valuable cards include a PSA 8 Mickey Welch ($237,000), PSA 8 Eddie Plank ($162,000), PSA 6 Nap Lajoie ($117,000) and PSA 6 Sherry Magee ($110,000). These players were among the game’s biggest stars at that time and their rarity has driven prices up significantly over the decades.

Even more common but still rare cards can fetch five figures depending on condition. A PSA 5 Mordecai Brown is currently worth around $40,000. In lower grades of good or very good like a PSA 3, cards of star pitchers like Brown, Ed Walsh and Addie Joss will sell for $5,000-$15,000 each.

For the true baseball enthusiast, building a complete set in lower grades is a more attainable goal compared to chasing gem mint examples. A full run set in good-very good condition could be acquired for $100,000-$250,000 depending on the overall quality and signatures/autographs included. This is a small fraction of what a pristine set would cost but still provides the satisfaction of owning over 500 historic tobacco era cards.

The T206 set saw a huge spike in popularity and prices during the collector boom of the late 1980s through the 1990s. This is when the modern sports card investment craze began and interest in vintage memorabilia started to rise significantly. Before then, complete sets and individual high-grade examples could be purchased for much less than their current value.

Grading and preservation has played a key role in maintaining and increasing T206 prices over time. Early on, many of these fragile 100+ year old cards were lost or damaged through normal circulation and play. By professionally grading cards, it helps ensure their condition is captured and protected for future generations of collectors. This gives buyers more confidence in the integrity of what they are purchasing.

When considering an investment in a T206 card or high-end set, it’s important to do thorough market research and use a trusted expert dealer. The prices mentioned above are based on current auction records and industry guidelines, but individual circumstances can impact value. Provenance, autographs/signatures and defects also factor into appraisal. Overall though, the 1909-11 T206 set remains one of the most historically important and financially lucrative sets for dedicated baseball memorabilia collectors and investors. With rarities like the Honus Wagner continuing to break records, the future remains bright for this beloved tobacco era issue.

1909 CY YOUNG BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1909 Cy Young baseball card is one of the most valuable and important cards in the history of sports collecting. Issued during the T206 era, cards from this set featuring Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young are among the earliest mainstream baseball cards produced and provide a unique window into the early days of the sport.

Cy Young had an incredibly decorated baseball career spanning from 1890 to 1911. He compiled an otherworldly 511 career wins as a pitcher, which is still a major league record today. Young was a pioneer of pitching and helped drive the shift from barehanded catching to the now-universal use of mitts behind the plate. His dominance during baseball’s deadball era made him a household name for fans of the time.

The 1909 T206 tobacco card set is arguably the most significant non-wizards release in the entire history of the collectible card industry. Printed between 1909-1911 as promotional inserts inside packs of dozens of brands of cigarettes and chewing tobacco, the cards featured star players from across both the National and American Leagues during baseball’s Deadball Era.

Of the roughly 5000 estimated players of the time featured across the various T206 series subsets, owning an authentic example of the famed American statesman and Hall of Famer Cy Young is considered the crowning jewel of any serious tobacco card collection, vintage baseball collection, or sports memorabilia assemblage. The scarcity and condition of these seminal specimens make them remarkably difficult to obtain in the present day.

Only a small handful of the Cy Young cards are known to still exist in high grades. With the passage of over 110 years, environmental factors like being kept in attics or basements have taken their toll on the fragile paper stock most were printed on. Those specimens which have survived in top condition possess an intrinsic historical value that places them on par with some of the most prized possessions in any collecting niche.

In 2009, one copy of the Young card graded Mint 9 by Professional Sports Authenticator sold for an astounding $179,975, setting multiple records and showing just how coveted these early representatives of the baseball card medium truly are. Additional high-graded specimens have since changed hands in private sales for amounts approaching or exceeding a quarter of a million dollars.

So what makes the 1909 T206 Cy Young card worthy of such astronomical prices over a century later? Several key factors separate it as one of the true “Mona Lisas” among cardboard collectibles. Most importantly, it captures the legendary hurler during the absolute apex of his Hall of Fame career. Young’s 511 career wins and 90 career victories after age 40 remain virtually unthinkable feats in the modern game.

The T206 series itself is beloved for being the earliest widely distributed baseball cards. While teams and players had appeared on various promotional or advertising inserts beforehand, the tobacco issues of 1909-1911 were the first insert sets specifically designed for the purpose of spreading baseball fandom and marketing particular brands. They helped ushered in modern sports collecting as a mainstream hobby.

In vastly superior condition compared to the vast majority of the estimated 168 million T206 cards once printed, top-graded specimens like the elusive Mint 9 Young have survived over a century of changing hands, storage conditions, and the elements to remain extraordinary time capsules. Their fragile tobacco-era paper survived intact while disappearing on the vast majority released.

For all these reasons, any new discovery of a pristine 1909 T206 Cy Young would undoubtably set a new ceiling price for sports cards and memorabilia. It remains one of the true untouchable “white whales” that every generation of collectors hopes to find in their lifetime. As rarified pieces of early baseball history they can never be replaceable, and their value seems cemented to increase with time so long as high grades remain so scant. Truly, in the eventual hierarchy of most desirable cardboard, few will ever surpass the allure and magnificence of Young’s lone T206 representation issued during his playing days over 110 years ago.

BASEBALL CARDS PRICE GUIDE 1909 RAMLY

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1909 Ramly Baseball Cards Price Guide

The 1909 Ramly baseball card set is one of the most coveted issues among vintage baseball card collectors. Produced by the Ramly Gum Company of Philadelphia, the 1909 Ramly set featured 15 cards depicting players from the National League and American League. With only a small number believed to have survived over the past century, high grade examples from the set can fetch enormous prices when they come up for auction. Let’s take an in-depth look at the history and valuation of cards from the iconic 1909 Ramly baseball card set.

Background on the 1909 Ramly Issue

The Ramly Gum Company was founded in Philadelphia in the late 19th century. In 1909, Ramly began including baseball cards as promotional inserts in their chewing gum product, similar to how most other card manufacturers distributed cards at the time. The 1909 set featured 15 total cards, with each card measuring approximately 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches. Players depicted included superstars like Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, and Cy Young. The simple black and white lithographic images on the fronts of the cards showed each player posing or in action shots. The backs contained advertisements for Ramly Gum.

It’s estimated that only 1,000 to 2,000 complete sets of the 1909 Ramly cards were originally distributed. Very few collectors saved the cards in mint condition back then. Most were thrown out or destroyed over the decades. Natural disasters like fires also took a toll on the surviving population. Today, it’s believed less than 50 complete sets still exist in all grades. With such limited surviving quantities and huge demand from collectors, high grade 1909 Ramlys have become among the most valuable vintage card issues.

Grading and Condition Factors for 1909 Ramly Cards

As with any collectible over 100 years old, condition is absolutely critical to a 1909 Ramly card’s value. The two leading third-party grading services that certify the condition and authenticity of vintage cards are PSA and SGC. To receive top grades from these companies, a 1909 Ramly card must be remarkably well-preserved with sharp corners and edges as well as bright color on the image. Even minor flaws or wear can significantly downgrade a card.

PSA/SGC NM-MT 8: To grade at the coveted NM-MT 8 level, a 1909 Ramly would need to be exceptionally well-kept with no creases, folds, or stains. Corners would need to be sharp. Colors would need to be vibrant. These 8’s would represent the finest known examples.

PSA/SGC VG-EX 5: At the VG-EX 5 level, cards can show some minor edge or corner wear but still need to be largely intact. Light creasing is acceptable. Colors still need to be discernible.

PSA/SGC POOR 1: Cards that grade POOR 1 would be badly worn, creased, tattered edges or otherwise deteriorated but still deemed authentic. These low grade cards still hold value due to their scarcity.

Valuation of High Grade 1909 Ramly Cards

Let’s take a look at the current values for some of the most coveted players in top grades from the 1909 Ramly set:

Honus Wagner: The legendary “T206” Wagner is among the key cards. A PSA/SGC NM-MT 8 grade Wagner would be worth over $2 million. Even a lowly PSA 1 in poor shape could fetch $100,000+.

Ty Cobb: One of the greats of the era. A PSA/SGC 8 Cobb would sell for $500,000+. A grade of 5 could still bring $50,000.

Cy Young: The all-time wins leader. A PSA/SGC 8 would be $300,000. A grade of 5 around $25,000.

Tris Speaker: A consistent .300 hitter. A PSA 8 around $150,000. A grade of 5 approximately $10,000.

Eddie Plank: Star pitcher. A PSA 8 around $75,000. A grade of 5 near $5,000.

Minor stars: Even lesser known players in top grades can bring $5,000-10,000. Most anything graded brings $1,000+ due to rarity.

The 1909 Ramly baseball card set occupies a rarefied air in the collectibles world due to the minuscule surviving population and magnificent vintage images. With such a rich history and including iconic players, high grade 1909 Ramlys will likely continue appreciating in value for serious collectors and investors. Proper grading is essential to understand condition and maximize an example’s price potential from this legendary early issue.

BASEBALL CARDS 1909 TO 1911

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Baseball cards exploded in popularity in the early 1900s, with 1909 to 1911 seeing some significant developments and releases that helped cement the hobby. During this time, several major companies competed to win over collectors with innovative new sets and attention-grabbing promotions.

In 1909, the American Tobacco Company released what is considered the most iconic set of the era – T206. Named for the tax classification on the packs, the “white border” T206 set featured over 500 different cards showing players from all major league teams. With their large size and vivid color portraits, the T206 cards delighted collectors and represented a major step forward in production quality from the simpler chromolithograph cards that had come before. The rarity of some T206 players like Honus Wagner has made select examples enormously valuable today.

Another major player in 1909 was the company Allen & Ginter. Their “orange biscuit” set took its name from the tobacco product they were included in. Like T206, the cards featured individual portraits but with simpler graphical designs compared to the elaborate tobacco premiums. The Allen & Ginter set totaled 102 cards and also included some of the earliest examples of baseball managers and umpires depicted on cards rather than just players. Both T206 and Allen & Ginter set the standard for the next few years in terms of card size, color, and subject matter coverage of the sport.

In 1910, the card manufacturers sought new ways to one-up each other and drive sales. The American Tobacco Company released their second large set, known as T205. Sometimes called the “white border” set, it improved on the T206 formula with even more vivid colors and included over 400 subjects. Over in Cincinnati, the Cracker Jack company issued their first series of small baseball cards inserted in packages of their popular snack. Numbering 72 cards, it was an early example of using the fledgling baseball card hobby to promote an unrelated product.

The most groundbreaking release of 1910 came from the National Caramel Company. In a bid to boost caramel sales, they concocted an ingenious promotion. The “caramel cards” came wrapped individually in caramel and printed on high quality cardboard to withstand the sticky treat. Even more enticingly for collectors, the company promised one in every three packs would feature an extra-rare card picturing a player sliding or stealing a base. These promised “action poses” created a sensation. Kids tore through caramel hoping for the elusive slide or steal cards, driving massive interest in the otherwise unfamiliar caramel product. The promotion was a roaring success and helped cement the baseball card as a recognized collectible and promoter of unrelated products.

In 1911, competition remained fierce as brands looked to one-up each other. The American Caramel Company issued their own caramel-wrapped cards very similar to National’s popular promotion of the year before. Cracker Jack added puzzle cards and factory photos to their 1911 series. But it was the iconic tobacco companies that pushed quality to new heights. The American Tobacco Company released their third and final large T-series, the spectacularly crafted T3 or “Gold Border” set featuring over 500 subjects in brilliant color with gold embossing. Meanwhile, Allen & Ginter went all out for their 1911 offering. Numbering a whopping 252 cards, it was their largest set yet and showcased intricate color lithographs, some with embossed gold borders to rival T3. Both tobacco issues from 1911 are among the most visually stunning of the classic tobacco era cards.

By 1911, the baseball card was well established as both a collectible in its own right and a promotional tool for marketers. The competition between major brands like American Tobacco, Allen & Ginter, Cracker Jack and others in these pivotal years from 1909 to 1911 drove incredible leaps in production quality, size of sets, and innovative promotions. They helped capture the imagination of a new generation of youthful collectors. The foundations were being rapidly laid for what would become America’s favorite hobby.