Lot # 2: 1934 Doble Aguila #21 Martín Dihigo (his rarest card!)

Category: Featured

Starting Bid: $10,000.00

Bids: 1 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Auction #36",
which ran from 6/15/2024 10:00 PM to
6/22/2024 11:35 PM



Most collectors of Latin American baseball cards are familiar with the 1931 and 1932 Doble Aguila sets issued in Venezuela. There are cards of many Negro Leaguers in those sets, including five different cards of legendary HOFer Martín Dihigo. But very few collectors know that there were also Doble Aguila cards issued in 1934.The 1934 set has a slightly greenish tint to the black borders you find on the 1931 and 1932 cards.

 

1934 Doble Aguila cards were issued to commemorate games played between Royal Criollos and and American Atleticos on January 14th, 1934. Of the three known examples, the highest number is 23, so presumably there were at least 23 cards issued, but only three have ever surfaced. And one of them (#21) happens to be none other than Martín Dihigo batting. On the reverse it says, "Martín Dihigo conecta un rolling a segunda base." All three of the 1934 Doble Aguila cards that exist came from the collection of the top collector in Venezuela who collected Venezuelan baseball cards for over 60 years. I obtained them directly from him in Caracas 20 years ago. The other two examples (#2 and #23) both feature common or unnamed players. It's remarkable that Martín Dihigo was one of the cards that survived, making it both Dihigo's rarest card, and probably the best Venezuelan baseball card ever produced. The only 1 of 1 Martín Dihigo card.

 

I listed this card 10 auctions ago and it went unsold. It was ungraded at the time. It has since been graded a 1.5 by SGC. If it doesn't sell in this auction, it will never be up for auction again. In fact, I love this card and don't really want to sell it, so do me a favor and don't bid on it so I can keep it!

 

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