Not sure if this is a preview that Goldin will attempt to auction off the card again, but when I googled "reccius Goldin", this link showed up:
https://goldin.co/item/1897-99-henry...JkSW5kZXgiOjB9
I also thought maybe it was a good idea to copy/paste the Goldin description here for posterity since it is being referred to in the discussion of the card. If this clogs up the thread, I can just delete it, but thought others that don't visit Goldin may want to see it.
HISTORY
Other "rogue" cardboard issues and trading cards have certainly elevated themselves to a prestigious hobby level including the time-defying 1869 Peck & Synder Cincinnati Red Stockings trade-card and the incomparable 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth baseball schedule. While not your conventional or mainstream cardboard issues, they are highly recognized as two of the hobby's foremost collectibles. Such is the case for this ever-elusive Wagner, boasting unparalleled rarity versus any of its inferior peers. Its inaugural appearance to the collecting community was in 1997, when it was unearthed from a by-gone scrapbook of deceased Louisville resident Jesse Hathorn. Since its first arrival, there have been a myriad of conflicting accounts as to its "true" original issue date (19th century or early to mid-1900's?), with the exact distribution date an on-going conundrum. Throughout his illustrious business career, Henry Reccius ran his cigar operation from numerous locations including his Elliot Avenue home address (listed on the card) as well as a 2803 West Broadway based facility in the early 20th century. The card also reveals a four-digit phone code along the right edge, with Louisville's pre-1900 directory already including four-digit telephone numbers (this information is also documented on PSA's website). The emergence of a 1919 cigar box including the exact same Wagner Louisville image certainly added to collector's concerns regarding a possible post-1910 issue date, but this uncertainty was quickly debunked and put to rest. The National Cigar Museum confirmed that the cigar box in question was a completely distinct brand sold by Henry Reccius years earlier. PSA’s website definitively states: "the federally assigned factory number for Henry Reccius was Fact. 45, 5th Dist. KY. By 1893, they were already assigning factory numbers in the 600's in the 5th tax district in Kentucky, so Reccius was indeed assigned a very early number." While the exact issue date for this unfathomable Louisville Wagner is shrouded in mystery, what we know for certain is the following:
It would make complete sense for Reccius to have issued this trading card revealing Hans Wagner in a Colonels uniform during his popular Louisville playing days for maximum promotional purposes. Wagner was the "talk of the town" during his 1897-1899 Louisville tenure, and his emergence on such a trading card might not benefit Reccius's cigar-making industry after his departure to the "Steel City" (out of sight – out of mind). That said, the suggested 1897-1899 issue date places this world-class heirloom as the true Honus Wagner rookie card, pre-dating the 1902 W600 Sporting Life Type cabinet by at least three years.
According to the National Library of Scotland, the most likely publication period for Joseph Bert Smiley’s "St. Peter at the Gate" ballad affixed to the verso is 1880-1900. This ballad will be further discussed later in the description.
The medium card stock is consistent with other 1890-1899 cardboard issues, one of which is the 1897 Page Fence Giants trade card exhibiting a similar size and appearance.
Non-sequential four-digit phone codes were utilized in Louisville, Kentucky in the 1897-1899 period (confirmed on PSA's website as well as existing city registries), and while we were unable to confirm a 6807 number for the Henry Reccius cigar business, the possibility certain exists for that code to have been used during that era.
Regardless of the exact issue date, this offering unquestionably stands as the SOLE Hans Wagner baseball card portraying baseball’s greatest all-time shortstop in a Louisville Colonels uniform, with only two other known examples extant. This alone, merits an unequivocal "mystique" similar to his T206 subject.
The use of Wagner’s hallowed "Hans" name suggests a late 19th century to early 20th century distribution since the use of "Hans" was more common during this time frame.
The Reccius trade card is a true Wagner tobacco card, issued over a decade before his T206 subject that was ultimately "pulled" from the ATC production in early 1909.
Additional research indicates that the 2606 Elliot Ave. Reccius address was changed to 2608 in 1909. While this does not assist us in pinpointing an exact release date, it eliminates even the remote possibility of the card being distributed after 1909. As PSA and other renowned hobbyists attest to, we strongly believe this card to have been issued between the years of 1897 – 1900 that would place it as the undisputed Honus Wagner rookie card. Its sheer existence is miraculous to say the least, with other critical aspects being the "POP 3" rarity and the Reccius Wagner undoubtedly residing as the 1936 HOF Charter Member's only card revealing him clad in a Louisville Colonel uniform. Collectors should not be deceived by seemingly low-end prior sales, with the other PSA PR 1 realizing $52K some 18 years ago in a 2006 public auction (an "Authentic" sold for $21K in 2012, the exact same card offered here that PSA appropriately reassessed to a PSA PR 1). Keep in mind that PSA 1 T206 Wagners during this same period were fetching in the $100K range (two PSA 1's sold for $101 and $132K in 2005 – there were no PSA 1 sales in 2006). These low-grade T206 Wagner cards now command $3 - $4 million pricing points, with the approximate 30x pricing multiplier resulting in a $1.5 million+ Reccius Wagner value if equally applied.
Just gazing at this ultra rare Wagner memento can literally make one "skip a beat," with the highlight being the virtually sanctified portrait image revealing the immortal Hans in his Louisville Colonels flannels. As previously stated, the Reccius subject is the only baseball card revealing this by-gone superstar in a Louisville Colonels uniform, with this momentous pose unique to the three known examples. The accurate assessment is due to general surface wear, a horizontal fold/crease running directly across the card beneath Wagner's chin, some stray wrinkles including a vertical crease extending from the top edge through Wagner's right shoulder, and even corner wear. Gazing at this late 19th century artifact can literally send shivers through anyone's spine, with Wagner's stoic facial expression, period-style striped cap and dapper tie effectively transcending time to an era when the legendary Hans was establishing himself as baseball's finest player. The renowned Wagner could do it all, and his formidable Colonels 1899 teammate Tommy Leach once defined his diamond prowess to Lawrence Ritter for The Glory of Their Times as follows:
"I hardly had time to get settled before it hits me that this guy the Louisville club had at third base was practically doing the impossible. I'm sitting on the bench the first day I reported, and along about the third inning an opposing batter smacks a line drive down the third-base line that looked like at least a sure double. Well, this big Louisville third baseman jumped over after it like he was on steel springs, slapped it down with his bare hand, scrambled after it at least ten feet, and fired a bullet over to first base. The runner was out by two or three steps. I'm sitting on the bench and my eyes are popping out. So, I poked the guy sitting next to me, and asked him who the devil that big fellow was on third base. "Why, that's Wagner," he says. "He's the best third baseman in the league. And it also turned out that while Honus was the best third baseman in the league, he was also the best first baseman, the best second baseman, the best shortstop, and the best outfielder. That was in fielding. And since he led the league in batting eight times between 1900 and 1911, you know that he was the best hitter, too. As well as the best base runner."
The obverse side exhibits critical text including an extremely bold “HENRY RECCIUS” caption beneath the electrifying oval pose. Additional verbiage includes "Manufacturer of Hans Wagner 10 cents Cigar – Koda – Bowler – Our Favorite Farmers' and Gardeners' Favorite 5 cents Cigars." Along the left edge is the Henry Reccius "2606 ELLIOT AVENUE, LOUISVILLE, KY." home address that this distinguished cigar manufacturer utilized for his successful business, with the "6807 HOME TELEPHONE" likewise portrayed in vertical fashion near the right edge. The notion that Henry Reccius maintained religious beliefs is substantiated by the eclectic verso that includes a resounding poem, a parody of Joseph Bert Smiley's "St. Peter at the Gate." Cleverly used, it promotes union labor and rails versus anti-strikers, and you can enhance the flipside scan on the Goldin website to easily read this charming ballad.
CLOSING COMMENTS
This extraordinary offering truly represents one of the hobby's most captivating baseball cards, the assumed rookie issue of our National Pastime's greatest shortstop who claimed an N.L. record eight batting titles. One of only three known subjects, it bursts with historical significance at a level only achieved by Wagner's other iconic card, his 1909 T206 tobacco marvel. If the T206 Wagner is the hobby’s "Holy Grail," then this considerably scarcer offering must be dubbed his neighboring "Mona Lisa." Indeed, the meager three documented specimens is a mere fraction of the 60+ known T206 Wagners, with one of those three Henry Reccius subjects forever enshrined in Cooperstown, N.Y. If you are fortunate enough to own a T206 Wagner, no card could possibly represent a finer "bookend" than the Reccius Wagner due to its alleged rookie stature, extreme rarity, and classic Louisville Colonels image elusive to any other known baseball card. While there is some uncertainty as to its definitive issue date, the PSA industry leader has utilized available information to place it within the 1897 – 1899 timeframe. At some point in time, the hallowed T206 Wagner achieved its unequivocal immortality not just because of its scarcity, but more significantly, due to the fascinating history behind it ultimately being pulled from the ATC's production. The same can be said for the likewise iconic 1952 Topps Mantle that also achieved pinnacle hobby stature via Sy Berger's decision to dump "truckloads" of excess 1952 Topps high-number vending cases into the Atlantic's murky waters off the coast of New Jersey. Indeed, both the T206 Wagner and 1952 Topps Mantle stand at the top of the popularity chart due to their magical history. This Reccius Wagner just might be the next hobby "Holy Grail" via its majestic Wagner Louisville Colonels image unique for any baseball card as well as the PSA-supported late-1890's Wagner rookie issue date leading the charge. The final exclamation point is its incredible "POP 3" count, placing it as a much scarcer subject than even the 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth for which there are 10 known copies, one of which selling for a staggering $7.2 million less than a year ago. These concepts substantiate the notion that the Reccius Wagner might eventually foster an indelible "mystique" tantamount to its T206 Honus tobacco peer. On the threshold of rightfully becoming the hobby's next colossal sports card, we will let the sophisticated enthusiast ultimately determine its true worth, considering its assumed seven-figure value is justified by the T206 Wagner's price tags soaring at a 30x rate since the PSA 1 Reccius Wagner $52K sale in 2006!