Issued by the George Frost Co. for its Boston Garter brand the 1912 Boston Garter baseball card series is one of the rarest and most unique issues of all time. With a modern catalog designation of H813 the 1912 Boston Garter release was the first of three sets they would eventually issue and they spared absolutely no expense in creating one of the most beautiful and extremely colorful card sets ever produced. Representing some the greatest stars of the era each large and brightly lithographed card shows a player in the locker room sometimes in his underwear employing his requisite sock garters. Behind each player a large window opens to reveal a baseball field with game action in progress. The cards were inserted one per box of twelve Boston Garter sock garters. The problem for collectors today is that these cards are so rare that singles are rarely seen even in major auctions. Even though the checklist on the back of the Boston Garters list only sixteen different cards some examples have never been found.

All the more rare are period store advertising displays for the Boston Garter product showcasing a dual sampling of their prized product inserts. The offered sign is among an approximate population of ten or so examples thought to still exist. These signs feature combinations of either Eddie Collins and Hal Chase as presented here Hughie Jennings and Johnny Kling or Fred Clarke and Frank Chance (see lot 711). The offered display shows a few minor creases primarily in the upper right corner and a little minor edge and corner wear. A tiny tear in the right border is of little consequence and almost impossible to detect even under close scrutiny. A few tiny imperfections along the extreme edges include a light stain in the extreme edge along the top border a small area of discoloration in the lower left corner and tiny area of surface paper loss in the upper left corner. The piece retains its vibrant original color indicating decades of careful (or lucky) storage. All of the aforementioned technical faults have little bearing on the magnificent visual quality of the artifact. Although a technical grade of VG-EX is warranted the piece presents magnificently without distraction. Without question this among the finest baseball card advertising pieces the hobby has ever seen.