Legacy Sports Rarities of Traverse City, Michigan, has just put the finishing touches on their “Summer 2009 Vintage Trading Cards and Memorabilia” catalog/Internet auction. The sale will feature 414 lots of important rarities, finest known examples, and legendary Hall-of-Famer issues. Bidding will begin on August 1 and will end on August 22. Catalogs for the sale will be mailed on July 27. An online preview, at www.legacyrarities.com, will begin on July 25.

Highlights of the auction include:

Featured Items:
19th Century Rarities such as 1887 Large Gypsy Queen John Ward (SGC 50), 1888 Yum Yum Tobacco Tim Keefe (SGC 80), N300 Mayo Cap Anson (SGC 84), and N300 Mayo Buck Ewing – Cleveland (SGC 84)
1888 New York Giants Imperial Team Photo by Joseph Hall
1908 E102 Christy Mathewson (SGC 84)
1909 T206 Ty Cobb Portrait – Green Background (SGC 86)
1910 E93 Standard Caramel Christy Mathewson (SGC 84)
1911 T201 Cobb/Crawford (SGC 92)
1921 Koester Bread Babe Ruth (SGC 80)
1931 W517 Complete Set of Three Card Panels
1933 Goudey Napoleon Lajoie (PSA 6)
Babe Ruth Single Signed Baseball (PSA/DNA)
1939 Play Ball Joe DiMaggio (SGC 96)
Newly discovered 1927 New York Yankees Championship Team Signed Photo (PSA/DNA and JSA)

Pre-War Baseball:
1886 McLoughlin Baseball Game
High grade 1887 Chicago Baseball Currency
AJ Reach Signed Letter to Harry Wright
Outstanding selection of high-grade T206 Hall-of-Famers, including: Chief Bender Portrait (PSA 8), Walter Johnson Portrait (PSA 7), and Christy Mathewson Portrait (SGC 84)
Finest PSA graded 1910 D322 Tip Top (Owen Wilson – NM 7)
Rare E90-3 American Caramel Solly “Hofnlan” error
An amazing selection of finest known 1911 PE2 Diamond Gum Pins, including: Napoleon Lajoie (PSA 7), Honus Wagner (PSA 7), and Christy Mathewson (PSA 8)
Several highest graded T205 Gold Borders, including: Mordecai Brown (SGC 88), and Eddie Collins – Mouth Closed (SGC 88)
A spectacular selection of 45 different high-quality, PSA graded, 1912 T202 Triplefolders, including: the rarest card in the set – Mathewson/Too Late For Devlin/Devlin (Rustlers) in EX-MT 6, and the most popular card in the set – Jennings/Ty Cobb Steals Third/Ty Cobb in NM 7
1939 Play Ball Ted Williams (SGC 92)
1940 Play Ball Joe Jackson (SGC 92)

Post-War Baseball:
1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson (SGC 88)
1949 Bowman Roy Campanella (SGC 96)
1952 Bowman Mickey Mantle (SGC 92)
1953 Bowman Mickey Mantle (PSA 8.5)
1953 Bowman Stan Musial (SGC 96)
1953 Topps Satchel Paige (SGC 92)
1954 Dan Dee Potato Chips Mickey Mantle (SGC 88)
1954 Red Heart Mickey Mantle (SGC 96)
1954 Red Man #1 Richie Ashburn (PSA 9)
1955 Red Man #1 Richie Ashburn (PSA 9)
1955 Topps Roberto Clemente (PSA 8)
An outstanding variety of 49 different 1957 Topps in PSA 9
1959 Topps Duke Snider (PSA 10)
1967 Topps Roger Maris Yankees Blank Back Proof (SGC 84)

Other Sports:
1891 McLoughlin Football Game
1935 National Chicle Knute Rockne (SGC 88)
1951 Parkhurst Gordie Howe (SGC 84)
1933 Sport Kings Joseph Lopchick (PSA 8)
circa 1860 to 1870 CD Fredericks & Co. CDV of boxer John Heenan (SGC Authentic) – regarded as the first boxing card
1893 N266 Red Cross Tobacco boxing near set of 23/24 cards
1910 T223 Dixie Queen John L Sullivan (SGC 80)
1910 T223 Dixie Queen boxing near set of 47/50 cards
Several SGC graded 1951 Topps Ringside two-card panels, including: #49/90 Bob Murphy/Barrone (NM+ 86)
1951 Topps Ringside boxing complete PSA and SGC graded set
1900 Cope Brothers & Co. golf cards complete SGC graded set

Non-Sports:
A spectacular selection of 34 different, PSA graded NM-MT 8 or better, 1938 Horrors of War cards. Included are several Pop 1 NM-MT 8 and MINT 9 examples, and the highest graded copy of card #286 Chamberlain Meets Hitler (NM-MT+ 8.5).
Several different low population, PSA graded MINT 9, 1959 Fleer Three Stooges cards.

Full color catalogs are available free of charge, either by calling Legacy at (231) 922-8037, or through their website at www.legacyrarities.com. Online registration can also be done at www.legacyrarities.com.

Many of the lots will be on display at the Legacy Sports Rarities booth at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland, Ohio from July 28 to August 2. Additionally, lots are available to be viewed in person at Legacy’s Traverse City, Michigan office. Viewing is by appointment only and anyone interested should call (231) 922-8037.

Legacy’s owner, Greg Bussineau, comments: “I’m very pleased with the wide variety of outstanding pieces we’ve assembled for this sale. In particular, the 19th Century baseball card rarities, the PE2 Diamond Gum Pins, the T202 Triplefolders, the early boxing issues and the selection of 1938 Horrors of War really stand out. Additionally, the newly discovered 1927 New York Yankees Championship Team Signed Photo is simply amazing. I’ve never seen a finer Lou Gehrig signature.”

Legacy’s next auction is scheduled for late 2009 / early 2010. Consignments for the sale are currently being accepted. Anyone interested in consigning items to the auction should call Greg Bussineau at (231) 922-8037.