(LOT 40)
c. 1920s Babe Ruth Home Runs Babe Ruth Ice Cream Baseball Advertising Postcard PSA 2.5 GOOD+
George Herman Ruth was an advertiser's dream during the 1920s and ‘30s. People and fans around the globe knew the name "Babe" Ruth, making him one of the most sought-after figures of the era by marketing and advertising firms worldwide. Ruth's face and/or name became synonymous with trading cards, soft drinks, cars, beer and even tobacco, even creating products specifically for the Bambino bearing his name. This particularly rare 1922 postcard offers one such item with the Elite Chocolate Coated Baseball Company of El Paso, Texas presenting the "Babe Ruth Home Run Ice Cream Baseball".

As one of only two known examples, this is easily the finer of the two existing postcards in brightness and imagery especially noticeable at Ruth's right ear, which is visible on this issue. The other postcard images are of lesser quality as if superimposed with his right ear missing altogether. Two images of the Sultan of Swat holding a pair of ice cream "baseballs" appear on the front of this 3-1/2" x 5-1/2" mailer, one at left admiring the silver wrapped treats with the second at right with Ruth enjoying one of the creamy delights. Scripted below the black and white images in blue is "Chocolate Coated Baseball – Wha' da' ya' know bout that?" and The Babe's expected reaction after tasting the cold dessert: "Oh Boy!!!... – It's a Home Run! – facsimile signed "Babe" Ruth".

This super rare postcard is one of only a couple to emerge, EVER, and rarer still in that the manufacturing company vanished shortly after producing these short-lived treats. Still in wonderful condition, this PSA-graded postcard earned a 2.5 GOOD+ rating and shows scattered toning and little soiling on the front with a small crease at the upper right extending into Ruth's image at right. The back of this 100-year-old postcard is clean and devoid of any markings but for stray soiling from proud display handling. According to period advertisements, specifically from Liggett's Drug Stores, consumers were instructed to "Save the wrappers for a ‘Babe' Ruth Athletic Doll or an Official League Baseball autographed by ‘Babe' Ruth". This one of only two known graded examples is deserving of heavy attention as the better of the two and should spark a bidding war as arguably the finest in the hobby. What a delightful pairing that surely every kid wanted – ice cream and an autographed Babe Ruth baseball!

MIN BID $3,000
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