Robert Edward Auctions has opened its first sale of 2024 with an Encore event that has nearly 3,700 lots traversing more than 180 years of sports history. In fact, the auction holds one of the oldest items tied to a sports figure ever offered: a signed receipt from baseball pioneer Alexander Cartwright that dates to 1842.
Another 19th century rarity comes in the form of an impossibly rare 1888 N403 Yum Yum Tobacco John Clarkson “Throwing” card. Graded EX 5, it’s the only PSA-graded example featuring the Hall of Fame pitcher and outfielder.
There’s also one of Harry Wright’s personal scorecards dating to a June 22, 1883 game between Philadelphia and the Providence Grays, whom Wright was managing. The one-of-a-kind program is scored in both pencil and blue ink while Wright’s signature at the base of the scorer’s box and has been graded 9 by PSA.
The auction leads off with an SGC 1.5 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle–one of numerous Mantle items available and includes over 250 autographed items, many from baseball icons of the past.
“REA had its best year in our thirty-year history in 2023, and we’re starting off the New Year with one of our strongest Encore Auctions to date,” remarked REA President Brian Dwyer. “This auction has an extremely wide selection, including one of the strongest lineups of signed items we’ve ever had in any auction, as well as many of the hobby’s most iconic cards in a variety of different grades for collectors of all types.”
Other notable items in REA’s January Auction include:
- 1914 E145 Cracker Jack #37 Grover Alexander SGC VG 3
- 1986 Topps Football #374 Steve Young Rookie SGC GEM MINT 10 – Only one of three examples of this card ever given a perfect GEM MINT 10 grade by SGC
- Babe Ruth Cut Signature – Unlined sheet signed in black pencil with a signature graded GEM MINT 10 by PSA/DNA
- 1938 Lou Gehrig Signed Postcard – Postmarked April 26, 1938, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania inscribed “Best Wishes/Lou Gehrig” on the front in blue ink with the signature graded 10 by PSA/DNA
- 1924 Walter Johnson Signed Album Page – 1924 album page signed by Walter Johnson “Very Truly Yours/Walter Johnson” in black ink with the signature graded 10 by PSA/DNA
- 1939 Honus Wagner Signed Baseball Centennial First-Day Cover – The envelope bears a “Jun 12, 1939, Cooperstown N.Y.” postmark and a three-cent Baseball Centennial stamp with a design paying homage to Wagner and including an actual photo of him and a short biography; the signature has also been graded 10
- 1910-1911 M116 Sporting Life Honus Wagner Pastel Background PSA Authentic
- Trio of 1954 Topps #128 Hank Aaron rookie cards – Two mid-grade examples and one featuring a PSA/DNA 10 signature
- 1957 Topps Football #138 Johnny Unitas Rookie BVG NM-MT 8
- Pair of early Michael Jordan cards – MJ’s Star Company 1984 Gold Medalist card along with his 1985 Star Company card, graded Beckett NM-MT 8 and MINT 9, respectively.
Signed Checks
Among the signed checks offered by REA is one inked by Jackie Robinson in 1948, a year after he broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier, one from Ty Cobb in 1949 and another signed by Roberto Clemente in 1970.
T206 Offerings
From a Ty Cobb Portrait Red Background PSA EX-MT 6 to a Frank Chance Portrait Yellow Background PSA NM 7, the auction contains more than 720 T206 options. This also includes dozens of rare advertising backs including a Ty Cobb Bat Off Shoulder PSA VG-EX 4 with an El Principe De Gales back, a Cy Young Bare Hand Show SGC POOR 1 with a Sovereign 150 back, and a range of Red Hindu and Black Lenox cards representing the only examples graded at their respective levels. There are also nine T206 cards featuring the rare Carolina Brights backs.
As is standard in all of REA’s Encore Auctions, all items have a starting bid of $10.
Bidding is now open on the company’s website and runs through Jan. 21.
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