When you mix the Mile High Card Co. penchant for high-grade cards and sets with an uncannny ability to round up tough 19th-century and tobacco rarities you end up with an array in the company's Jan. 18 auction that leaves company president Brian Drent enthused about the prospects.
"We have a nice portion of 19th century cards, including an 1887 Kalamazoo Bats Boston Base Ball Club, and 1887 Gypsy Queen Roger Connor in SGC 60 and a Four Base Hits John Ward," said Drent.
There's also the 1893 N142 Honest Duke Cabinet of Ed Delahanty, plus an 1887 N172 Old Judge of Delahanty (SGC 60), 1887 N28 Allen & Ginters of Cap Anson (PSA 7) and Timothy Keefe (PSA 8), along with an assortment of T206 cards and a break-up of a near-complete T205 set.
"We are selling a completely graded E90-1 near-set, with the Hall of Famers in very high grades," Drent continued, referencing the set that is pictured on the cover of this issue of SCD.
The auction, at slightly more than 1,000 lots and boasting a 176-page catalog, weighs in as the largest in Mile High history. "This will probably be our best auction, very well rounded," Drent continued, noting a significant memorabilia section that complements his traditional vintage-card emphasis, including a 1931 Yankees team-signed ball, a single-signed Roberto Clemente on a Nicauraguan League ball and a significant listing of Wirephotos.
Still, it's the cardboard that reigns, with a large number of Caramel single cards in addition to the near-set, including striking E90-1 cards of Addie Joss, Honus Wagner (Batting and Throwing), Cy Young, Nap Lajoie and many other HOFers. Wagner also turns up in the tough 1914 Texas Tommy issue; there's also a spectacular 1913 Turkey Red Cabinet of Walter Johnson in PSA 6, another Johnson entry with a T205 Gold Border in GAI 8.5 and an M116 Sporting Life Lajoie in PSA 9.
Drent also noted that MHCC was breaking up a high-grade 1933 Goudey near-set that had included three different Ruths, a Gehrig and the Foxx all in PSA 8 holders.
"Sets are a very strong segment of the sale as well," Drent added, pointing to PSA Set Registry standouts from 1948 Bowman Basketball, 1957 Topps Basketball and 1961 Fleer Basketball, 1954 Topps Hockey and a 1964 Tall Boys Hockey set, both entirely graded PSA 8s and 9s.
Those lofty designations also turn up in a 1941 Play Ball DiMaggio, a 1948 Leaf Satchel Paige (GAI 8), a 1951 Bowman Ted Williams (PSA 9), 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle rookie (SGC 88), 1954 Bowman Duke Snider (PSA 10), 1958 Topps Mantle (PSA 9) and a knockout 1960 Topps Roger Maris in PSA 10.
For more information or to register, call (303) 840-2784 or visit the website at: www.milehighcardco.com.
