Clean Sweep Auction features tough autographs, car

Steve Verkman of Clean Sweep Auctions has turned up some high-profile autographed material for his 1,000-plus lots Sept. 28 auction, including a couple of outstanding Americana pieces.
That last grouping features an Abraham Lincoln signed document that opens at all of $4,000, and another document signed by John Coltrane that includes a reference to Stan Musial (opens at $2,500).

The sports lineup is highlighted by single-signed balls, unique memorabilia, autographed items and Verkman’s traditional wide array of complete sets.

A Babe Ruth single-signed ball opens at $4,000; there also are single-signed baseballs from Jackie Robinson ($2,000) and Paul Waner ($1,400). There are game-used bats from the likes of Hank Aaron ($1,650 minimum) and Brooks Robinson ($1,400), a Michael Jordan UDA jersey collection ($2,500), a Jack Johnson signed postcard ($850), a 1933 All-Star Game program ($900), a 1916 Brooklyn Dodgers World Series print (shown above right) and an 1884 Red Stockings cigar box ($1,000).

Hall of Famer Ernie Lombardi is represented with his 1939 All-Star plaque ($800) and a sterling silver 1940 All-Star box ($1,000); Lefty Grove’s 1955 Hall of Fame induction watch opens at $1,000.
A Hack Wilson signed Exhibit card from 1925 with additional signatures on the back (shown above right) opens at $900; a Ruth-signed Exhibit from the same year (shown above left) starts at $2,500). Other autographed pieces include a Jim Thorpe signed book ($1,400), a Mickey Mantle signed 1968 Sports Illustrated poster ($1,500), a 1961 TV contract signed by Mantle and Roger Maris, a Jackie Robinson signed letter ($3,500), a Ty Cobb personal stock certificate (signed, $1,650), and album pages with Lou Gehrig ($2,000) and the 1934 Yankees ball with Ruth ($2,000).

A 1909 T206 White Border Cobb with Broad Leaf 40 back (poor condition, $2,000) headlines an imposing array of cards that also includes a 1931 W517 complete set (vg-ex, $1,200) and a 1932 U.S. Caramel set (also vg-ex, missing three non-keys, $4,000).

An extensive offering of post-war baseball sets includes (all excellent or better unless noted): 1953 Topps – $6,000; 1955 Bowman – $1,750; 1956 Topps – $1,750; 1958 Topps – $1,000; 1962 Topps – $1,500; 1963 Topps – $1,400; 1966 Topps – $1,500; and a partially graded 1963 Fleer set, nr-mt – $1,000.

A sampling of the Clean Sweep Auction listings is featured in a three-page, full color advertisement that appeared in the Sept.23 issue of SCD (last week).

For more information, call (516) 338-8557 or go to www.csauctions.com.