Search

1922 W501 Strip-Card Collection (109/122) Including Ruth, Cobb, and Johnson

Sold For: $5,629
Year: 1922
Auction: 2012 Spring
Lot #: 399
Auction Category: Prewar Baseball - 1910s and 1920s Cards

Collection of 109 different (of the 122 in the set) W501 Strip Cards and one (related) E121 American Caramel (Series 120) for a total of 110 cards, including thirty-two Hall of Famers, highlighted by Babe Ruth (E121 American Caramel - Series 120), Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Tris Speaker, Grover Alexander, and Rogers Hornsby. Missing just thirteen cards for completion (#1, 7a, 7b, 13, 18, 25, 43 Schalk, 49 Ruth but includes an E121 as a filler, 84, 87, 103, 105, 113). The W501 set is closely related to the E121 American Caramel issues of the early 1920s, but the printed notation "G-4-22" in the upper left corner and card number in the upper right corner easily identifies the series. In fact, the photos used to produce the W501s are identical to those used in several American Caramel sets. This is a high-grade collection (as far as W501s go) with condition technically ranging from Vg-Ex to Ex/Ex-Mt (with a few lesser grades). This is a great-looking group! W501s are much rarer than most other similarly designed sets of the era (such as E121), and for some reason (as anyone who collects the set already knows) they are rarely seen in high grade, and very often have slightly irregular cuts. Considering these are strip cards and were handcut as intended, the condition of this collection is remarkable. Highlights: #4 Sisler (Ex), 6 Heilmann (Vg-Ex/Ex), 8 Cobb (Vg/Vg-Ex), 14 Rice (Ex), 16 Sewell (Ex), 17 Johnson (Vg/Vg-Ex), 19 Speaker (Ex), 21 Coveleski (Vg-Ex/Ex), 26 Huggins (Ex), 32 Hoyt (irregular cut, otherwise Ex), 38 Collins (Vg-Ex/Ex), 47 Hooper (Ex), 48 Faber (Vg-Ex), 49 Ruth (E121 American Caramel - Series 120, back damage and possible slight trim, otherwise Ex-Mt), 53 Roush (Vg), 54 Rixey (irregular cut, Vg-Ex), 59 Alexander (Vg-Ex/Ex), 62 Frisch (Vg-Ex), 64 Bancroft (Ex), 68 Youngs (Vg), 72 Kelly (Gd), 73 McGraw (Vg+), 76 Haines (Ex), 83 Maranville (irregular cut, otherwise Ex), 86 Carey (Vg-Ex), 89 Southworth (Vg), 96 Robinson (irregular cut, otherwise Vg), 97 Wheat (Ex), 103b McGraw (Vg-Ex, this card is listed as #108b in the Standard Catalog, which is most likely a typo), 104 Frisch (Ex), 114 Hornsby (Ex), and 118 Southworth (Vg). These cards have been consigned by the family of one of the hobby's great pioneers who was an active and advanced collector for decades. This is an outstanding group. This collection represents a tremendous start toward the assembly of a set and is the largest group we can ever recall offering. Includes thirty-two Hall of Famers. Total: 110 cards (109 W501s and one E121). Reserve $1,000. Estimate $2,000+. SOLD FOR $5,629