The new Robert Edward Auctions catalog is about to arrive and we’d recommend bending down before you try to lift it off your doorstep to avoid back strain. The 720-page behemoth is the company’s largest ever. Bidding is set to open Friday and run through December 6.
More than 3,400 lots will be up for sale in the company’s third and final auction of 2020 and as usual, you don’t have to look further than lot number one to see something you may not have seen before. Leading off the auction is only the second known original, Type 1 example of Charles Conlon’s iconic photograph of Ty Cobb sliding into third base.
Recently discovered by REA in an old-time collection, the photograph is the better condition of the two known; the other example transacted privately for $250,000 within the last few years. REA officials believe that their photograph will set a new record for a sports photograph when the hammer falls.
The auction includes a large array of iconic cards—both vintage and modern—starting with an example of Cobb’s T206 featuring the ad for Ty Cobb Tobacco on the back. Graded PSA 2, the card is expected to sell for more than $125,000.
Other expected six-figure cards include a PSA 7 example of the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, a PSA 10 Michael Jordan rookie card, a PSA 8.5 rookie card of Roberto Clemente, and a fresh-to-the-hobby Babe Ruth rookie card graded SGC 2.
Dozens of additional high-end cards are sprinkled throughout, including a 1914 Cracker Jack Christy Mathewson SGC 3, a 1948 Bowman George Mikan PSA 8, and a 1933 National Chicle Bronko Nagurski PSA 6.
Unopened material continues to be one of the hobby’s hottest areas of interest, and the auction will present more than 350 lots of packs, boxes, and cases from all sports and non-sports. One of the most impressive items up for bid is a factory-sealed case of 2012-2013 Panini Prizm Basketball, the first year of what’s become an elusive—and valuable–product. The case is expected to break six figures easily as it represents the only example to hit public auction in recent memory.
A 1986-1987 Fleer Basketball box with a Jordan rookie visible on top will be up for bid along with a 1980 Topps Baseball vending case, a high-grade 1952 Topps unopened pack, and sealed boxes of 1970-1971 Topps Basketball, 1972-1973 Topps Basketball, 1973 Topps Baseball, 1980-1981 Topps Basketball and more. Dozens of individual packs from the 1950s onward will be presented individually, including a fresh-to-the-hobby collection of rack packs from 1974 Topps Baseball.
If cards aren’t your thing, rest assured that the auction will feature a wide selection of autographs, game-used memorabilia, and original photographs. In addition to the Cobb photo, a 1915 Boston Red Sox photo featuring a rookie Babe Ruth is expected to attract a lot of interest along with dozens of other Type 1 images. A collection of signed Hall of Fame postcards, highlighted by a rare examples of Grover Cleveland Alexander and Eddie Collins, is presented individually while a number of rare personal checks and player contracts are also offered, many for the first time ever.
Numerous game-used bats, from Hall of Famers like Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, and Roberto Clemente will tempt collectors along with a varied selection of non-Hall of Famers, like Thurman Munson, and more modern players, like Mike Trout.
New bidders can register to bid at www.RobertEdwardAuctions.com and request a free catalog.
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