Chester, NJ - May 20, 2024 - Set building was a central theme among the top sellers in REA’s May Encore Auction, as a trio of complete and near-complete classic baseball sets from the 1950s led the way. The highest-selling lot was a 1958 Topps near-complete set (493/494) ranked #13 on the PSA Set Registry (8.00 GPA), which sold for $126,000. It was followed by a 1957 Topps complete set ranked #24 on the PSA Set Registry (8.00 GPA) and a 1959 Topps complete set ranked #29 on the PSA Set Registry (8.01 GPA), which sold for $99,000 and $72,000, respectively.
One of the most highly-anticipated items in the event was a 1909-1911 T206 Ty Cobb Bat Off Shoulder PSA FAIR 1.5 with an extremely rare Uzit Back that sold for $54,000, a new record for the grade and back combo. A 1933 R319 Goudey #53 Babe Ruth PSA VG-EX 4 also set a new record for the grade, selling for $30,000.
The event included more than 3,600 items, generating nearly $1.8 million in sales across more than 63,000 bids.
Other top sellers in REA’s May Auction included:
1955 Topps #164 Roberto Clemente Rookie PSA NM-MT 8 - $52,800
1954 Topps #128 Hank Aaron Rookie PSA NM-MT 8 - $36,000
1907 Wolverine News Postcard Ty Cobb Portrait Rookie SGC FAIR 1.5 - $29,400
1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle Rookie PSA EX 5 - $25,200
1933 R319 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth PSA VG-EX+ 4.5 - $24,600
1955 Topps #123 Sandy Koufax Rookie PSA NM-MT 8 - $24,600
1954 Topps #94 Ernie Banks Rookie PSA NM-MT 8 - $24,000
1933 R319 Goudey #181 Babe Ruth PSA VG+ 3.5 - $15,600
1951 Bowman #1 Whitey Ford Rookie PSA NM-MT 8 - $14,400
“There were a lot of very strong results in this auction, which underscored a few of the key trends unfolding across the hobby right now, including the resurgence of high-grade set building,” said REA President Brian Dwyer. “This is a very positive sign of great things to come in our upcoming events and the industry as a whole.”
Next up on REA’s schedule will be its June Encore Auction that opens on June 13, followed by its blockbuster Summer Catalog Auction that launches on July 23 and coincides with the 44th annual National Sports Collectors Convention, where REA will be at Booth #6032. You can request a catalog for the much-anticipated Summer Auction.
You can see REA’s upcoming auction schedule and read about different consignor stories from previous and upcoming REA auctions on its website.
About Robert Edward Auctions
Robert Edward Auctions (REA) is one of the leading auction houses in the US specializing in sports and non-sports cards and memorabilia. For more than 30 years, REA has established a reputation as the industry benchmark through its unparalleled and unwavering commitment to integrity, knowledge and transparency. The Company has brokered some of the most lucrative sales and handled some of the most coveted pieces of sports memorabilia in the hobby’s history, including the historic sales of the 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth rookie card for $7.2 million in December 2023 and the T206 Honus Wagner card for $6.6 million in August 2021, a record-setting price at the time. In July 2023, the company acquired Huggins & Scott Auctions. For more information, visit https://robertedwardauctions.com/ and follow REA on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. You can also contact us and request our auction catalog by emailing [email protected].
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