Clean Sweep’s Tobacco Treasures

Clean Sweep Auctions opens 2011 with what company president Steve Verkman describes as, “one of our most balanced auctions ever, with extremely high-quality material from the worlds of cards, autographs and memorabilia, covering all of the major sports.”

The auction begins with a solid run of baseball card sets and lots. Highlights include an Old Judge Brownie’s Champions set, a 1907 Dietsche Tigers Set, a 1933 DeLong set, a 1934 Goudey set set and better condition examples of many of the Topps and Bowman issues from 1950 through 1972.

Individual baseball cards come next, and this is one of the absolute high points of this auction. Clean Sweep acquired two fairly significant and fresh collections of Old Judges. These are spread out over 22 lots to allow for maximum bidder participation. There are some attractive HOFers, many scarce teams and many 10-card lots for collectors.

“We devoted our cover design to the featured item in this auction, a stunning collection of the lovely T204 Ramly issue,” said Verkman. These are among the most condition-sensitive and sought-after issues of this era. The cards in this auction were from a set purchased decades ago, with some truly extraordinary cards. This is anchored by a superb Walter Johnson in a PSA 5 holder, one of the hobby’s key cards. There are many Ex-Mt 6s, including HOFers. “We normally are not much into population reports, but as these cards are so special, the PSA population is noted for each card where relevant,” Verkman noted.

There are also two other very significant cards that need to be mentioned: a 1911 T3 Ty Cobb in an SGC 5.5 holder and a 1933 Goudey Nap Lajoie in a PSA 2 MK.

In addition, there is a wide selection of prewar graded cards, including a 1932 U.S. Caramel Lou Gehrig PSA 6. Verkman said the auction also features Clean Sweep’s largest selection ever of 1960s Topps cards and related issues. In particular, there are a large number of Mint 9 singles and also a very high-grade 1969 Topps Super set (all PSA 8-10) offered as singles, all with opening bids well below the SMR.

The auction also features some truly special baseball autograph items that rarely come around, including a signed 1972 Topps Roberto Clemente card, a Joe Kelley 3-by-5 cut, a great 1940s Brooklyn Dodgers signed book with 57 signatures, a 1975 Carl Yastrzemski contract, a Harry Wright handwritten telegram with great content, a 1924 World Series program signed by John McGraw and Bucky Harris, a Hack Wilson check, seven different Babe Ruth signed items (including a 3-by-5 in a PSA 10 holder), and several items signed by Lou Gehrig and Thurman Munson. There is also a very substantial collection of the highest-quality items from the late 1990s Yankees.

Football collectors can choose among fresh sets of 1934 National Chicle, 1948 and 1949 Leaf, among others. Football
autographs include a very rare Walter Kiesling check. Collectors of hockey cards will see complete early C55 and C57 sets, a 1934 Ice King set and the 1951-2 and 1952-3 Parkhurst sets.

The also auction features what Verkman describes as a wonderful selection of early pins, including several Cameo Pepsins, Stenzel’s Rooters and much more. Also notable is a Mickey Mantle World Series home run full ticket collection, a Roger Maris 61st home run ticket and scorecard, a circa 1970 Willie Mays game-used hat and related equipment collection and Derek Jeter game-used cleats from 1996.

Autographed baseballs conclude the auction, including a superb early- to mid-1920s Babe Ruth in quotes single-signed baseball, a very rare Hugh Casey single-signed ball, a great 1924-25 Yankees team ball with Ty Cobb and many high-quality Yankees and other team balls from the 1940’s through 2004.

For more information, go to www.csauctions.com, or call (516) 338-8557. The auction is currently online and closes on Feb. 2.