Robert Edward Auctions (REA) recently made waves in the vintage sports card market with its March Encore sale, breaking several records along the way. The auction, featuring a plethora of rare and highly sought-after items, saw collectors and enthusiasts alike vying for the chance to own a piece of sports history.
One of the standout moments of the auction was the sale of a 1933 V353 World Wide Gum Canadian Goudey #80 Babe Ruth card in PSA EX-NM 6 condition, fetching an impressive $32,400. This remarkable price tag set the tone for the rest of the auction, which went on to generate a total of over $1.3 million from more than 3,300 lots.
Not to be outdone, other notable sales included a 1911 E94 George Close Candy Ty Cobb in SGC POOR 1 condition, which sold for $28,000, and a 1909-1911 T206 White Border Ty Cobb Bat Off Shoulder in PSA EX 5 with a Tolstoi Back, garnering $27,600. Both of these sales set new records in their respective categories, further cementing the auction’s reputation as a milestone event in the world of sports memorabilia.
The impressive array of items up for bidding attracted nearly 66,000 bids from collectors eager to add key pieces to their collections. In addition to the aforementioned highlights, other items that drew considerable attention included a 1976 Topps #500 Reggie Jackson card in PSA GEM MINT 10 condition, which sold for $30,000, a 1980-1981 Topps Basketball Larry Bird/Magic Johnson Rookie card in PSA MINT 9 condition for $25,200, and a 1948-1949 Leaf #79 Jackie Robinson Rookie card in PSA VG+ 3.5 condition, which fetched $23,400.
Fans of baseball legends were also treated to the sales of a 1911 M110 Sporting Life Cabinet Honus Wagner in PSA GOOD 2 (MK) condition and a 1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle Rookie card in SGC GOOD+ 2.5 condition, each selling for $14,400 and capturing the attention of avid collectors.
The auction was not only about cards but also featured rare memorabilia such as an Extremely Rare 1921 Schapira Bros. Candy Babe Ruth box part, which sold for $10,800, and an 1888 N28 Allen & Ginter John Clarkson card in PSA EX-MT 6 condition, which fetched $8,100, setting new records in their categories.
Other notable sales that rounded out the successful auction included a Billy Southworth Single-Signed Baseball, a 1909-1911 T206 White Border Cy Young Portrait card in PSA POOR 1 (Brown Hindu Back) condition for $7,500, and a 1934 R320 Goudey #37 Lou Gehrig card in SGC GOOD+ 2.5 condition, selling for $5,280.
Brian Dwyer, the President of REA, expressed his satisfaction with the auction results, citing them as a testament to the strong demand and interest in vintage sports memorabilia. The success of the March Encore sale has set an optimistic tone for the upcoming Spring Catalog Auction, leaving collectors eagerly anticipating what treasures REA will bring to the market next.
