Mike ‘King’ Kelly, classic pre-war cards highlight May auction at REA

The May Encore Auction at Robert Edward Auctions features more than 4,000 items spanning a wide range of eras and players from 1887-2019, or as REA says, “from Mike ‘King’ Kelly to Fernando Tatis Jr.”

The auction is headlined by a large selection of classic vintage cards, including more than 760 cards from the legendary T206 “Monster” set and 126 cards from all eras graded GEM MINT 10.

1933 R319 Goudey #53 Babe Ruth SGC EX 5 Image courtesy of REA

“This will be our largest auction of the year so far and it spans the earliest days of the hobby to a number of popular modern items,” REA President Brian Dwyer said. “We’ve seen steady growth both in the volume of bidders and in the overall breadth of items we’re offering, which is a tremendous sign for the hobby.”

Among the T206 cards are a 1909-1911 White Border Hooks Wiltse (PSA VG 3) Brown Lenox Back, a rare card within the popular pre-war set.

Also See: Rare classic Babe Ruth photo brings record sale at SCP

Other early classic cards include a 1888 N28 Allen & Ginter Mike "King" Kelly (PSA VG 3) from one of the earliest trading card sets ever released. Kelly, a Hall of Famer, starred for the Boston Beaneaters.

1941 R336 Play Ball #71 Joe DiMaggio SGC NM MT 8 Image courtesy of REA

Also featured is a 1909-1913 M101-2 Sporting News Supplements Ty Cobb card from a set issued by Sporting News around 1909 and one of the rarest pieces among early Cobb collectibles.

Also highlighting the auction is a 1911 T3 Turkey Red #39 Rube Waddell (SGC VG 4) from the T3 Turkey Red series with the checklist offer back featuring one of baseball’s most unique players.

Also See: The Marshall Fogel Collection

1888 N28 Allen & Ginter Mike King Kelly PSA VG 3 Card Image courtesy of REA

Other notable items include:

• 1941 R336 Play Ball #71 Joe DiMaggio (SGC NM/MT 8). Only two examples have been graded higher by SGC.

• 1933 Goudey #92 Lou Gehrig (SGC NM 7).

• 1933 R319 Goudey #53 Babe Ruth (SGC EX 5). The most elusive of the four ‘33 Goudey Ruth cards.

• 1996-1997 Topps Chrome Basketball factory-sealed unopened box (20 Packs) featuring the Kobe Bryant Rookie Year card and rookie cards of Bryant, Allen Iverson, Ray Allen and Steve Nash.

1996-1997 Topps Chrome Basketball Factory Sealed Unopened Box (20 Packs) Image courtesy of REA

• 1967-1968 Topps Hockey #92 Bobby Orr (SGC MINT 9). Orr’s second-year card is the highest graded by SGC.

• 1968 Topps #110 Hank Aaron (SGC MINT 9). SGC has only graded one higher out of 1,121 examples.

• 1981 Topps Football unopened cello box (24 Packs, BBCE). One of the most coveted sets of the 1980s features rookie cards of legends Joe Montana, Art Monk, Kellen Winslow and Dan Hampton.

• Connor McDavid and Alex Ovechkin Upper Deck Rookies (PSA GEM MINT 10

• Signed flats from Roberto Clemente (PSA/DNA), Ty Cobb (JSA) and Honus Wagner (PSA/DNA). A 1921 Honus Wagner-signed check; a 1952 Ty Cobb-signed check; and a Roberto Clemente cut signature.