The Robert Edward Auctions Fall catalog will arrive shortly and if you get the physical version, you may want to do a few arm curls in preparation. Even with a move from two auctions per year to three in 2019, it’s still a monster. The Fall edition packs nearly 3,100 lots of sports and non-sports cards and memorabilia dating back to the 19th century. It’s the first time REA has broached the 3,000-lot barrier in one catalog.
The auction will round out a year in which REA has brought more than 8,000 lots to market, a significant chunk of it for the first time.
Response has been strong enough that the three auctions per year schedule will continue in 2020.
“We have been steadfast in our approach to auctions for many years now, and collectors continue to be drawn to how we conduct ourselves and our auctions,” says REA President Brian Dwyer.
The company will officially open Fall bidding on November 20 but they’ve begun peeling back the curtain on what is typically one of the hobby’s most anticipated events.
As always, there’s a strong lineup of high-powered cards and memorabilia that will kick off the auction. Lead by a “Lucky 7” find example of the rare T206 Ty Cobb with Ty Cobb back, the auction also features the highest-graded Collins McCarthy Babe Ruth, high-grade 1914 Cracker Jack examples of Ty Cobb and Christy Mathewson, a PSA 7 Satchel Paige Leaf rookie, a PSA 9 Ernie Banks rookie, and a PSA 10 Derek Jeter SP rookie.
The Paige originates from a high-grade set break of 1948-1949 Leaf cards, and the auction will also offer breaks of complete and near-complete top quality sets of 1910 E93 Standard Caramel, 1910 E98, 1914 Cracker Jack, 1952 Topps, 1953 Topps, 1935 National Chicle Football, 1955 Topps All-American, 1986-1987 Fleer Basketball, 1940 Superman, and 1940 Lone Ranger. Numerous other high-grade sets from the 1960s and 1970s from all sports are offered in their entirety.
Unopened material, which continues to be one of the hottest segments of the market, is also well represented with unopened packs and boxes from the 1940s on up for bid, including a 1970-1971 Topps basketball wax box from the Pete Maravich rookie card series.
Autograph collectors will take note of two signed Goudey cards that REA obtained from an old-time collection and presents for the first time in over two decades. The 1933 Goudey Ruth #181 (PSA/DNA MINT 9) and the 1934 Goudey Gehrig #64 (PSA/DNA) headline a signed-card offering that includes PSA/DNA MINT 9 examples of Ted Williams’ 1939 Play Ball rookie and Michael Jordan’s 1986 Fleer rookie along with dozens of additional high-grade rookies and key cards from the four major sports. A 1939 first day cover signed by the eleven living inductees to the Baseball Hall of Fame, including Ruth, Wagner, Young, and Cobb, is also fresh to the hobby and presented for the first time.
A collection of high-grade, individually signed first day covers appear alongside from another consignor. One of the hobby’s finest Lou Gehrig signed photos, an original George Burke penned by Gehrig with a PSA/DNA MINT 9 signature and inscription, is also offered for the first time in nearly 20 years.
The upcoming auction is one of the strongest memorabilia offerings in years according to company officials. Nearly two dozen Hall of Fame and star game-used jerseys are on the block, including a complete 1950 Ted Williams Boston Red Sox uniform, a photomatched 1965 Hank Aaron jersey, a 1969 rookie Reggie Jackson jersey, and other rarities dating from the 1920s through the 1980s.
Game-used bats are also sprinkled throughout the offerings, highlighted by a 1957 Mickey Mantle All-Star Game bat, a 1964 Willie Mays All-Star Game bat, and a 1950 Ted Williams along with two exceptional 1960s Roberto Clemente bats. Rounding out the memorabilia section is a plethora of original Type 1 photographs, vintage display pieces, including several George Lawrence panoramas, and some championship jewelry from the 1950s through the 1980s.
Company officials say a record number of new consignors are bringing never before seen pieces to market for the first time. Among them is the owner of the newly discovered 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings CDV that we told you about earlier this month, as well as two individuals with equally impressive nineteenth century cards.
A new-to-the-hobby collection of 150 Old Judges and Mayos is presented in a number of different lots, highlighted by nearly a dozen Hall of Famers, and another fresh collection of a dozen Old Judge cabinets saved in the Chicago area appear individually, among them Hall of Famers Cap Anson, Hugh Duffy, and John Ward.
Several consignments prove that scouring flea markets can still be profitable, with a quartet of T206 Uzit backs turning up in the Midwest and two separate 1910-era pennant collections featuring rare team styles uncovered in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Numerous similar stories fill the pages of REA’s 688-page catalog and offer hope that there is still valuable memorabilia still lurking in attics, flea markets or antique shops.
Bidding opens Wednesday, November 20 and ends Sunday, December 8. Registration is free at www.RobertEdwardAuctions.com. While the auction will be available for online bidding, catalogs are available upon request.
Meanwhile, preparations are already underway for the Spring 2020 auction, with information on consigning available on their website.
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