RZM Fine Arts and Antiques Inc Presents: Ask the Appraiser

Jon, we found this little card in my father’s old cigar box, while cleaning out his home recently. To me it appears too small to be an actual baseball card. It only measures 2-1/2 tall. However, it does have “COBB” printed on it. The back has a cigarette advertisement printed on it. I never saw this before and was unaware my father even had it. Jon, if you can, please tell me exactly what this is, what it was used for and what it may be worth? Or perhaps should I just dispose of it? I will tell you that the only reason I didn’t already dispose of it is because of your piece in the newspaper. We read it each week. Thank you for your time and for writing this column.

Gene S., River Vale

Gene, please allow me to start by telling you that I am humbled that you read this column every week and that you enjoy it. Yet, it gives me even greater satisfaction that you did not just dispose of this very valuable antique baseball card. The small baseball card you possess is known as a T206, produced from 1909-1911. Yes, they were printed essentially for various tobacco company advertisements. These cards are found with many different themes. From soldiers, professional boxers, animals and flowers. However, it is the baseball themes that are highly sought after by collectors. Your particular T206 depicts Tyrus Raymond Cobb (1886-1961). Nicknamed “the Georgia Peach” who was an American Major League Baseball center fielder. Cobb broke into the majors with a combative attitude, and that lasted for his entire 24-year Major League career, all but two years with the Detroit Tigers. Cobb is in the Baseball Hall of Fame and batted .366 in his career. I must note, still the highest lifetime average in baseball history. He held the all-time Major League hit record at 4,191 until Pete Rose broke it in 1985. “The Georgia Peach” also held the all-time Major League stolen base record of 892 until 1977. Let me say, a T206 card of the greatest player of the Dead ball era is quite a find. This is from someone who has the thrill of being exposed to hundreds of these cards each year. There are some cards you just don’t ever get tired of experiencing. There are four versions of the T206 Ty Cobb card. Your card is a perfect example of a card that has gone from popular to practically royal status among advanced collectors. The more I study the photographs of this card it just keeps getting better. Your “Portrait Red” card has an amazing clean red background and a surprisingly clean and bright white border. The central graphics are close to perfectly centered with excellent print quality.  All important criteria in accessing the value. Oh yes, as to the value of this gem. T206 cards are basically graded on a scale of 1 through 10. The higher the numerical designation the higher the value. I would strongly recommend having this card graded by a professional third-party grading service. I can supply you with that information, if you desire. If your particular card was to grade a (5), the value of this card will be $25,000 USD. That’s right, three zeros. A card very similar to yours was recently sold at one of the major auction houses for that amount! If you are fortunate enough to have this card grade even higher, you could actually hit the six digits. Now you understand why this card must be graded and taken care of. Gene, as it is said, you hit the ball out of the park. Congratulations!