Own It Now: T206 Wagner and Plank For Sale Starting Feb. 24

There are sports cards and sets ranging from less than $1,000 to $750,000 in Memory Lane Inc.’s upcoming I Own it Now catalog. The dilemma for collectors is whether to pull the trigger at the listed price or wait and make an offer. That's the beauty – or agony – of the Own It Now format.

The unique sale returns later this week with more than 100 lots presented in a full-color catalog available online or in traditional form. Unlike the company’s regular catalog auctions, all lots listed in the I Own it Now event will be for sale at the listed price for a set time period; in this case, from Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. EST until 1 p.m. March 6. That’s when all unsold lots will be open to offers that can be placed through Memory Lane. I Own it Now will close on March 9 at 6 p.m. EST.

Lot no. 1 is a T206 Honus Wagner (PSA 2), sports collecting’s "Holy Grail" card. The Wagner, from an East Coast resident’s long-time collection, is available at $750,000. It’s not the only T206 rarity available, though. A well-centered Sweet Caporal-backed Eddie Plank, graded PSA 4, is also listed and carries an I Own it Now price of $89,995.

Collectors of 1914 Cracker Jack cards are well versed in the condition challenges presented by the set. Finding even mid-grade cards is a tough task and the competition for Hall of Famers is always stiff. Memory Lane will offer a PSA 5 Christy Mathewson in this catalog at a price of $110,000.

Babe Ruth is well represented in the catalog. There is a solid single-signed Ruth baseball ($27,500), a dual-signed Ruth-Lou Gehrig ball ($19,995), two signed Ruth checks (both under $7,000), a PSA 8 1933 Goudey Sport Kings card ($27,500), and a PSA 6 1932 U.S. Caramel ($11,995), among others.

Some scarce Ty Cobb cards also make their way into the catalog, including a 1911-14 Brunners Bread (PSA 6) at $75,000, a 1911 T3 Turkey Red cabinet with checklist back ($10,495), a 1908 E-102 card that many consider his true rookie ($8,495) and a 1911 M116 Sporting Life ($3,650).

There is a PSA 3 1909 E-90-1 Joe Jackson American Caramel as well ($24,995).

Perhaps the most eye-popping item in the catalog, though, is a 1932 U.S. Caramels complete set of 31 cards, all graded PSA 8. For the collector who likes high-end consistency, this impressive grouping is currently No. 3 on the PSA Set Registry and carries a price tag of $335,000.

Prewar collectors can gaze upon a 1909 T204 Ramly set of 121 cards, painstakingly collected with an overall grade of 4.054 and now available at $100,000. The set includes a PSA 7 Plank and ranks sixth on the PSA Registry.

The first major postwar set is in the catalog as well. A master set of 1948-49 Leaf, with a GPA of 6.46 and including Near Mint 7s of Jackie Robinson (rookie), Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Satchel Paige is offered at $100,000.

Sprinkled throughout the catalog are various seldom seen and/or top shelf cards of some of the hobby’s all-time all-stars including the likes of Mathewson, Young, Johnson, Wagner, Mays, Mantle, Berra, Aaron and Rose.

Collectors of football cards will find several ultra high-grade cards from the 1955 Topps All-American set, along with a 1949 Leaf yellow background Sid Luckman, one of only five PSA 8 copies in existence. It’s priced at $49,995 and is one of several top end cards from the Leaf set being placed in the sale. There is also a PSA 9 1935 National Chicle Knute Rockne at $39,995.

Hockey card collectors will see one of that segment’s true scarcities, a 1966-67 Topps USA Test Bobby Orr. Graded 8.5 by PSA, it’s offered at $49,995.

Basketball card collecting’s modern magnet, the 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card is represented by a BGS 9.5 copy that is listed at $11,995. Hoops fans will also enjoy reading a one-page, hand-written letter penned by the late Pete Maravich to someone going through a tough time. Signed "Pistol Pete Maravich," it’s offered at $8,500.

American history and pop culture are represented too. There’s a rare Neil Armstrong black-and-white signed photo of the 1969 moon landing at $8,500 and a signed check/photo display of all four Beatles at $39,995.

To receive a catalog or to register, contact Memory Lane at (877) 606-5263 or visit their website.