REA’s May Encore Auction, held on a recent Sunday night, saw record-breaking sales and a showcase of vintage baseball sets and pre-war rarities. Collectors flocked to the auction, particularly showing interest in classic baseball sets from the 1950s, indicating a thriving trend in high-grade set building within the collectibles market.
One of the standout sales of the auction was a 1958 Topps near-complete set, missing only one card, which fetched an impressive $126,000. Ranked #13 on the PSA Set Registry with a GPA of 8.00, this set exemplifies the impeccable standards collectors aim for in such compilations. Following closely behind was a 1957 Topps complete set, ranked #24 on the PSA Set Registry with a GPA of 8.00, selling for $99,000. Additionally, a 1959 Topps complete set, ranked #29 on the PSA Set Registry with a GPA of 8.01, was sold for $72,000.
The auction also shone a spotlight on pre-war rarities, attracting significant attention and setting new records. A 1909-1911 T206 Ty Cobb Bat Off Shoulder card with the rare Uzit Back, graded PSA FAIR 1.5, fetched $54,000, setting a new record for its grade and back combination. Another notable sale was a 1933 R319 Goudey #53 Babe Ruth card, selling for $30,000, a record price for its grade of VG-EX 4.
With over 3,600 items going under the hammer, the auction generated nearly $1.8 million in sales from over 63,000 bids. Some of the other top-selling items included a 1955 Topps #164 Roberto Clemente Rookie card, PSA NM-MT 8, which went for $52,800, and a 1954 Topps #128 Hank Aaron Rookie card, PSA NM-MT 8, selling for $36,000. A 1907 Wolverine News Postcard featuring a Ty Cobb Portrait Rookie, SGC FAIR 1.5, garnered $29,400, while Mickey Mantle’s 1951 Bowman #253 Rookie card, PSA EX 5, fetched $25,200.
Further top sellers included a 1933 R319 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth card, PSA VG-EX+ 4.5, and a 1955 Topps #123 Sandy Koufax Rookie card, PSA NM-MT 8, each sold for $24,600, a 1954 Topps #94 Ernie Banks Rookie card, PSA NM-MT 8, bringing in $24,000, and an unopened wax box of 1980-1981 Topps Basketball cards featuring Larry Bird and Magic Johnson rookies, which sold for $17,400. A 1933 R319 Goudey #181 Babe Ruth card, PSA VG+ 3.5, fetched $15,600, while a 1951 Bowman #1 Whitey Ford Rookie card, PSA NM-MT 8, was purchased for $14,400.
REA President Brian Dwyer expressed his delight at the auction’s success, emphasizing the robust results and the resurgence of interest in high-grade set building. Dwyer shared his positive outlook for upcoming events and the industry as a whole, hinting at great things to come.
Looking ahead, REA is preparing for its June Encore Auction, commencing on June 13, followed by the larger Summer Catalog Auction starting on July 23. Coinciding with the 44th annual National Sports Collectors Convention, REA will be prominently present at Booth #6032, promising more exciting finds and auctions in the near future.
