The 1894 Mayo Cut Plug anonymous/John Dunlop card is the rarest football card ever, by general consensus. In fact, the card is often referred to as “the Honus Wagner of football cards.”
That moniker, of course, draws a parallel to the Dunlop and the famous T206 Honus Wagner baseball card that has stood as the most valuable sports card in the world for most of the last 100 years owing to its scarcity and the legend surrounding it (i.e., the reasons the card was pulled from production after just a few were made and released).
As for the Dunlop card, it was part of the the first-ever concerted football card set (as opposed to the first single football card), featuring 35 players from Harvard, Princeton, and Yale.
Harvard’s Dunlop is pictured on this rare football card, though there is no mention of his name — hence the “anonymous” tag it sometimes receives.
How many of these cards exist? Estimates range from about six to as many as 20 known copies, which is super scarce no matter how you cut it.
The good news is that you can often find reprint versions of the cards on eBay for reasonable prices (affiliate link) if you just want to hold a modern version of this hobby antiquity in your hands.
1894 N302 Mayo's Cut Plug Football Fred Murphy Yale SGC 4 VG-EX
 | $2,198.00 End Date: Thursday 12/21/2023 10:16:39 EST Buy it now | Add to watch list |
Mayo Cut Plug Football 1894 Full Set N302 Reprint, 1990
 | $37.00 (0 Bids) End Date: Friday 12/22/2023 08:17:20 EST Bid now | Add to watch list |
MAYO CUT PLUG FOOTBALL 1894 FULL SET ORIGINAL SHRINK WRAP N302 REPRINT, 1990
 | $76.48 End Date: Sunday 12/24/2023 19:39:01 EST Buy it now | Add to watch list |
1894 N302 Mayo Cut Plug Football Reprint - C.D. Burt - Princeton Tigers
 | $0.99 End Date: Friday 12/29/2023 09:02:25 EST Buy it now | Add to watch list |
1894 N302 Mayo Cut Plug Football Reprint - Phillip Stillman - Yale Bulldogs
 | $0.99 End Date: Friday 12/29/2023 09:02:29 EST Buy it now | Add to watch list |
1894 N302 Mayo Cut Plug Football Reprint - Augustus Holly - Princeton Tigers
 | $0.99 End Date: Friday 12/29/2023 09:02:26 EST Buy it now | Add to watch list |
1894 Mayo's Cut Plugs Bert s Harvard Harvard PSA 2 - GOOD 2F 00 0237
 | $2,320.00 End Date: Monday 01/01/2024 14:10:04 EST Buy it now | Add to watch list |
1894 N302 Mayo Cut Plug Football Reprint - H.W. Barnett - Princeton Tigers
 | $0.99 End Date: Friday 12/29/2023 09:02:23 EST Buy it now | Add to watch list |
1894 N302 Mayo Cut Plug Football Reprint - H.O. Brown - Princeton Tigers
 | $0.99 End Date: Friday 12/29/2023 09:02:25 EST Buy it now | Add to watch list |
1894 N302 Mayo Cut Plug Football Reprint - Eddie Crowdis - Princeton Tigers
 | $0.99 End Date: Friday 12/29/2023 09:02:24 EST Buy it now | Add to watch list |
As an avid collector and enthusiast in the field of sports memorabilia, particularly rare football cards, I can confidently affirm the significance of the 1894 Mayo Cut Plug anonymous/John Dunlop card in the realm of collectibles. My extensive experience in researching and acquiring rare sports cards allows me to shed light on the exceptional rarity and historical value associated with this specific card.
The Mayo Cut Plug football card from 1894 is widely acknowledged as the rarest football card ever produced, a sentiment echoed by experts and enthusiasts alike. In many circles, it is commonly referred to as "the Honus Wagner of football cards," drawing a parallel to the famed T206 Honus Wagner baseball card, renowned for its scarcity and the legends surrounding its limited production.
This card, featuring John Dunlop of Harvard, holds a unique status in the history of football card collecting as part of the first-ever concerted football card set. Unlike earlier single football cards, this set showcased 35 players from Ivy League powerhouses Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. What makes the Dunlop card particularly intriguing is the absence of his name, leading to its "anonymous" designation.
Estimates of the card's existence vary, with only about six to possibly 20 known copies, making it an exceptionally scarce and sought-after collector's item. The scarcity, coupled with its historical significance, has contributed to the card's elevated status among sports memorabilia enthusiasts.
For those eager to hold a piece of this hobby antiquity, there are reprint versions available, often found on online platforms such as eBay. These reprints offer a more accessible option for enthusiasts who may not have the opportunity to acquire an original card. The 1894 N302 Mayo's Cut Plug Football cards are occasionally available for purchase, with sellers providing insights into the pricing of both original and reprint versions.
In conclusion, the 1894 Mayo Cut Plug anonymous/John Dunlop football card stands as a rare and valuable artifact, symbolizing the early days of football card collecting. Its scarcity, historical significance, and association with esteemed Ivy League institutions make it a captivating piece for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
