A remarkable 1888 New York Giants team photo taken by noted photographer Robert Hall soared to over $30,000 in the first 48 hours of bidding as Huggins and Scott opened its biggest catalog auction of 2017.
The photo, in exceptional condition despite its 134-year-old pedigree, measures 20-1/2 x 19-5/8″ and features six Hall of Famers. It’s one of only three known to still exist but one is missing the name-captioned lower mount, while the other was in poor shape with heavy staining. Hall was the Charles Conlon of his day. His cabinet cards are among the most sought after of all 19th century issues.
The Giants photo isn’t the only notable 19th century piece in the auction. There’s also a newly discovered 1887 Kalamazoo Bats Pittsburgh Team Card (PSA 4) you may have read about here a couple of weeks ago. It’s the highest graded and one of only four known examples.
Huggins and Scott will also offer the Bill Wilen Mickey Mantle collection featuring about 97% of all Mantle cards ever produced with a signed 1951 Bowman (auto PSA 9), 1952 Topps, Tip Top Bread, Star-Cal Decals, Briggs, Stahl-Meyers, Venezuela’s, Punch-Outs (PSA 4.5 – highest graded), and dozens more. Wilen is the author of a new book that chronicles Mantle collectibles.
The auction also includes one of the “big four” cards in the T206 set, a PSA 2 Sherry Magie error as well as a PSA 5 Ty Cobb ‘bat off shoulder’.
Other on the block include a 1951 Bowman Mantle rookie graded PSA 5; a complete 1954 Red Heart set – all PSA 8 (#15 on registry); 1959 Topps complete set average grade 7.9 (#27 on registry); a complete 1966 Topps set – all PSA 8 (sold in 8 lots); numerous rare uncut sheets including 1941 Play Ball, 1948 Bowman, 1949 Bowman, 1951 Bowman, 1952 Topps (with Willie Mays), 1952 Bowman (with Willie Mays), 1955 Bowman (with Mantle), 1957 Topps and others.
Modern collectors can chase multiple certified autographed card lots, short prints, 1 of 1s, signed relic cards, dual and triple signed cards and other hits.
In addition to the Wilen Mantle collection, there is also a Philadelphia Phillies collection consigned by Larry Haines which includes the first Phillies game score sheet scored and signed by Harry Wright; the only known example of a 1940s Philadelphia Blue Jays game used jersey (Andy Seminick); a 1915 World Series full ticket (PSA 2); rare 1910s Phillies “Daisies” pennant; a tough 1915 NL Champions Pat Moran photo pin/ribbon; and other scarce Phillies related items.
Memorabilia collectors will find a 1916-1926 World Series photo album with 277 original snapshots with Ruth, Gehrig, Joe Jackson and 1919 World Series shots; a 1927 Ty Cobb Type I photo; a collection of 1950s HOFers contact proof photos used for cards including the1956 Topps Mickey Mantle, 1954 Topps Willie Mays, 1955 Topps Hank Aaron, 1958 Topps Mays/Snider (BGS Authenticated) and others. The auction features dozens of autographed baseballs including one of the largest sweet spot Mel Ott single-signed balls known; a team-signed ball from the 1924 World Series champion Washington Senators; one of only four known 1939-43 Babe Ruth signed sepia Hall of Fame postcard (PSA/DNA); a collection of over 100 different single-signed full name variation baseballs including Mickey Charles Mantle, Theodore Samuel Williams, Willie Howard Mays Jr. James N. Brown, Walter Jerry Payton and 100 more; a rare T206 Sam Crawford signed card; letters signed by Walter Johnson, Cum Posey and Alex Pompez; and Stan Musial’s 1951 players contract.
Game-worn jerseys offered include a 1955 Kansas City Athletics Bobby Shantz; 1958-60 Milwaukee Braves Juan Pizzaro; 1961 San Francisco Giants Bobby Bolin; 1968 Baltimore Orioles Davey Johnson; 1970 Los Angeles Dodgers Joe Moeller; 1970 Baltimore Orioles Bobby Grich; 1974 Baltimore Orioles Boog Powell; 2014 Cole Hamels and a run of Washington Nationals Ryan Zimmerman jerseys from 2005 (rare #25) to 2011.
There are game model bats from Billy Williams, Ron Santo and Derek Jeter, along with a number of jackets, hats, pants and other pieces.
Highlights in the basketball category includes: a fabulous 1986-87 Fleer wax box (BBCE Wrapped); a group of 1960s Boston Celtics game-used items from the Martin Brill collection. The football category features an array of vintage programs, tickets and ephemera from the turn of the century through the Super Bowls with 1920s programs, signed cards, and many more lots.
In addition to thousands of football cards, the auction has a collection of original photographs including what PSA/DNA photo authenticator Henry Yee calls “…the single most important football photograph to ever be offered in a public auction.” – a Type I original photograph of Joe Namath, used for his 1965 Topps rookie card. There is a Walter Payton game used home jersey; selection of vintage signed cards including 44 different 1948 Bowman’s; a tough “Fats” Henry signed check and more.
Catalogs have been shipped but there is once again a “Web Gems” section with items that are not found in the company’s printed catalog.
The auction continues through Thursday, August 3 at HugginsandScott.com.
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