Signed Cobb T206

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by whitehse

How many total authentic, signed Cobb T206s are in existance? I guess the better question would be how many have we seen in total.

I would take the "over" in the 10-20 estimate in the auction description. Cobb was a prolific signer TTM -- and there are more than 2 dozen current sales on ebay involving Cobb's signature authenticated by either JSA or PSA/DNA. And by at least the 1950s, TTM autographs were quite popular. Despite a relative scarcity of signed T206 Cobb cards appearing at auction, there are many -- again relatively speaking -- that are hidden from view in various private collections. If you read the Hunt description of the Green Cobb, you will see that it was part of a collection of 5 -- "Originally discovered with an estate collection of T-206 cards including (5) signed Ty Cobb cards and the original envelope of Cobb's in which they were mailed." I host scans of 3 signed T206 cards of Cobb on my website, including a pair that belong to a collector to whom I give credit. Doug Allen supposedly has or had one and discussed it in an interview. And my personal autograph hero Jeff Morey had Cobb sign a tobacco card (and many other things) during breakfast at the Otesaga hotel during Hall of Fame weekend in Cooperstown, NY, circa 1959. Finally, I had this very conversation with James Spence once and he confirmed that he has authenticated several -- none of which I've ever seen.

So, in my research I've already identified basically a dozen or so credible sightings of different T206 cards signed by Cobb. As much as I'd love to believe that I've seen or heard of most of them, I would highly doubt it. I've never even been to a National and I don't have any close collector friends. This is an extremely beautiful piece, to be sure, and I would love -- emphasis on the word "love" -- to own it. But you do see them, with patience.