Spring Premier Auction 2016

Christy Mathewson was the Golden Boy of American sports long before Paul Hornung revived the popularity of blond athletes. Despite his role model reputation for avoiding all of life's vices, Mathewson's likeness appeared on tobacco cards and advertisements on a frequent basis during his heyday. None of these items were more spectacular than this dramatic and colorful Tuxedo Tobacco trolley car sign, produced circa 1910. It bears a huge likeness of Matty designed to attract fans to the product, and even reveals a supportive quote about one of the brand's primary selling points: "... It's what I call good, honest, companionable tobacco - the kind to stick to." Apparently Mathewson—the idol of millions—was willing to step away from his perceived, clean-cut image, on occasion, to endorse a substance associated with decadence. But it is the medium, not the message, that draws the viewer to this classic display piece. Here, one of the greatest players in history is presented in glorious color on a rare piece from the peak of his career. The bountiful hues and striking design make this one of the most visually impressive baseball advertising pieces of the era. The sign measures 21" x 11" and presents at the overall EX level. It benefits from minor and discreet touches of added color at the edges, with a couple of edge nicks remaining at the left side. Long-ago page overlap at the left, also, has brought about a bit of irregular foxing, as is often seen in large-sized relics of this kind; relatively small areas of surface paper loss—induced by one-time mounting as intended—are evident on the blank reverse.