Exploring the Value and Significance of the 1909-1911 T206 Piedmont Sherry Magie Error Card

The 1909-1911 T206 Piedmont Sherry Magie error card is one of the T206’s legendary Big Four cards. The T206 set is a cornerstone of the entire baseball collecting hobby.

Produced over 110 years ago, this set not only houses some of the most iconic baseball cards but is also home to some of the most valuable cards ever printed. In the T206 set, four cards stand out. These cards are referred to as the “Big Four”.

Aside from being one of the most famous baseball cards from a legendary set, it is one of the earliest recorded error cards in the entire hobby.

This article will cover everything you need to know about the 1909-1911 T206 Piedmont Sherry Magie error card. We’ll explore its origins (the T206 set), the error, and its current market value.

Additionally, we’ll cover how to spot a fake T206 error card and the unique appeal of this special error card.

Brief overview of the T206 baseball card set

The T206 baseball card set is one of the most iconic and revered sets in the history of baseball card collecting and, indeed, the entire hobby.

Produced from 1909 to 1911 by the American Tobacco Company, this set is often called “The Monster“. There are 524 cards in the T206 set, issued from 1909 to 1911, in cigarette and loose tobacco packs through 16 brands owned by the American Tobacco Company.

Aside from its size, the T206 was considered a landmark set at the time because of the quality of its colour lithographs.

The T206 set features over 500 major and minor league players in 16 cigarette brands. T206 cards were issued with 16 different backs, representing the 16 different brands of cigarettes/tobacco with which the cards were issued. The 16 backs are:

• Piedmont
• Sweet Caporal
• Old Mill
• Polar Bear
• Sovereign
• El Principe De Gales
• American Beauty
• Cycle
• Tolstoi
• Hindu
• Broad Leaf
• Carolina Brights
• Lenox
• Drum
• Uzit
• Ty Cobb

It is home to the legendary Honus Wagner, Eddie Plank, and several other valuable cards. Several cards in this set are among the most expensive trading cards ever sold.

The T206 set’s legendary status ensures that any error card from the set holds ample value. The T206 set contains a few error cards, with two of the most famous being the error cards of T206 Joe Doyle (N.Y. Nat’l) and T206 Sherry Magee.

Sherry Magee’s career

Sherwood Robert “Sherry” Magee, born August 6, 1884, was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1904 through 1919, Magee played with the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Braves, and Cincinnati Reds. Sherry Magee was one of the greatest hitters of the dead-ball era.

His journey to Major League Baseball began surprisingly. Sports Illustrated reports that Philadelphia Phillies scout Jim Randall was on a train in Pennsylvania when he overheard a conversation about a kid named Sherry Magee, who was a local legend on the baseball diamond.

Magee was practising with the Phillies team the next day and started in left field against the Brooklyn Superbas (Now the Los Angeles Dodgers) some months later.

From 1905 through 1914, Magee finished in the National League top 10 in home runs and runs batted in seven times, including leading the National League in RBIs four times.

He spent most of his 16-year career with the Philadelphia Phillies but also played a few seasons for the Boston Braves and then Cincinnati Reds. Magee posted a career batting average of .291, with 83 home runs and 1,176 runs batted in (RBIs) over 2,087 games.

While Magee wasn’t the most beloved player, he dominated the game of baseball. Magee ranks high amongst all-time Phillies hitters and earns his spot on the Phillies Wall of Fame. 

The 1909-1911 T206 Piedmont Sherry Magie error card

Sherry Magee has two cards in the T206 baseball set – a portrait pose and one where he wields a bat. The error that makes Magee rank in the Big Four of the T206 set is on his card with the portrait pose.

While most of Magee’s portrait pose has his name “Magee” spelt correctly, a small amount has his name incorrectly as “Magie”.

The error was discovered relatively quickly, and the American Tobacco Company promptly corrected the spelling in subsequent print runs, representing the bulk of the print run. However, a small number of the error cards with his name spelt as “Magie” had already been distributed.

Value of the 1909-1911 T206 Piedmont Sherry Magie error card

The T206 Piedmont Sherry “Magie” error card is among the most coveted cards from the T206 set. It’s considered one of the Big Four cards in the T206 set, and its value reflects this status.

The value of the 1909-1911 T206 Piedmont Sherry Magie error card is truly significant, and it sells for higher sums every time it comes up for auction. According to sales data from the PSA, VG-EX4 card versions of this card are valued at $40,000, while an NM-MT 8 costs as much as $660,000.

We will examine the last five sales according to the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) for three grades (NM-MT 8, VG 3 and Good 2) of the 1909-1911 T206 Piedmont Sherry Magie error card.

1909-1911 T206 Piedmont Sherry Magie error card NM-MT 8

Only one version of this card has achieved the NM-MT 8 grade among the few existing copies, making it the highest-graded version of this card. Reflecting its rarity and condition, this card sold for an impressive $660,000 in September 2018.

1909-1911 T206 Piedmont Sherry Magie error card VG 3

1909-1911 T206 Piedmont Sherry Magie error card Good 2

Why the 1909-1911 T206 Piedmont Sherry Magie error card is so valuable

In ranking the various types of errors, the error on the 1909-1911 T206 Piedmont Sherry Magie error card is a minor error. A misspelt name typically wouldn’t create so much stir. However, here are a few reasons the Sherry “Magie” error card is highly regarded.

Rarity

The American Tobacco Company spotted the misspelt name very early in the print run, quickly correcting the error. Hence, only a small number of the “Magie” cards were distributed, and even fewer have survived to this day.

This scarcity makes it highly sought after by collectors. The PSA has graded just 121 1909-1911 T206 Piedmont Sherry Magie error cards compared to 374 of Sherry’s cards with his name correctly spelt.

T206 fame

One of the reasons for the fame of the 1909-1911 T206 Piedmont Sherry Magie error card is the fact that it’s a T206 card. The T206 is one of the most iconic baseball sets in history.

The T206 elevates every card in it, and if the “Magie” error card were in a different set, it almost certainly would not have achieved the level of fame it has.

Collector’s value

One reason the 1909-1911 T206 Piedmont Sherry Magie error card is valued highly because it’s considered a necessary card for completing the T206 set.

The 1909-1911 T206 Piedmont Sherry “Magie” error card was only found with the Piedmont 150 (Factory 25) back. However, despite this, this card is a must if you want to truly complete the T206 set.

As a result, the demand and value of the T206 Piedmont Sherry “Magie” error card has continued to rise as there are only so many cards and lots of collectors trying to complete “The Monster”.

Market value

Due to all the facts above, the 1909-1911 T206 Piedmont Sherry Magie error card increased in value as baseball collectors tried to get their hands on it. However, as its price continued to rise, it caught the attention of investors who saw potential in buying and reselling the card for profit.

As more cards were purchased, the value of the few left on the market kept increasing. Today, the “Magie” error card commands a high price in the market. According to sales data from the PSA, VG-EX4 card versions of this card are valued at $40,000, while an NM-MT 8 costs as much as $660,000.

How to spot fake versions of the T206 Sherry “Magie” error card

As with all truly valuable cards, there are a ton of fraudulent sellers looking to defraud collectors by passing off fake cards as genuine.

Luckily for collectors looking to avoid getting scammed, there are several very detailed guides on how to know a T206 card is authentic. This guide by Sports Collectors Daily covers everything you need to look out for.

However, there’s an easier way to know a fake 1909-1911 T206 Piedmont Sherry Magie error card – flip it.

All T206 Sherry “Magie” error cards share the same back, featuring Piedmont Cigarettes with a small print indicating Factory 25.

This specific error occurred exclusively at this factory. Therefore, if you come across a Sherry “Magie” error card without this particular back, it is likely a counterfeit.

Aside from being a target of fraudulent sellers, T206 cards are also targets for burglars. So, ensure your cards are appropriately stored if you have them in your collection.

Bottomline of the 1909-1911 T206 Piedmont Sherry “Magie” error card

The 1909-1911 T206 Piedmont Sherry Magie error card holds a special place in baseball card collecting. Its significance goes beyond being an error card; it owes much of its prestige to being a part of the mythical T206 baseball set.

As a T206’s Big Four member, this card would forever remain a highly sought-after piece for collectors.

While the error might be minor, this is one of the hobby’s most sought-after and valuable error cards. Overall, the T206 Sherry “Magie” error card is more than just a collectible; it is a piece of baseball history that continues to captivate everyone.