(LOT 26)
1913 T200 Fatima Pittsburgh Nationals Team Premium with Honus Wagner
Following the establishment of the American League in 1901, the Pittsburgh Pirates won two National League pennants in 1903 and 1909, taking home a World Series trophy in '09. With the greatest National Leaguer at the time, Honus Wagner, manning shortstop, the Pirates never dipped below 4th place in the NL standings after 1901 until 1914. In 1913, despite Wagner batting .300 and ace pitcher Babe Adams posting a 21-10 record, the Pirates could not overcome the 100+ win New York Giants. Pittsburgh went 78-71-6 and a whopping 21 1/2 games behind the pennant victors. The Pirates would then be stuck in a rut for another 12 years, with Wagner retiring in 1917, and would not return to the Fall Classic until 1925, led by Max Carey, Kiki Cuyler and Lee Meadows. Presented here is a 1913 T200 Fatima Pittsburgh Pirates Team Premium photo card measuring approx. 11-1/4" x 18-3/4". (Mounted, it is approx. 12-7/8" x 20-7/8".)

Produced by the Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company for the Fatima brand, one of sixteen offered team premiums could be obtained by redeeming 40 coupons from Fatima cigarette packs. Virtually identical to the smaller T200 Team cards, the premiums only lack the Fatima advertising logo on the front. Because of the larger format of the premiums, they cannot be found holdered or graded, and very few in high-grade have survived the now 111 years of display and storage. That is what makes this incredible Pittsburgh Nationals T200 premium that much more desirable. This issue of Pittsburgh is, by far, the most impressive example that Memory Lane has ever offered to our bidders and quite possibly in the finest condition of nearly every other T200 Premium issue in the hobby. This vivid image looks as if perhaps taken yesterday, allowing viewers to see every nuance of every face, the blank stares as the photographer sets his camera, and the possible impatience (or is that readiness) of every man as he prepares himself for action. Offering a spotlessly clean back, an unbelievably superior image, and virtually perfect centering and border, this is the best we have ever seen, so make it yours.

MIN BID $2,000
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