Ultra-rare 1912 Pirate Cigarettes - Marquard just sold for £12k
 

Not sure if anyone here was the buyer of this recent auction lot, but wow is this an ultra-rare card...

Auction description simply noted "Cigarette card, Wills, (Pirate Cigarettes), Baseball Series, type card, Marquard, N.Y. Nat'l (gd) (1)"

https://bid.loddonauctions.co.uk/auc...c-b1c400a0ccd8

https://portal-images.azureedge.net/...c500f55f06.jpg

https://portal-images.azureedge.net/...c5011b773c.jpg

PSA has only graded 1 Marquard 1912 T215 Pirate Cigarettes (authentic). In fact, they've only graded 11 from the set in total.

This is certainly an auction that I missed but at least two people saw it. Based on the estimate of 200-500 GBP I bet the auction house (and people watching the auction) was surprised.

That's a bit over $20K with the premium, commission, and tax after converting to dollars. And it's probably a good deal compared to what would have happened if a major US AH had this card.

And the following lot was a Newsboy of Ward!

https://bid.loddonauctions.co.uk/auc...2-b1c400a0ce09

Almost impossible. There was near set 96 of 97 (SGC graded) sold in the Mastro auction several years ago. The WaJo is my dream card.

Chad

I was sitting right next to the person that won them. I gave him a fist bump when it hammered. 800k plus juice, as I recall.

Nice. I assume he still has them?

Chad

I was sitting across the room with Jim Blumenthal and Jeff Prizner...

Fun auction (Mastro's Live 2008) other than losing my shirt on my consignment (Boston Garter Tris Speaker). :cool:

I am sure he does.

BTW, I think that was the same auction that I was the underbidder on a W555 full box. I think I went to about 20k on it and stopped. I was the lucky underbidder. Another one came out a year or two later and I was uninterested. It went for around $2500.....
.

Definitely lucky underbidder.

Wow, super tough. Aside from the near set discussed herein, the Frank chance batting was the only t215 pirate HOFer I ever knew about (and I knew of very very few non-HOFers)

Aw man, does this mean I'm going to have to start monitoring random overseas auction houses?

I seem to recall I was at the table too, taking the photo but I am just a hobby nobody so no matter. The Pirates auction was memorable. I remember the relaxed demeanor of the winner has he lifted his pinkie for each bid. He was spending a million dollars. I'd have been shitting bricks

Sarno, JB and the Hand of Prizner

https://photos.imageevent.com/kawika...e/DSC06108.JPG

Heinie
 

I had a T215 Pirate Wagner once...Heinie Wagner...

Great thread y'all and thanks for sharing the link!

The auction house is well established and known for selling UK cards of the era. For example, they recently sold an 1890s card of Arthur Wharton, reputed to be the first black professional soccer player, for circa $35k. Whilst that sort of price may feel modest compared to many baseball cards of the era, it’s very strong in UK / European terms.


I don’t recall seeing many US cards at this auction house previously and I suspect both the auction house and consignor were pleasantly here. I think there were a few other nice US cards also, including an early Babe Ruth and, whilst I wasn’t tracking it, again I suspect they probably did better than their estimates.

I think I was at the table next to you. A memorable auction, for sure.

Leon, I think the W555 box may have been the previous year, though my memory has been slipping recently.

With the amount of partying I have done, throughout the years, I am sure your memory is better than mine, Ed. Thanks for the slight correction. Still glad I didn't win it. I remember Corey S (hey Corey) was at a close table to me. He said my mannerisms were saying I shouldn't go higher :)....It's that darned collecting addiction.
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Very cool cards. They were issued by British American Tobacco circa 1910 probably to US military personnel in China. The date of issuance coincided with Buck Duke’s return to BAT.

A man after my own heart! I've earned every darned fried brain cell in my head!