T206 Honus Wagner Card Helps Company Set Record
Rich Mueller
May 09, 2008
Heritage Auction Galleries realized $3,683,484 for 877 lots sold in its latest auction of vintage and rare sports memorabilia, although after-auction sales are still ongoing and could push the total even higher.
"Any potential consignors concerned that the stormy U.S. economic climate might throw a shadow over the collectibles market should have had those fears eliminated by this event," noted Chris Ivy, Director of Sports Auctions for Heritage. "In both trading cards and memorabilia we saw estimates obliterated in some of the fiercest bidding wars we've ever witnessed."
As expected, the top price of the auction was paid for ownership of the Honus Wagner T206, considered the most important trading card in the hobby. "While any Wagner is tremendously desirable," explained Ivy, "this example was admittedly low-grade, with heavy creasing and ink stains on the verso. Yet the price realized of $227,050 surpassed that of several superior examples sold in recent years. And the T206 Plank posted a result of $77,675, nearly doubling the prices realized for the same grade examples that have sold at auction over the past several years."
While card prices were highly impressive across all disciplines, Ivy pointed to candy cards as arguably the hottest of them all. "The 1910 E93 Standard Caramel Honus Wagner PSA NM 7 realized $20,315," said Ivy, "and the 1911 E94 Close Candy Ty Cobb PSA EX 5 closed at $17,925. Each of these prices marks the highest ever achieved for the cards' respective grades at auction."
The pre-auction buzz surrounding the incredible "Arkansas Find" of PM1 pins proved to be justified as well, as the grouping of nine realized an astonishing $109,940 in total.
Yet again, it was game worn jerseys that anchored the memorabilia portion of the Signature auction, with Duke Snider's 1958 Los Angeles Dodgers jersey and "Pistol Pete" Maravich's rookie shirt realizing $65,725 and $50,788 respectively. Ivy also pointed to strong results for Bob Gibson and Freddie Lindstrom gamers, saying "Hall of Fame flannels provided some of the biggest fireworks of the auction session."
Autograph collectors likewise turned out in force, providing magnificent prices throughout the auction. "The incredible Jackie Robinson letter announcing his retirement garnered $22,705," noted Ivy, "and a Babe Ruth signed bat climbed even higher, to $28,680." Ivy also referenced the price of $22,705 for a Hall of Fame plaque signed by Jesse Burkett, "by far the highest price ever paid for a single autographed Artvue postcard in sports auction history."
"Any potential consignors concerned that the stormy U.S. economic climate might throw a shadow over the collectibles market should have had those fears eliminated by this event," noted Chris Ivy, Director of Sports Auctions for Heritage. "In both trading cards and memorabilia we saw estimates obliterated in some of the fiercest bidding wars we've ever witnessed."
As expected, the top price of the auction was paid for ownership of the Honus Wagner T206, considered the most important trading card in the hobby. "While any Wagner is tremendously desirable," explained Ivy, "this example was admittedly low-grade, with heavy creasing and ink stains on the verso. Yet the price realized of $227,050 surpassed that of several superior examples sold in recent years. And the T206 Plank posted a result of $77,675, nearly doubling the prices realized for the same grade examples that have sold at auction over the past several years."
While card prices were highly impressive across all disciplines, Ivy pointed to candy cards as arguably the hottest of them all. "The 1910 E93 Standard Caramel Honus Wagner PSA NM 7 realized $20,315," said Ivy, "and the 1911 E94 Close Candy Ty Cobb PSA EX 5 closed at $17,925. Each of these prices marks the highest ever achieved for the cards' respective grades at auction."
The pre-auction buzz surrounding the incredible "Arkansas Find" of PM1 pins proved to be justified as well, as the grouping of nine realized an astonishing $109,940 in total.
Yet again, it was game worn jerseys that anchored the memorabilia portion of the Signature auction, with Duke Snider's 1958 Los Angeles Dodgers jersey and "Pistol Pete" Maravich's rookie shirt realizing $65,725 and $50,788 respectively. Ivy also pointed to strong results for Bob Gibson and Freddie Lindstrom gamers, saying "Hall of Fame flannels provided some of the biggest fireworks of the auction session."
Autograph collectors likewise turned out in force, providing magnificent prices throughout the auction. "The incredible Jackie Robinson letter announcing his retirement garnered $22,705," noted Ivy, "and a Babe Ruth signed bat climbed even higher, to $28,680." Ivy also referenced the price of $22,705 for a Hall of Fame plaque signed by Jesse Burkett, "by far the highest price ever paid for a single autographed Artvue postcard in sports auction history."
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