37
(BASEBALL.)
Artwork for a cigar box label depicting Hans Wagner.
Watercolor and gouache, and perhaps colored pencil, 4
1
/
2
x 6 inches image size on slightly
larger sheet (inner box format); very minor wear, not affecting image.
Np, circa 1909?
[1,500/2,500]
The great Pittsburgh shortstop Hans “Honus” Wagner is perhaps most remembered today for
his baseball card. He refused permission to release a 1909 cigarette card with his image; the few
surviving copies are now worth upwards of two million dollars. Although Wagner and his
employers apparently viewed cigarettes as disreputable, he enjoyed cigars and chewing tobacco,
and his face appeared on several cigar boxes over the course of his career (DeValeria, Honus
Wagner, 239).
This label appears to be a highly finished maquette for the Wagner label. It depicts Wagner in
front of a stylized game in progress. The pose may look familiar, as it is identical to the
famously rare baseball card, which was in turn taken from a 1905 photograph. However,
although Wagner’s name is prominently displayed in the artwork, the name of his team has
been scrupulously omitted, suggesting that the Pittsburgh management was not part of the
endorsement.
One of the printed outer labels featuring this design was sold at the famous Halper sale
(Sotheby’s, 23 September 1999, lot 2167), where it was assigned a 1909 date. The present
image includes slightly more background because of its larger format.
WITH
—Another piece of
cigar-box art for an inner label, apparently by the same artist and acquired at the same time,
featuring dancing women in exotic costumes.
38
(BASEBALL.)
Group of 30 Hall of Famer signatures on index cards,
including 4 Negro League greats.
30 items, each 3 x 5 inches, some slightly browned.
Np, 1974 and nd
[250/350]
Luke Appling, Earl Averill, Cool Papa Bell (dated 1974), Max Carey, Earl Combs, Jocko
Conlan, Stan Coveleski, Joe Cronin, Joe Dimaggio, Bob Feller, Ford Frick, Charles
Gehringer, Lefty Gomez , Hank Greenberg, Burleigh Grimes, Lefty Grove, Jesse Haines, Billy
Herman, Waite Hoyt, Carl Hubbell, Monte Irvin, Judy Johnson, George Kelly, Buck
Leonard, Ted Lyons, Rube Marquard, Joe McCarthy, Edd Roush, Bill Terry, Lloyd Waner.
37
