: Collectibles auction house MastroNet, Inc. recently set a new
multiconsignment sports and Americana auction record, according
to the gallery.
At $11.6 million, the passed the existing auction record,
previously set by the gallery, by nearly $1.5 million. In
addition, several items set individual record prices.
Prior to the auction, William Mastro, chief executive officer of
MastroNet, speculated that the DiMaggio streak bat, specific lots
pertaining to George Washington and a huge find of unopened wax
packs would attract substantial auction attention. Those
speculations proved right on the money.
The selling price of $345,596 made the 1941 Joe DiMaggio streak
bat the second most expensive bat in history. New York Yankee
Tommy Henrich put this legendary bat away in an attic more than
60 years ago. Soon after, Henrich married and forgot about the
bat his friend and teammate DiMaggio had given him as a gift to
commemorate DiMaggio's record-breaking 1941 56-game hitting
streak. More than six decades later, the bat came out swinging at
auction. One of three bats used in the streak, the remarkable
piece of lumber received 27 bids, and was purchased by Hille-rich
& Bradsby, manufacturers of the Louisville Slugger.
Part of an unprecedented wax pack find, an unopened 1952 Topps
baseball five-cent wax box (24 packs) created an auction buzz
right from the start. A total of 32 bids were placed and the
final price tag was $208,740, setting an auction record.
A George Washington three-page letter on the subject of raising
troops for the first major battle of the Revolutionary War, sent
on August 8, 1776, sold for $185,463.
Setting new auction records, were a 1909-11 T206 white border
Honus Wagner baseball card, $109,639; a 1915 Babe Ruth rookie
card, $109,639; and a 1954-55 Topps Hockey five-cent wax box with
19 packs, $85,531.
....and a 1915 Babe Ruth rookie card.
Other auction results included: Gem Mint 1933 Gou-dey Sport
Kings #1 Ty Cobb card, $81,812; 1953 unopened five-cent wax packs
(15 packs), $75,775; 1959 Topps baseball five-cent wax box (33
packs), $63,823; George Washington's hair accompanied by original
figural presentation box and his personal wooden ring, $58,139;
1903 World Series program, $58,140; 1794 Liberty Cap large cent,
$48,048; 1799 draped bust heraldic eagle dollar, $38,706; 1962
Topps "Civil War News" five-cent wax box (30 packs), $31,189; 1956
Topps Elvis Presley five-cent wax box (24 packs), $25,775; 1816
Paul Revere autographed receipt, $25,775; rare 1864 Lincoln/
Johnson campaign jugate shield, $24,616; and a 1920 Cox/Roosevelt
campaign jugate pinback, $24,032.
Unopened wax packs represented many of the auction's top lots. In
addition to those already mentioned, here are a few more: 1965/66
Topps hockey five-cent wax packs (33 packs), $43,172; 1957/58
Topps hockey five-cent wax box (31 packs), $41,515; 1961-62 Fleer
basketball wax box (24 packs), $34,310; 1961-62 Topps hockey
five-cent wax box (17 packs), $24,108; 1963 Topps five-cent wax
box (36 packs), $23,431; 1967-1982 O-Pee-Chee wax box hoard (14
boxes), $19,861; 1954 Topps baseball unopened five-cent packs
(5), $18,307; 1959 Fleer Ted Williams unopened five-cent wax box
(24 packs), $17,603; and 1955 Topps "Double Header" one-cent wax
box (89 packs), $13,606.
Prices reported include 15 percent buyer's premium.
