The Breisch Williams E107 set of 1903 is important because it was the first major baseball card set of the 20th Century. Featuring sharp, black-and-white photographic images, the E107 set contains 147 subjects and has become a popular set among advanced collectors due to the number of rookie cards of Hall of Famers, along with its scarcity.
High-grade E107s are virtually nonexistent. With a current graded population of 713 between PSA and SGC, just 38 have graded EX or better, with a scant two cards grading above an unqualified NM. E107s are frequently damaged and torn, with front and back images suffering from wrinkling, staining, paper loss, and scrapbook damage. In fact, more than half the graded population of E107s have been assessed at a grade of 2 or lower.
Given that, this example of Ollie Pickering is virtually pristine for the issue; well-centered with a crisp, clear image and only rounded corners and some mild staining along the top left border taking away from what is an otherwise beautiful specimen. Indeed, this is the highest-graded Pickering available in an SGC holder, with only a PSA 5Q achieving a higher numeric grade, with the aforementioned qualifier. The card is of the blank-backed variety.
It’s really, really difficult for me to objectively look at certain cards without letting hyperbole creep into my description. When I first held this card, my eyes widened over just how perfect and unblemished the image appears, as E107s are so frequently damaged. This is a gorgeous example of a very scarce card, one that any type collector would be thrilled to have in his/her collection. We’re pleased to be able to offer this in our inaugural auction.