Solid card offering kicks off HA’s Signature sale

Heritage Auction Galleries’ sports collectibles division will present an array of vintage sports memorabilia and trading cards in its upcoming May 2-3 Signature Auction to be held in Dallas.

“This will certainly be the ‘can’t miss’ auction of the season for the serious card collector,” said Chris Ivy, director of Heritage Auction Galleries’ Sports Collectibles division. “From the rarest and most coveted tobacco cards to outrageously high-grade bubble gum sets, there is something to excite even the most seasoned hobbyist.”

First to draw the hobby’s attention is the fabled Honus Wagner T206, graded SGC 10. Ivy noted that all three of the toughest cards from this beloved set are available within the auction.

“Eddie Plank and the Magee error card establish this as one of the few auctions in history to feature all three of these T206s,” Ivy said.

Also included in Heritage’s card offering is one of the few surviving specimens of the 1869 Peck & Snyder Cincinnati Red Stockings trade card.

“Fewer than 10 examples have reached the auction block in the past decade,” noted Ivy, “and this example is authenticated by the experts at PSA.”

Another source of recent hobby gossip is the “Arkansas Find” of Mint PM1 pins, including a never-before-seen Chief Bender specimen.

“These pins are simply never seen in the flawless condition of this find,” said Ivy. “Even the original mounting cards are here, still attached to the pins. It’s safe to say you’ll never see PM1s like this again.”

Set collectors are not forgotten either, with complete or near sets of T206, 1952 Topps, 1933 Goudey and numerous high-grade Topps sets among the highlights.

“Magnificent game-used artifacts once again headline the offerings from the memorabilia portion of the sale,” noted Ivy, referencing rookie jerseys from Hall of Famers “Pistol Pete” Maravich and Albert “Red” Schoendienst among the highlights.

“Both rookie jerseys are thought to be the only surviving examples, with each in stunning, unaltered condition,” said Ivy. “Other gamers from Hall of Fame legends include Freddie Lindstrom, Bob Gibson, Willie Mays, Duke Snider, Gordie Howe and Michael Jordan, to name a few.

“Though lacking Hall of Fame credentials, early Philadelphia Athletics star T. Frederick “Topsy” Hartsel provides some fireworks of his own,” said Ivy, “with his 1910 World Series trophy and game-worn jersey consigned to the auction by his family.”

Autograph collectors will find some of the hobby’s rarities within the pages of this auction catalog.
“Two incredible personal collections, one of 1930s and 1940s government postcards, and the other Hall of Fame plaques, feature all of the greatest names of the era,” said Ivy. “Fan favorites like Ruth, Gehrig, Foxx and Ott are joined by the scarcely seen Jesse Burkett, Christy Mathewson and Bobby Wallace.

“Sports fans around the world are going to want to participate in this auction,” Ivy said, “and I’d encourage everyone to visit our homepage at www.HA.com/Sports, where they’ll see enlargeable, full-color images of each and every lot, complete with our thorough and informative catalog descriptions. They’ll even have an opportunity to place bids online.”

The trading card portion of the auction will end on Friday, May 2 in an extended bidding format, each lot closing individually after thirty minutes of bidding inactivity following the 9 p.m. CST cut-off. The memorabilia will be sold May 3 in a live auction format beginning at noon CST, with bidders able to participate in person, by telephone or online at
www.HA.com/Live.