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A true relic of baseball's earliest collecting days is now up for grabs—and it's a rarity that even seasoned hobby veterans might never encounter in person. REA Auctions is currently featuring one of the most sought-after Ty Cobb cards in existence: a 1910 “Orange Borders” Ty Cobb, graded SGC 1. Despite its low grade, this card’s scarcity and historical significance place it firmly among the upper echelon of pre-war baseball collectibles.

Produced over a century ago, this striking Cobb card comes from a short-lived and regional set jointly issued by the Geo. Davis Co., Inc. and P.R. Warren Co. of Massachusetts. These cards weren’t available in packs or sold in shops—instead, they were printed on the packaging of "American Sports – Candy and Jewelry" boxes. With one player featured on the front and another on the back, finding cards from this release is a challenge in itself. Finding them in any condition? Even harder. Finding Ty Cobb? Nearly impossible.

Collectors have long dubbed this mysterious issue the “Orange Borders” set, referencing the vivid design that frames each card. Over time, it has earned an almost mythical reputation. Even common players from this series are seldom seen, and the Cobb card stands alone as the centerpiece—the crown jewel of the entire run.

This particular Cobb, though graded a modest SGC 1, is far from diminished in value. In fact, the wear only enhances its aura—because the true appeal lies in the card’s rarity, origin, and context. It's a surviving artifact from a time when baseball cards were closer to packaging inserts than investment vehicles. It’s also one of the few known examples to have survived over 115 years in any form.

Cobb, whose name still resonates as one of baseball’s fiercest competitors, is no stranger to high-dollar auctions. But cards like this one—regional, obscure, and impossibly rare—tap into a different part of the collector psyche. These are the cards that don’t show up often. When they do, they tend to vanish into collections for decades.

At the time of publication, bidding for the card sits at $2,200—a number that might seem modest for such a rare piece of cardboard history. But make no mistake: this auction is just getting started. As awareness builds and vintage collectors take notice, the final price could climb quickly.

In a hobby that continues to evolve and modernize, the 1910 Ty Cobb Orange Borders card is a reminder of where it all began. It represents a bridge to the earliest days of collecting—an era when cards were fleeting, fragile, and far more about fun than fortune. Yet here we are, over a century later, still chasing them down like buried treasure.

For those who crave the thrill of owning a true unicorn from baseball’s golden era, this REA offering isn’t just a card—it’s a story, a statement, and a snapshot of a time when legends like Cobb ruled both the game and the gum box