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.