Anyone have info on this Ty Cobb Bank??

[whiteymet]

Hi All:

Anyone have any info on what I am told is a Ty Cobb Bank? Any and all info would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Butch7999]

We've seen three or four of these over the years -- just the stand-alone figure, without any base or other accoutrements.
They're usually attributed to "1910s."
The only example for which we have a record of sale was from 14 years ago, selling for a little over $700. in Hunt's August 2001 Auction.

[vintagesportscollector]

The challenge with these is that there are many fakes or repros. I've literally seen hundreds for sale over the years, and presumably most are fake. Search ebay now for Ty Cobb Bank and you will find 4 listings. I am not familiar enough with them to tell what is the real thing, but there have been threads on this before in N54 if you search.

I remember years ago the MOMA in NYC had an exhibit on vintage Americana, including baseball folk art items, and they sold this bank repro in the gift shop.

[Butch7999]

Joe, thanks for the additional info. Had not known MOMA did a repro.
We're guessing (hoping, for the buyer's sake) that the Hunt example
was authenticated as an original. Do you know if there are any
specific telltale signs differentiating the original from the MOMA repop,
other than the usual things one looks for in mechanical banks and
cast-iron toys and so on?