Items from multiple private collections of baseball cards, photos and other memorabilia were sold Wednesday through Hunt Auctions. Even on a Wednesday afternoon, the live bidding was extremely competitive in what’s become an extremely strong market.
The sale opened with one of only four known copies of the 1889 Goodwin & Co. Old Judge Tobacco Round Album advertising poster, which sold for $199,750. Created to promote the “Baseball Album” illustrations that were sent as a redemption for cigarette coupons, the 20” x 27” framed poster features John Montgomery Ward, Cap Anson and composite images of other star players.
Prices were strong across the board, with many lots not only exceeding pre-sale estimates but bringing record prices.
Part of an extensive private collection of cards that was consigned to Hunt earlier this year, the first group of items from “The Texan Collection” was a big reason for the interest. Curated over a 40-year period by a private individual, the collection included sets and singles from some of the most popular pre-and post-War sets, rarities and other lots that kept collectors’ interest during the live bidding.
Among the top sellers Wednesday was a 1911 T3 Turkey Red Ty Cobb graded PSA 4.5, which realized $29,375, nearly double the high end of the pre-sale estimate.
Some of the sets were broken up with cards sold individually or in lots. Among the highlights:
-Rare 1947 Bond Bread Jackie Robinson set (Sold for a combined $98,641)
-1938 Goudey Joe DiMaggio #250 (PSA 6.5 EX/MT+) (Sold for $14,100)
-1948 Leaf Satchel Paige #8 (PSA 5 EX) (Sold for $30,913)
-1888 N28 Allen & Ginter Champions set (Sold for a combined $47,883)
-1932 U.S. Caramel baseball card set (Sold for a combined $57,692)
Three different 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth cards–all graded but ranging only from VG to VG-EX–sold for a combined $30,550.
The Dr. Mark Klug collection was also offered for the first time publicly. It included numerous high-quality vintage sets and singles including a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle graded 6 by SGC. After lengthy online bidding the card sold for $111,625 which was a record price for the SGC 6 EX-NM grade. The remainder of the set netted $112,811 while a 1953 Topps set sold for $39,362.
In addition to vintage trading cards, the auction included another offering from the Green Diamond Gallery Collection, led by a 1994 Michael Jordan autographed Birmingham Barons game jersey that sold for $26,437.
The last section of the catalog included more than 200 original photographs including some that mirrored the ones used to create various baseball cards over the years. An 8×10 image of Ernie Banks identical to the one used on his 1954 Topps rookie card soared past the pre-sale estimate of $3,000-$5,000, selling for $15,275. Another Type I image of Bob Gibson used on his 1959 Topps rookie card sold for $9,987.
Prices include a 17.5% buyer’s premium.
Prices realized for the entire auction are available at www.huntauctions.com .
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