Robert Edward Auctions reported several records were achieved at
the gallery's April 30 auction of baseball cards and memorabilia.
A Fashion Course trophy ball sold for $498,800, approximately
three times the previous record for any trophy ball ever sold.
A 1914 Babe Ruth rookie card issued by The Baltimore News,
graded VG-EX by PSA, realized $243,600, above the previous record
of $79,500, which makes the card the second most valuable
baseball card in the world.
A 1910 Joe Jackson Old Mill Tobacco card, with previous auction
record price of $15,000, sold for $92,800.
The sale was the most successful auction in Robert Edward
Auctions' 35-year history. Bidders from Europe, Japan and Hong
Kong placed more than 19,000 bids. More than 99 percent of the
lots sold via fax, telephone, on Robert Edward's website and on
eBay. The 1,525 lots of 1822-1975 cards and memorabilia generated
$7.1 million in sales, with total prices realized over 50 percent
above the high-end estimate of the sale. More than 200,000
different collectors viewed the auction catalog. The lots offered
were won by 613 different bidders.
A 1911 S81 Tobacco Silk complete uncut sheet, $197,200.
"We had substantial museum and institutional participation in
this sale, due to the historical significance of some of the items
offered," reports gallery president Robert Lifson. "All areas of
the auction received tremendous response and very strong prices."
Additional highlights include a 1917-1921 era Babe Ruth bat,
$116,000; an S81 Tobacco Silk uncut sheet, $197,200; a 1915
Cracker Jack of Joe Jackson, graded EX-MT 6 by PSA, $37,700, a
record price; and an 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings CDV, $26,100,
a record.
Two 1886 N167 Old Judges (Connor and Ewing) sold for $43,500
each, more than doubling previous auction records; a 1910 tobacco
card rarity T206 Eddie Plank, graded EX 5 by PSA, reached
$52,200; 1 1912 L1 Leather of Walter Johnson sold for $22,040;
and a 1914 "Texas Tommy" baseball card of Walter Johnson made
$15,080.
Two 1933 Goudey uncut sheets of 24 cards brought $31,900 each;
Christy Mathewson's personal checkers manual garnered $26,100, a
record for a checkers manual; an 1863 "Union Prisoners at
Salisbury" print brought a record $46,400; the 1889 World Tour
Trophy Baseball realized $31,900; and an 1867 "Base Ball
Quadrille" sheet music sold for $9,280.
Boston Garter advertising display sign, 1912, $26,100.
An 1888 Washington Joseph Hall Team cabinet card, including
Connie Mack as a player reached a record $18,560; an 1894
Pittsburgh BBC schedule poster brought $17,400; a set of three 1910
Tuxedo Tobacco advertising signs featuring Christy Mathewson,
Walter Johnson and John McGraw sold for $52,200; a 1912 Boston
Garter advertising poster brought a record $26,100; and a 1967
Ernie Banks Chicago Cubs reached $22,040.
A 1940 Ted Williams jersey fetched $34,800; a 1911-1916 Eddie
Collins side written bat was hammered down for more than double
its previous record price at $37,700; an Augusta National Masters
jacket fetched $37,700; a 1909-1911 T206 Walter Johnson, graded
Mint 9 by PSA, fetched $37,700; and a 1916 M101-4 of Babe Ruth,
graded EX-MT by PSA, sold for $23,200.
For information, 908-226-9900.
