In addition to a dizzying array of high grade vintage sports cards and memorabilia in its upcoming Spring 2010 Catalog Sale, Memory Lane Inc. is offering an incredible group of complete vintage sports card sets, may of which are among the finest in the hobby.
”It’s the best group we’ve ever offered,” said Memory Lane’s J.P. Cohen. “They’re beautiful sets, put together by some very discriminating collectors.”
Headlining the group is a 1956 Topps set, all graded PSA 8, painstakingly pieced together over a period of years. The set’s owner even upgraded cards within the same grade, to ensure he had the best available ‘8’. The set may not be familiar to collectors because, despite it’s quality, it’s never been entered on the PSA Set Registry, making it a “find” of sorts for those who are competing to own the best cards.
Most of the cards in the set have gray backs rather than white. The SMR value of the individual cards is over $42,000. Bidding will start at $15,000.
There are also two other 1956 Topps sets in the Memory Lane auction.
Another offering is a 1955 Bowman “TV” set currently stands as the fourth best set in the world. 16 PSA 9 cards are included, with the overall grade of the set an impressive 8.023. The wood grain borders make the ’55 Bowman set one of the toughest to accumulate in high grade and it took years for the gconsignor to push the set to this level.
The artwork that makes up the images on the 1953 Topps set has always been heralded as some of the best in sports, let alone on baseball cards. Memory Lane is offering a set with each card grading PSA 8, 7 or 6. SMR value of the cards in this set exceeds $18,000.
Those looking for a high quality 1959 Topps set will find the 19th ranked set on the Registry with the total value of the individual cards at over $26,000.
The 1959 Fleer Ted Williams set carved out a special niche in the collecting world when it was released and it’s still popular today, especially with Red Sox fans. Recently, two of the best sets ever pieced together were featured in SMR magazine along with the collector who put them together. His attention to detail and dogged pursuit of excellence has led to one set made up completely of PSA 9 graded cards. This set will be one of the highlights of the auction, as well as the consignor’s second set, graded PSA 8 across the board.
There are other baseball sets available as well, including some nice Redman tobacco as well as graded and ungraded issues from the 1970s and starter sets from various years.
Among the football sets up for bid is a 1955 Bowman, two sets of 1955 Topps All-Americans, one each from 1957 and ’58, a super high-end 1959 set with an 8.02 average grade, a 1950 and a a pair of 1969 Topps football sets.
One of the ’69 sets is currently the second highest-rated set on the Registry with a whopping 166 cards having been graded PSA 9. The SMR value of this 41-year-old piece of football history from the era of Joe Namath and the Jets is over $16,000. The second set carries an 8.17 rating with 60 9s.
There is a 1972 Topps football set, including high numbers, with an 8.05 overall mark and a PSA 9-graded set of 1970 Kellogg’s football.
In all, 1175 lots of sports cards and sports memorabilia are included in the auction.
Bidding opened last Friday and closes Saturday, April 17. Full-color catalogs are available by contacting Memory Lane Inc online (http://www.memorylaneinc.com) or by phone at 877-606-LANE (5263).
In addition to its catalog auction, Memory Lane has over 2500 items on eBay.
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