The spring catalog from Robert Edward Auctions (REA) is always a highlight for collectors. Each year as winter turns to spring they eagerly await its arrival. For years the catalog has been a treasure trove of rare and eclectic items and 2018 looks to be no exception. This year’s auction will feature a recent jaw-dropping consignment of post-War cards so large and comprehensive, it’ll take more than just one auction to hold it.
“This is one of those collections that stops you in your tracks and forces you to take notice. There’s a highlight at every turn, and there’s dozens of one-of-a-kind or extremely rare items that we’ve never seen or handled before,” company president Brian Dwyer told us.
Accumulated over the past 25 years, the collection includes tens of thousands of cards and encompasses virtually every set issued after 1948, including obscure and regional sets rarely offered for sale. Every known vintage Topps insert set is included along with virtually every known regional and team-issued set. Some sets will be broken up while some are slated to be offered intact.
In addition to the cards themselves it includes advertising and display pieces, original boxes, uncut sheets, proofs, and prizes associated with the cards. Many have never been offered at auction before or are making their first appearance on the market in many years.
Some of the highlights include:
- Ten extremely rare 1961 Topps Dice Game cards including Mickey Mantle and four other Hall of Famers
- Complete high-grade sets of 1968 Topps 3-D with Brooks Robinson proof
- Uncut sheets of 1968 Topps 3-D with unissued proofs
- Complete set of 1968 Topps Plaks with Mickey Mantle variations and unopened pack
- Complete sets of Esskays and Hunters in original box form
- Complete sets of food issued cards including Bazooka, Kahn’s, Morrell Meats, Bell Brand, Stahl Meyer, Hires, and Wilson’s Franks
- Seven ultra-scarce Felin’s Franks cards
- 1960 Leaf pre-production ‘Big Heads’ cards including Luis Aparicio
- 1960 Leaf marbles from wrapper redemption
- Unissued 1960 Fleer #80 Pepper Martin back with Lefty Grove, Joe Cronin, and Eddie Collins variations
- Uncut sheet of 1960 Fleet with unissued proof
- 36 1952 Topps gray back Canadian issue – including highest graded
“Each box, every binder yielded something that our card experts marveled at and couldn’t believe was in their hands.” -REA’s Brian Dwyer.
No information about the collector who amassed such a cache of rare, obscure, and unique items from the last 70 years of hobby history has been released, but the measure of the accomplishment is clear.
“It’s a collection that would be very hard, if not impossible, to replicate in today’s day and age. There was tremendous foresight by this collector to pursue many of these rarities before much attention was paid to them. The determination, attention to detail, and dedication to completion is really remarkable,” added Dwyer, who has had the opportunity to handle some of the most valuable significant pieces during his career.
The breadth of the collection is such that it will take several auctions to catalog it all, but 300 lots will be offered in the company’s upcoming event, which begins on April 13 and concludes on May 6.
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