From a purely aesthetic point of view, what cards just take your breath away?

[the 'stache]

Without considering a card's rarity, value or historical significance, what cards, when you look at them, just grab your attention? Show me some cards, everybody, either from your collections, or cards you'd love to own....that you could just stare at.

When I first started collecting pre-war cards, I was immediately struck by how beautiful many of them were. They really are little works of art. I love the T206 portrait cards best of all, and out of that subset, there are a few that just blow me away every time I see them. Then, there are some that are just very interesting to me, compositionally.

These three are mine. My favorite card, still, is the T206 Walter Johnson portrait. It's absolutely perfect. A great picture with a well-centered subject, and the black collar, the off-gray of the Washington "W", the old fashioned uniform establish a wide range of dark and light. Johnson looks like baseball royalty, and I love the background color. It's one of those cards where a picture on a web page simply does not do it justice.

Another favorite is the Dutch Revelle. I've really loved this card since the first time I saw it. Revelle's card is haunting in a way. I also love the background color, as it transitions from green to blue.

The last of my three below is the Admiral Schlei. Though not a portrait, it's an interesting composition, with Schlei holding his hands apart, wearing a huge catching glove on one, waiting for the ball. The detail is astonishing, and it's contrasted with this beautiful background. Just a hint of trees appear as if they were watercolored in.



There are a lot of other cards that really grab me; the E102 Christy Mathewson, any of the T3 Turkey Red cards, the N142 Duke Cabinets, and of course, the T205 cards are spectacular. But I don't own any of these yet, so I'll wait to see who feels like sharing them.

Show me some of your favorites.

[slipk1068]

I always thought this card could be hanging in a museum somewhere. Perfect likeness of Joe Tinker, squeezing the bat like he is trying to make sawdust, cool looking uniform with his glove in his back pocket. Work of art.

[pokerplyr80]

This one isn't from my collection so I copied the picture from ebay. I couldn't figure out how to just get the front. I've always loved the way this one looks and hope to add one some day. Personally I think it's one of the best looking cards in the hobby. They sure don't make 'em like they used to.

I'm also a huge fan of the 53 Bowman Reese and although this one isn't mine I own a lower grade copy.

[cammb]

Originally Posted by pokerplyr80

This one isn't from my collection so I copied the picture from ebay. I couldn't figure out how to just get the front. I've always loved the way this one looks and hope to add one some day. Personally I think it's one of the best looking cards in the hobby. They sure don't make 'em like they used to.

I'm also a huge fan of the 53 Bowman Reese and although this one isn't mine I own a lower grade copy.

The 53 Bowman Color Reese is my favorite. No better action shot anywhere.

[jingram058]

I am resurrecting this old thread because 1) there are some INCREDIBLE cards posted here, and 2) a lot of the posts and comments are by folks who, sadly, for whatever reason, don't post anymore.

[Stetson_1883]

Good thread!

While there are lots of nice t206's, Ive always been captivated by the 53 Topps set, particularly the Paige....smiling, great colors. Im happy to have this one in my collection.

[7nohitter]

Originally Posted by Stetson_1883

Good thread!

While there are lots of nice t206's, Ive always been captivated by the 53 Topps set, particularly the Paige....smiling, great colors. Im happy to have this one in my collection.

Royce,

Completely agree! Even though mine is SGC 10, it's still a beaut!

[asphaltman]

Always love the '14 CJ Jackson, to me this card has to be up there. My example below was of course low end, but this is one I wish I still had. Sold to a board member 5-6 years ago.

[ZiggerZagger]

Personally, I think the '53 Paige is the most attractive card ever produced, but a few others have always stuck in my mind as well. A few are in my personal collection (below), and a few are still on the list -- in particular the T227 Cobb, T3 Mathewson, E90-1 Cy Young.

Of the cards listed below, I love the snarl on the T206 Cobb -- just says everything you need to know about the man, in my opinion.

[Leon]

A good hobby friend now owns this one...

[jsq]

Originally Posted by ZiggerZagger

Personally, I think the '53 Paige is the most attractive card ever produced, but a few others have always stuck in my mind as well. A few are in my personal collection (below), and a few are still on the list -- in particular the T227 Cobb, T3 Mathewson, E90-1 Cy Young.

Of the cards listed below, I love the snarl on the T206 Cobb -- just says everything you need to know about the man, in my opinion.

ziggerzagger,

love the lou gehrig 34 goudey you pictured. i do not have my cards anymore but fondly remember the 34 gehrig.

also the r312 national chicle premiums with their great pastels were easy on the eyes. wish they had done gehrig in r312.
1941 play balls were quite a treat also along with 52 topps, 57 topps, and 67 topps.
all the best,
jsq

[the 'stache]

One of the things that just grabs me when I look through all these cards---the color!!! God, these things are just gorgeous. The two Cobb T206s, bat on shoulder, and the bat off. With one, you have Cobb at his most intimidating. A look that would strike fear in a pitcher. The other, a pensive Cobb with his weapon of choice. Both have these wonderful backgrounds, and on the bat off shoulder, some great shadows.

That T3 Bresnahan is friggin' phenomenal. The Goudey Gehringer, too. And then there's Stan the Man, and Campy. If a gun were held to my head, and I had to pick a favorite between the T206 and the '53 Bowman sets, I don't know if I could. Certainly the T206 set is much larger. Both contain a plethora of all-time greats. But, how can you go wrong with the best photography that's ever appeared in a baseball card set? The fronts are completely unadulterated--just the men that played in the game's golden era, in those old flannel wool uniforms. And the backdrops, the great stadiums. Ebbets Field. Fenway Park. Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field and the Polo Grounds. The Bowman sets are all great, but in my humble opinion, the '53 set was their pinnacle, and they created a set that hasn't been matched since.

Then you have the black & white beauties, or cards/postcards in monotone. That Burke postcard of Hank Greenberg is a classic. I certainly hope we'll see more examples like this. We haven't seen any of the Sporting News M101-2s. Technically, they are supplements. But, we'll make an exception. Whatever moves ya!

[the 'stache]

I didn't see Jerry's post until after I'd submitted mine. Those beauties just jump off the page. That Hubbell, the Double X are wonderful examples. A good portion of my favorite Goudeys are represented in this thread already, that '34 Gehrig, and probably my favorite Ruth, the '33 bat on shoulder.

And then there's the E92 Matty, and the '52 Topps Mantle. I want all of these. I better live a really long time, because it's going to take me forever.

[Louieman]

Great thread! This one always gets to me

[the 'stache]

The Cubs could really use Kiki right now.

[Kawika]

I'll play. It's no wonder we love this hobby. So many little gems.

[the 'stache]

That Cobb knocks my socks off, David. There is nothing nearly that nice coming out today, which is a real shame. With all the advances in technology since the pre-war era, it seems we've lost some much of the artistry that made baseball cards such a joy to collect. I'm seriously debating selling my modern cards (again) to pick up some of these beauties.

And the Matty cap T206s are among my favorites cards in the set, and the entire era. Thank you for sharing.

BTW, Leon, I was remiss in not commenting on the T205 Cobb you posted. That's a set I could really enjoy collecting. I'm just having to pick and choose my battles right now. That's a real beauty!

[jason.1969]

...NOT!!!!

[iwantitiwinit]

There's only one card that's ever going to take my breath away. The scratch off lottery card that wins 10k a week for life. That would do it.

[the 'stache]

Here one of mine.



Sam Crawford throwing, a real beauty of the Hall of Famer.

[the 'stache]

One more from the 1953 Bowman set. The second oldest living Hall of Famer, Monte Irvin (he's 96). This one came from a B&L auction win.

[jason.1969]

Out of the (not very many) baseball cards I have, I'd put my 1934 Goudey of Lefty Grove at the top. Out of the sets out there, from which I have only the Mel Ott, I am a huge fan of the very cartoonish 1934-1936 Diamond Stars.

Not my card, but look at this wonderful example.

50128.jpg

And not baseball at all, but I am a fan of Liebig trade cards. Between 1872 and 2001, they put out over 1800 different sets. Nearly all have wonderful artwork, and the range of topics is amazing. Here is one from 1906 (Astronomers, Series 1) that I have 4 of the 6 cards from.

Liebig 846 Astronomer series.jpg

[Touch'EmAll]

This is a really nice Cobb.

[begsu1013]

[jason.1969]

Here is a card I think is just beautiful. How do you beat that?

[pcoz]

A couple of my favorites....

[brian1961]

During one of these kinds of threads, someone loaded up a postcard, or cabinet card, of the entire 1905 New York Giants baseball team, seated and standing on a staircase at possibly a train station, or perhaps inside the Polo Grounds at the stairway to the upper deck of the grandstands. They were dressed in their uniforms, if I recall. Just seeing Matty and Iron Man Joe McGinnity was so moving. This is a subtle plea for an owner of this rare card to load 'er up on here once again!

Twas an image you just don't forget.

[maddux311]

The one card that has always kept me in awe is the 53 Campanella. The rich burgundy background along with his vibrant facial expression is a thing of beauty.

[Bliggity]

The simple elegance of this one really gets me every time I look at it. Probably my favorite card in my collection.

[GeoPoto]

Here's a couple I like. The hint of a Washington Monument is a nice touch:



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[jchcollins]

This is easy, because I’ve only owned it for a day, lol:




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[LincolnVT]

This one is nice to look at. Nice thread.

[ValKehl]

I think the Kashin premium photos are nice looking:

[BlueBlood]

This always catches my eye.

[Johnny630]

Always Loved the 53 Topps Willie

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

This card is always been my favorite looking. The pose. The red background. The menacing stare. Simply stunning.