Way OT - But this is the place for the answer I need.

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Posted By: Mike Campbell

I have a friend who has a passion for collecting very old, and rare cigar bands...he has a ton. I know nothing about that world....I have not seen his collection. My question is...are there any cigar bands with 'major league' players on them? Late 19th, or early 20th century? I thought I would ask this question before I take a look at his collection, in case I come across any HOF's in his collection. I would have to make him an offer if that were the case. Ruth was all over the place back then, maybe he was on one of these as well.

Thanks in advance for any help.

edited to get rid of stough I can't get rid of.

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Posted By: Jon Canfield

Off the top of my head I know there is a Joe Tinker cigar band which is fairly common and not all that valuable - would guess around $100 but I may be off. I also know there is a Honus Wagner cigar band. I don't know their values but a few years back, I saw one at the AC National for $700ish. I also have seen some other baseball related bands, but not specific players. I'm sure there are more out there though.

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Posted By: Mike Campbell

Thanks Jon...much appreciated. Now that i think about it, yes I have seen the Honus Wagner. I forgot about it. Thanks for the reply. But one never knows what might be lurking out there.

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Posted By: barrysloate

Actually, I think the Honus Wagner is quite valuable and not easy to find.

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Posted By: Max Weder

There is an Al Simmons cigar label (presumably from the fairly common Al Simmons cigar box), but the one I have doesn't have a picture of Al, just his name.

Max

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Posted By: Mike Campbell

Thanks Barry and Max. Wouldn't it be cool to find a new issue? A collectors dream...Keep the dream alive as they say.

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Posted By: Max Weder

Mike

I've posted this box before, but my dream label would be to find a cigar label from this box, as I grew up in Saskatoon.

Max

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Posted By: barrysloate

I would think cigar bands in general would have a poor survival rate. Unlike say tobacco cards, which could be conveniently stacked and saved for generations in a box, how would one store cigar bands long term? They are made of thin paper and tear easily, and would then likely be thrown away.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

If he has cigar labels (the labels put on the boxes), there are many valuable baseball labels: Al Simmons, Cap Anson, Joe Tinker, etc.

While there are the inevitable few computer fakes of labels on eBay, I don't beleive any of the baseball labels or bands have been officially reprinted, and a seasoned collector in that area would probably be able to pick out any fakes or reprints anyway. The bands are rarely if ever faked or reprinted. Some of the bands, including the Tinker, are embossed and with T205-style metal. This almost ensures they are genuine, as no eBay faker would emboss and gild their fakes.

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Posted By: Mike Campbell

he now tells me that it is not cigar "bands" he collects, but rather cigar "labels". Which I guess is a totaly different realm. So we shall see if he has any baseball related labels. he's got a lot of "dough" and is as possessed about his hobby as I am about mine, so we shall see.

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Posted By: Keith O'Leary

I also know of an "inside" cigar label of Hughie Jennings as well as a "Champions" one that loosely resembles cards from the N28 set.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

There are a lot of expensive baseball labels, then. There's one of the 1873 Boston Bostons which if famous, and numerous of Hall of Fame players 1800s-1900s. Also, any that picture other famous athletes will be desirable-- Red Grange, etc.

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Posted By: John

A few from auctions past…hope this helps…


*not mine

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Posted By: Mike Campbell

So there are quite a few out there. And I'm sure many undiscovered ones.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

Each individual 1800s to early 1900s baseball or sport label is rare, as only a handful at most of each lasted to today. While some are rarer than others, you don't have to worry about picking a overly plentiful label-- as none are plentiful.