October Legends Closing November 1
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/2/2014
Offered is perhaps one of the most famous baseball photographs of all time! This Honus Wagner original photograph by Carl Horner is the exact same image used to create the famous T206 of Honus Wagner, the most valuable baseball card in the world. Carl Horner was the premier baseball photographer of his day, and this original formal studio portrait dates from about 1902-05 and features Wagner in his Pittsburgh uniform. Horner was a well known studio photographer whose peak coincided with the beginnings of our National Game at the turn of the 20th Century. His famous portraits are features throughout the famed T206 baseball cards set, as well as Breisch-Williams, Fan Craze, Ramly, American Caramel and Cracker Jack card sets.
Only a handful (last count was three) original Honus Wagner T206 Carl Horner photographs are known to exist, and in terms of rarity – the known images are far more rare than the actual T206 Wagner card, numbering in the 50-60 range which commands upward of $2 million. In fact, Goldin Auctions sold the famous “Jumbo T206 Wagner” in our April 2013 auction for $2.1 million.
Two of the other known examples are fully ensconced in large, private collections.
Measuring 3-7/8" x 5-1/2", this example is rough around the edges, with perimeter chipping and toning, but these accents do not detract from the crystal clear image, but portray a “period” effect so common within photography over 100 years ago. There is moderate peripheral paper loss on the reverse, but the all-important central image is notably clean and well-preserved, exhibiting only a small left-shoulder chip, a few tiny spots near the eyes, and a subtle editorial accent that outlines Wagner's upper lip.
It is very interesting to note that in the original photograph there is no lettering across Wagner's uniform, revealing that the "Pittsburg" which appears so prominently across Wagner's uniform on his T206 card has been added by an artist.
This is an extremely rare original Horner print of the legendary photographer's most famous image, one of only several known of the most recognizable, and highly desirable, of all baseball portrait photographs, and would be a highlight to any significant vintage baseball or photograph collection.