This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/26/2015
Zeenut baseball cards were issued by the Collins-McCarthy Candy Company from 1911 through 1938. There were well over 3,000 different Zeenut cards produced, all depicting PCL players. Many PCL greats were pictured in the series, but there can be no doubt that the greatest of them all was Joe DiMaggio. Joe DiMaggio (with his surname misspelled "DeMaggio") was the subject of two different cards, this throwing pose and a batting portrayal. All of the Zeenuts that were issued between 1913 and 1937 had a coupon at the bottom edge that enabled consumers to save for "valuable premiums." Nearly every Zeenut encountered, today, has had this coupon removed, and it is estimated that less than 2% of the existing cards still have it attached.
Presented here Graded GD 2 (MK) by PSA, is one of just three copies of this coveted rookie card with its coupon intact validated by that company. This treasured rarity exhibits a marvelous aesthetic, particularly within the context of its issue. Zeenuts were primarily targeted at kids, and are typically found in deplorable shape. Only moderate amounts of corner wear are evident. The full-body image of young DiMaggio is strong and perfectly focused. Its primary defect, a thin horizontal crease at the white line separating the coupon from the image, is scarcely seen by the naked eye and has no effect on the cards overall visual impact. The blank reverse concedes a small pencil notation “Los Ang.” at the lower left corner accounting for the grading qualifier. A potential prize capture for the advanced DiMaggio specialist, in Good condition, qualified as noted. In spite of its modest technical grade, this is an immensely attractive example of this extremely rare and historic card dating from DiMaggio's earliest days in professional baseball.