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1933 V353 World Wide Gum (Canadian Goudey) Uncut Sheet with Eight Hall of Famers Including Lou Gehrig
- Sold For: $8,400
- Year: 1933
- Auction: 2015 Fall
- Lot #: 314
- Auction Category: Prewar Baseball - 1930s and 1940s Cards
Complete and extremely rare 24-card production sheet of 1933 V353 World Wide Gum (Canadian Goudey) "Big League" Chewing Gum cards (featuring the twenty-four cards numbered from #41 to #72), highlighted by Lou Gehrig (#55). The backs of the cards of this sheet are of the Canadian World Wide Gum variety. These backs are virtually identical to the backs of the American series with the primary difference being that the cards are numbered differently. The fronts are indistinguishable from their American counterparts. In addition to Lou Gehrig, this sheet also includes an additional seven Hall of Famers: #42 Eddie Collins, 44 Jim Bottomley, 54 Red Faber, 60 Waite Hoyt, 63 Joe Cronin, 64 Burleigh Grimes, and 69 Mickey Cochrane.
The 1933 Goudey set is the first of all modern gum-card issues and the most important of all Goudey issues. Uncut sheets of Goudey cards are extremely rare and among the most popular and sought-after of all baseball-card sheets. Few types of uncut sheets are held in higher esteem, are more meaningful to more collectors, or more ideal for display. Goudey sheets have always been considered the blue-chip staple of vintage uncut sheets, the standard against which the desirability and rarity of all other vintage uncut sheets are measured. Many of the uncut sheets circulating within the hobby originate directly from the files of Goudey, saved as samples by Goudey for its archives in a large album, carefully mounted along one edge with clear tape and with a few short streaks of water-soluble glue. These surviving file-copy sheet examples usually feature a 1/4-inch strip of tape along the extreme left border, and in some instances, small pencil or ink proofing notations are present on the reverse. The offered sheet does not exhibit any of these imperfections, and was obviously carefully saved by someone involved with the printing of these cards. The sheet is bright and clean, with incredibly bold and vibrant colors, and a beautiful overall Excellent appearance. The reverse of the sheet is fully printed and entirely clean. Closer inspection reveals trace evidence of restoration in several areas on the front and reverse of the sheet, which does not detract from the overall display value. This sheet retains tremendous visual appeal and is a superb example of this very rare uncut sheet highlighted by eight Hall of Famers, including Lou Gehrig! Reserve $5,000. Estimate (open).
