Heritage Auctions says its total sales across all categories for 2018 surpassed $826 million. In addition to sports auctions, the company offers sales in other collectible categories including coins, stamps, entertainment, books, history, wine and art. Nearly 60 percent of 2018 sales – $487,632,348 – was transacted through the internet, a healthy 11 percent … [Read more...]
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REA Expansion Plans Include Third Auction, West Coast Addition
Robert Edward Auctions will add a third auction to its calendar beginning in 2019. The move is just one of several changes announced in advance of the National Sports Collectors Convention, each of which involves an expansion of services. Once home to a single, yearly auction held each spring, New Jersey-based REA added a fall auction five years ago and will now offer … [Read more...]
Bi-Weekly Schedule Keeps Auction of Champions Buzzing
Launched less than six months ago, Auction of Champions is already on its eighth online catalog and hoping to carve its own niche in the hobby. The family owned Arizona-based company has been holding bi-weekly events with an eye on a possible move to weekly auctions in the near future. Each auction typically includes hundreds of items, with a heavy emphasis on … [Read more...]
SCP Auctions Launches New Website
SCP Auctions started the new year with a new look for the company’s website. The makeover includes a fresh design with new colors, the ability to search recent auction results and more user-friendly navigation. The new look also highlights some of the firm's headline making sales including the Babe Ruth circa 1920 game-worn New York Yankees road jersey for $4.4 million, the … [Read more...]
Keep the Receipt: The Importance of Provenance in Collecting
One often hears the word provenance in context of the the fine art world, such as with the sale of a Rembrandt or Renoir painting, while the topic is often idly dismissed or ignored by sports memorabilia collectors. However, provenance should also be an important consideration for collectors of sports collectables, memorabilia and even trading cards. This column is a look at … [Read more...]
Auction Insider: Bidding for Business
If you wanted to, you could receive a catalog in your mailbox about once every ten days. Between splashy major auctions and weekly internet-based events, sports memorabilia auction companies crank out a lot of copy. Once a small part of the hobby, bid to own has become the primary method of transacting business for many. Those who predicted the demise of the small auction … [Read more...]
10 Questions With Auction Houses: Part I
It's been quite a year in the sports memorabilia auction business. From major finds of vintage cards and unknown treasures to whopping sales numbers for high grade cards, Babe Ruth jerseys and game worn artifacts, the bid business is alive and well. We tossed a series of ten questions about what's hot, what's next, where the hobby has been and where it's headed to several … [Read more...]
Athletes Parting With Items Keeps Everyone Happy
Mark Wells' situation aside, the sale of memorabilia that once played a big role in an athlete's life isn't always about a need for cash. Some just get tired of looking at it. Others have no heirs to give it to. Most figure they've had it long enough and are ready to trade it for cash to help themselves, their favorite charities or family members. It's a good deal … [Read more...]
Auction Insider: National Sports Collectors Convention
The National Sports Collectors Convention wrapped up its five-day run in Baltimore earlier this month. It was the hobby's first visit to the city for its showcase event. Ryan Friedman of Auction Report was there for the duration and in this edition of Auction Insider, we chatted with him about this year--and what future years may bring. What was the overall reaction of … [Read more...]
