Lot # 3: 1909 CabaƱas proof sheet - Detroit Tigers

Category: Featured

Starting Bid: $5,000.00

Bids: 0 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
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Item was in Auction "Auction #26",
which ran from 2/29/2020 10:00 PM to
3/7/2020 10:00 PM



The 1909 Cabañas set is often considered the earliest set of Cuban baseball cards. It was produced to commemorate the barnstorming tour the Detroit Tigers took across Cuba in November after playing in the 1909 World Series. They played the two top Cuban professional teams, Habana and Almendares. Cards were issued for each of the three teams. There are twelve Detroit Tigers cards. Incredibly, a proof sheet for the Tigers cards somehow survived. It's unclear how it survived, especially since it has, "para borrar" stamped on it, which basically means, "to throw away." It features all 12 Detroit Tigers (actually 11 Tigers plus umpire Silk O'Laughlin) with the same images used on the cards. There are proof marks visible on the left and right. I've included a scan of the George Mullin card next to the image of Mullin on the proof sheet for size comparison. Images are the same size. The fully sheet measures 8 1/2" by 12 1/2". For those who collect peripheral items like original photos used for cards, advertising pieces relating to cards, and other ephemera, this is as good as it gets.

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