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.