COMPLETE 1923-24 NACIONALES CIGARROS CUBAN CARD ALBUM WITH HOF'ERS: COOPER, MENDEZ & TORRIENTE.
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Item Description
We started offering items from the Richard Merkin Collection in 2010 and over the next several years we sold some of the rarest and most sought-after Cuban baseball cards ever offered at public auction. Among those were cards from this Nacionales set. This amazing album is only just now being offered as it was amongst his non-sports card albums, of which we have offered very few of up to this point. Upon us revisiting that portion of the collection we were stunned when we discovered this complete album containing the full baseball subset.
Album is 11.5x15.75" with 50 pages, each containing 20 cards. Cards are 1-5/8x2.25" with exceptional sliver gelatin photographic images. An extensive issue of 1,000 cards in total. All 1,000 cards are present and mounted at appropriate spots, 20 cards per page. Set is comprised of 10 subsets, A-J each of a different theme. By far the most important is the "Sporting Affairs" subset, and in particular, the 40 Cuban Professional League baseball players. These are numbered C21-60. This is led by National Baseball Hall Of Fame members, #37 Andy Cooper, #43 Cristobal Torriente and #50 Jose Mendez. Other keys include #36 Armando Marsans, #38 Dolf Luque, and #51 Alejandro Oms (future HOF candidate). Remaining players as follows according to "Standard Catalog Of Vintage Baseball Cards" C21 Rafael Aleida C22 Isidro Fabre C23 Eugenio Morin C24 Oscar Rodriguez C25 Joseito Rodriguez C26 Papo Gonzalez C27 Guitierrez C28 Valentin Dreke (photo actually Lucas Boada) C29 Jose Maria Fernandez C30 (Cheo) Ramos C31 Paito (Ramon Herrera) C32 Bernardo Baro C33 Manuel Cueto C34 (Oscar) Tuero C35 Kakin Gonzalez C39 Marcelino Guerra C40 Manzanillo (Tatic Campos) C41 Oscar Levis C42 Eufemio Abreu C44 Juanelo Mirabal C45 Merito Acosta C46 jose Acosta C47 Rogelio Crespo C48 (Jacinto) Calvo C49 (Emilio) Palmero C52 Pedro Dibut C53 Strike (Valentin "Sirique" Gonzalez) C54 Magrinat (Hector Magrinut) C55 Raphael Quintana C56 Bienvenido Jimenez C57 Bartolo Portuando (Portuondo) C58 (Pelayo) Chacon C59 Riant (Red Ryan) C60 Perico El Mano (Mascot)
Cards C1-20 feature other sports such as boxing, soccer and more and include - six boxing cards (one card w/three boxers) three football/soccer cards five track and field cards one automobile racing card two baseball cards (featuring one card w/two players; this is 1923-24 Nacionales #11 Dres Jorge) two tennis cards (one w/two players standing by net) one pilot card
The other subsets feature such themes/subject matters as poems/poetry (with photos of men and women), "Beauties Of The World" and "Artistic Semi-Nudes" with photos of females, film and theater stars which include Rudolf Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, Lillian Gish, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and many more.
Richard had the album professionally conserved and the original invoice comes along and notes "Major Page Tears Repaired, Rebound- Cloth, Original Endpaper Preserved, Cover Label Preserved, Decorative Spine Cloth Preserved."
The cover label is 8.5x11" w/cigarette advertising in gold on blue with wear to be expected as remounted. The back cover is missing and not part of the conservation done to this album, as previously mentioned. All pages are bluish-green w/set text and decorative accent designs around the cards. Cards also have typical wear to be expected as mounted but overall set retains a bright and glossy appearance with bold and strong images throughout. For the most part cards present as VG to EX/NM as mounted. Great eye appeal to the cards overall. Please contact us if any addition information is desired and be sure to view this item online for further information and photos.
Past sales of Hake's for individual cards, SGC graded, and from the Merkin collection have included: #37 Cooper SGC 30 Good 2 for $6,643 (in 2011) and #43 Torriente SGC Authentic for $5,502 (in 2012). This complete album is the only such example extant and a must have for any serious collector of Cuban and Negro League related cards. A truly stunning artifact for which the rarity can't be stressed enough. From the Richard Merkin Collection and comes with Hake's COA.
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