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1909 Wagner card sells for record $2.8 million

'Mona Lisa' of cards is in best condition of American Tobacco Company set

Honus Wagner cardAP
The legendary T206 Honus Wagner baseball trading card is displayed June 6, 2000 in New York.

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. - A rare Honus Wagner baseball card has been sold for a record $2.8 million, just over six months after it was bought for a then-record $2.35 million.

Referred to as the “Mona Lisa” of baseball cards, it’s in the best condition of the few known T206 Wagner cards, released in 1909 by the American Tobacco Company.

It was purchased by an unnamed private collector in a deal brokered by SCP Auctions, the firm that handled the previous sale to a California private collector and took a minority ownership position in the card at the time.

Past owners of the card include Wayne Gretzky.

It is estimated that fewer than 100 versions of the card have surfaced. Various theories exist as to why Wagner cut off the production of his card, including financial disagreements with the company and a desire to not promote tobacco to children.

© 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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