Inasmuch as the strip already is graded authentic and has pretty crummy eye appeal, I wonder if this is not one of those instances where restoration could materially increase its value. It's not like it will prevent it from getting a number grade. But it could, by taking advantage of the strong colors the strip has, create something that would be attractive to look at. We have seen with posters that such restoration, even of the major kind, can significantly increase market value. Maybe it could with this too.

Corey - you sound like the item description. :)

The strip has left the building...
 

I called Hunt Auctions to check in on how long the strip would be on display...much to my dismay, it's no longer at the stadium...I didn't have a chance to make it down from NYC...

I was hoping by now to hear Ted Z's opinion on the strip as he said he would be traveling to the ballpark while it was on display.

Not sure if this video has been posted already, but here's David Hunt showing the slabbed Wagner strip on MSNBC.

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I hadn't seen it, so thanks so much for posting it. Hunt did a great job in the interview, didn't he? Relaxed and affable, with natural enthusiasm. Great for him to have landed the All-Star deal with MLB and now turning it into an "event" auction.

I wondered for a minute if any individual consignment agreement includes that the item will be part of any media coverage such as this clip. This auction might be expected to get more media coverage than most, and it seemed like having a "first in line for MSNBC piece" might be a good sales pitch. But probably not. Anyone interested in and able to afford the Wagner strip didn't need to see it on MSNBC to know it's in the auction. More likely the publicity helps the auction overall and many some of the non-major pieces, but the premium items would be well known beforehand.

Thanks again for posting the clip.

J

I agree that it's a great catch for Hunt Auctions to hook up with MLB for an annual All-Star Game auction. Maybe they could celebrate by updating their Web site to 2010. Heck, even 2002.

I was thinking the same thing Rob, that maybe this is what can put them in the mix with the big guys. I have always kept an eye on Hunt auctions, but the horrible software has always left me thinking that they are sort of like the garage sale of auction houses. Lots of stuff, mostly small or niche, some bigger/better items, but you have to dig around for things buried in the loosely collated piles on tables.

J

Final hammer price
 

$275,000.

There were some other interesting prices in this auction...and some pieces that failed to sell...

http://huntauctions.com/Live/view_fe...items_list.cfm

I'm missing something there. It shows high bid as 121,000 but sold for 275,000 was 275,000 the reserve and it didn't actually sell?

Steve B

I believe the first column represents the initial online bidding that ended on Sunday. Live bidding concluded the auction today. It appears that if something didn't meet the reserve, the "sold for" price is listed as $0.00.

To me, the most amazing part of that page is realizing that Chili Davis had 3 World Series Trophies.

Ah, now it makes sense. Thanks.

Steve B

SCP Auctions Purchases Historic T206 Wagner Proof Strip
 

Just received this email from everybody's favorite auction house.

EXCEPTIONALLY RARE T-206 HONUS WAGNER TOBACCO PROOF STRIP c. 1909-11 PURCHASED FOR $316,250 BY SCP AUCTIONS AT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ALL-STAR AUCTION


The unique surviving T-206 Honus Wagner tobacco proof strip was purchased Tuesday at the Major League Baseball All-Star Auction for $316,250 by SCP Auctions of Laguna Niguel, CA for an anonymous client.

The T-206 piece includes four other players: Mordecai Brown (HOF), Frank Bowerman, Cy Young (HOF), and Johnny Kling, along with Wagner.

Commenting on the acquisition, David Kohler, president and CEO of SCP Auctions, said: “We are thrilled that we have been able to help our client obtain this iconic object in the field of baseball card collecting. The interest in T-206 Wagner legacy continues to transcend popular culture.”

The legacy of the T-206 Honus Wagner Card dates to its creation and initial release by the American Tobacco Company in 1909 as part of a series that included more than 500 different cards. T-206 tobacco cards are among the most widely collected, popular and sought after cards among current collectors.

It is estimated that only 50-60 examples of the T-206 Wagner have surfaced. Numerous myths have been perpetuated and debated during the course of the last century as to the reason for its scarcity. One of the prevailing theories is that Wagner, one of the premier players in the history of baseball, insisted that he be paid by the tobacco company for the use of his image, causing the production of his card to be halted. A more common and well-documented theory is that Wagner simply did not want children to be influenced into buying tobacco products just to get a “picture” of him, and thus forced the early withdrawal of his image on this principle. The volumes that have been written and countless tales that have been spun make the T206 Wagner card a part of classic American Folklore.

T-206 Honus Wagner Tobacco Proof Strip Sells for $316,250
The proof had recently been graded by the professional grading service SGC and certified with an "Authentic" designation. This is the first time that this iconic strip has been professionally graded. For more information, please visit www.scpauctions.com.

Hope they did not try to pay for it with numerous money orders under $5,000 each. :eek:

Want to bet that their "client" is the same one that owns the PSA 8 Wagner?

I guess SCP deserves this:

http://forum.mydyingbride.org/images...s/beerchug.gifhttp://forum.mydyingbride.org/images...s/beerchug.gifhttp://forum.mydyingbride.org/images...s/beerchug.gifhttp://forum.mydyingbride.org/images...s/beerchug.gifhttp://forum.mydyingbride.org/images...s/beerchug.gifhttp://forum.mydyingbride.org/images...s/beerchug.gifhttp://forum.mydyingbride.org/images...s/beerchug.gifhttp://forum.mydyingbride.org/images...s/beerchug.gifhttp://forum.mydyingbride.org/images...s/beerchug.gifhttp://forum.mydyingbride.org/images...s/beerchug.gif

not money orders......
 

Wagner Proof
 

My little part of the strip's history.

I know Steve Verkman bought it from the Halper/Sotheby's auction ten or so years ago. I think he paid about $85K for it. In one of his later auctions, I purchased it from him for $91K. I used it in a Shop At Home promotion as a grand prize in a drawing - I believe a lady from the south won it, and later that year consigned it to a Mastro auction. I believe it sold in the Mastro auction for somewhere in the high $70s or low $80s - I do remember Steve making the comment that it brought the most money in his auction out of the three.

I never removed it from the glass holder/case that it was in from the Sotheby's sale, but there is no doubt in my mind that it was one sold strip/piece. The back was blank. It had the genuine feel and look of T206s from that era. I don't remember if it had a factory "cut" or a hand cut - didn't really seem relevant.

Having held it for maybe six months...it's a unique piece, but it is aesthetically as ugly as a hundred grand piece can be. Considering what Poor/Fair Wagners are going for, you'd think this item would be worth more, but the appeal just isn't there.

Solomon- thanks for giving more information on the strip and thanks for registering for our forum. Glad to have you aboard!!

Maybe color had something to do with it
 

This is pure speculation, but perhaps the reason the printer placed the subjects in this order is based on aesthetics and blending of colors. The red backed cards make a pleasing outside frame. The Olive background of the Bowerman card in the center is a nice blend of the orange and green backgrounds that flank it. The printer may have even thought to put the Wagner in the center of the strip, but is artistic eye told him that this was the best combination.

Best wishes,

Joe

Question
 

For those that have seen this card, was the area that is the white border area gray in color? you can see the white areas that appear to be the white of the paper around the register marks.
This strip is either a partial group from the original arangement of subjects on the original matrix stones or plates, Or it something that was put together by pulling transfers for each of these players and creating a separate set of stones or plates with this configuration before the art for some of the colors was unfinished.

i love how me and Ted think alike!

this is what i believe the majority of "blank back" cards to be....SAMPLES that Amer Litho employees would use to sell the art to different companies...



TED Z[/QUOTE]

I just plowed through this whole thread......so it's not vertical seams?
Not separate cards "pasted" together?
Actually a "proof" strip?

Cool.

One of my favourite T206 pieces...hope to finish and have it litho printed one day. Recreated using original portraits.

http://i.imgur.com/S6sTec9.jpg

Just made this my background on my PC....thank you

I would strongly recommend that Net54 newcomers take 15-20 minutes and read this thread from the beginning. It's pretty enlightening, and not just about the T206 Wagner strip.

Similar piece +
 

Just got done reading this whole thing... pretty cool detective story from the beginning to present...

This reminds me that when I was driving through Pittsburgh a few years ago, I stopped at a small antique store and the owner, who's last name eludes me, showed me a strip just like this one... but the strip was was in much better shape and extended to include Plank on one side and the Doyle error card on the other. This was the real deal, so I ask held my breath and asked how much... Imagine my surprise when he just handed it to me... I've kept this strip to myself all this time, but I just sent it over to PSA to... nah... just kidding.

Seriously, though... excellent thread. And much thanks to the participants for the illuminating discussion!

this past march I went to a antiques and collectibles show here in Waukesha,wi and my 2 buddies and I wanted to go and check stuff out, now we scanned the whole show floor nothing real good until we came to one of the last show cases and saw a similar card like that one un graded. I should have bought it to take a chance but the chances were like -.01 percent chance the one I saw at the show was real but for 5.00 I should have taken that chance. Awesome strip card by the way.

crazysc
 

Hi, I have a question about your post. You said that it had the "look and feel" of a T206 but you also said that you never removed it from the glass holder, so how could you feel it?

Not trying to be a smart *** or anything but I am curious about this statement. I do appreciate your input and your experience with cards and I am not trying to be negative in any way.

Thanks,

Rick

I wondered the same thing.....both statements can't be true. Dave

Hey Leon ,

I print those in my basement everyday . :)

So getting back to the origin and reason for the strip. Assuming that it was given to Wagner to get him to sign on for the production, and following the anti-tobacco myth, were any of the other 4 known non-smokers/tobacco users? This could be a reason that these 4 were included on the strip. Perhaps to entice Wagner to join up after seeing that other anti-tobacco players were signed on. This is an underhanded move by ATC, but how can you print a set without one of the stars of the day? Like an earlier post, I can see why "stars" such as Young and Brown would be included on the strip. However, I'm also curious as to why Kling and Bowerman (commons) would be included on the strip. So was ATC trying to appeal to his ego, his anti-tobacco stance, or as alluded to previously, was it just good ole' fashioned greenbacks that stood in the way?

Personally I have never bought the Wagner anti-tobacco theory. I believe he chewed tobacco and smoked cigars. I suppose he could have had concerns about youth, but just doesn't seem right. I think monetary or contractual reasons.

Just read the thread from the begining and i also recommend newcomers to take time to read it completely.

Verry cool thread.