The T206 baseball card set, released from 1909 to 1911 and inserted in cigarette packs, is arguably the most significant release in hobby history.
Not only does it feature what would become one of the rarest and most valuable cards in the T206 Honus Wagner, but the set known as “The Monster” due to its innumerable variations, nuances and depth, originated the era’s most iconic cards which live on today in the collections of vintage aficionados.
Given its extensive history, and its origins as a throw-in alongside some smokes, it’s a wonder these cards exist intact today in the first place, let alone in a presentable state.
Yet, there are 13 examples of T206 cards which have been graded PSA 10s, meaning, by the authenticator’s own definition, “a virtually perfect card.”
One of these 13, the T206 White Border Bobby Byrne Piedmont 350, is set to sell at Goldin Auctions next month, with bidding starting at $50,000.
It marks the first time one of the 13 PSA 10 examples will change hands at public auction since 2018. At that time, Heritage sold six copies ranging from $26,400 to $192,000.
This card was purchased in 2000 for $30,000.
So, just how rare is it to see a PSA 10 copy of a card from the legendary T206 set?
PSA has graded nearly 300,000 cards from the set, meaning that, given the 13 PSA 10s in the population report, they are actually rarer than the around 60 T206 Honus Wagner cards believed to exist. Just 00.004% of submitted T206 cards have come back a PSA 10, including this Byrne copy.
Interestingly, according to the PSA Set Registry, nine of the 13 PSA 10s are locked up in a single collection.
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Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.