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Historic Pelé soccer collection up for bid at Heritage
When 17-year-old forward Edson Arantes do Nascimento led Brazil to its first World Cup title in 1958, it marked the arrival of the greatest player in soccer history.
Arantes do Nascimento, more widely known as Pelé, scored two goals in the 1958 World Cup Finals against Sweden to launch his magnificent and historic career.
Sixty-five years later, The Pelé Collection is up for bid as the centerpiece of the Spring Sports Catalog Auction at Heritage Auctions that closes May 11-13.
“This is an extraordinary representation of Pelé's remarkable career, featuring some of his rarest soccer trading cards and memorabilia from his personal collection,” Heritage Director of Sports Auctions Chris Ivy said. “Pelé spent his entire career amazing, amassing fans worldwide for the sport he loved.”
The Pelè Collection features rare trading cards from his career, as well as memorabilia that features his autograph alongside other sports legends. Each item was signed by Pelè during a signing session just weeks before his death in December.
The collection features nearly every trading card from his career, which were rare during his playing days, including his coveted 1958 Aquarela Ltda rookie card. Other key cards up for bid include a rare 1958-59 Tupinamba Ltda Quigol card and the 1970 Panini Mexico 70, his first Panini World Cup card.
Each card is signed with autograph grades of 9 and 10 from experts at PSA/DNA who witnessed the signing. The auction features more than 100 cards, including several signed copies that are the only known autographed examples.
The collection also features signed soccer sticker albums featuring Pelè from the 1950s and 60s, including a 1958 Quigol Album and the 1958 "Brazil Campeao Mundial de Futebol" issue celebrating Brazil's first World Cup victory. It also features several autographed photos, including one of his 1968 meeting with Queen Elizabeth, as well as signed programs and pennants.
The collection also features several memorabilia items featuring Pelè’s autograph as well as signatures from other sports icons, including: a Brazilian National Team jersey signed by Pelé and Ronaldo; a Barcelona FC jersey where Pelé's signature joins that of phenom Neymar; and this gorgeous Maradona Opus book produced in 2005 to celebrate the career of Diego Maradona, the only known edition signed by both legends of the sport.
Also up for bid are items from Pele’s North American soccer career with the New York Cosmos, including several that features autographs of other iconic sports legends, including: his autograph alongside Muhammad Ali's in The Greatest's autobiography; a football signed by both Pelé and another New York legend, Joe Namath; and a boxing glove signed by Pelé and another young champion, Mike Tyson.
The collection in the May auction is the first offering from Pelè’s personal collection. Additional items will be featured in upcoming auctions at Heritage.
