Extremely Rare 1911-12 Ty Cobb Tobacco Tin
The elusive and legendary Ty Cobb Tobacco Tin is the most heralded of all tobacco tins, baseball or otherwise. Its magnitude is due in equal parts to its rarity, subject, and superb graphics, and is further imbued by its intersection of multiple collectible genres. Viewed from the various perspectives of purveyors of baseball memorabilia, baseball cards, advertising tins, and tobacciana, it stands as a supremely elite artifact across the spectrum. Both sides of the tin picture Ty Cobb in the same immediately familiar "Bat on Shoulder" pose featured in the T206 American Tobacco card issue. Not only is this the only tin with a direct connection to the baseball tobacco-card productions of the day, but its link to the landmark T206 set is also twofold. Although it displays the same pose as Cobb's classic "Bat on" card, its ultimate claim to fame is that it was the vessel that delivered the T206 Ty Cobb red portrait card with the Ty Cobb Tobacco advertising on the reverse. Otherwise known as the "Cobb with Cobb back," these cards are universally recognized among the greatest rarities in the hobby, rivaling only the Honus Wagner card as the most valuable T206 cards in existence.
As rare as the T206 "Cobb with Cobb Back" cards are, the Ty Cobb tins that carried them are more than twice as rare. While there are approximately 23 known examples of the cards themselves, there are less than 10 Ty Cobb tobacco tins that have surfaced in the marketplace. As one might imagine, due to their inherent nature and purpose, that limited population is comprised mostly of examples that have endured significant wear and deterioration from exposure. The presented specimen is a remarkable exception. The overall condition and display quality of this unlikely survivor is quite pleasing. The structure of the tin is outstanding, with no dents present and retaining vibrant original color. Some rusting and scattered surface wear is evident, but not severely detrimental to the overall presentation quality of the piece. This is simply a superb example of a storied hobby relic that ranks near the top of its extremely limited fraternity.
