Robert Edward Auctions (REA) hit a home run with its March Encore sale, notching record-breaking sales in the vintage card market. The spotlight of the auction was on a 1933 V353 World Wide Gum Canadian Goudey #80 Babe Ruth card, which fetched an impressive $32,400, setting a new benchmark for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Among the standout sales were a 1911 E94 George Close Candy Ty Cobb in SGC POOR 1 condition and a 1909-1911 T206 White Border Ty Cobb Bat Off Shoulder in PSA EX 5 with a Tolstoi Back, which sold for $28,000 and $27,600, respectively. These transactions set new records and added to the excitement of the auction, which featured over 3,300 lots and generated a total of over $1.3 million through nearly 66,000 bids.
Notable highlights from the auction included a 1976 Topps #500 Reggie Jackson in PSA GEM MINT 10 condition, which fetched an impressive $30,000, a 1980-1981 Topps Basketball Larry Bird/Magic Johnson Rookie in PSA MINT 9 condition for $25,200, and a 1948-1949 Leaf #79 Jackie Robinson Rookie in PSA VG+ 3.5 condition for $23,400.
The auction also saw a 1911 M110 Sporting Life Cabinet Honus Wagner in PSA GOOD 2 (MK) condition and a 1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle Rookie in SGC GOOD+ 2.5 condition sell for $14,400 each, marking significant additions to collectors’ prized possessions.
Rare items were not left behind, with an Extremely Rare 1921 Schapira Bros. Candy Babe Ruth box part and an 1888 N28 Allen & Ginter John Clarkson in PSA EX-MT 6 condition fetching $10,800 and $8,100, respectively. These unique finds set new records and showcased the diversity of offerings at the auction.
Further records were shattered by a Billy Southworth Single-Signed Baseball, a 1909-1911 T206 White Border Cy Young Portrait in PSA POOR 1 condition with a Brown Hindu Back selling for $7,500, and a 1934 R320 Goudey #37 Lou Gehrig in SGC GOOD+ 2.5 condition going for $5,280. Each of these items added a touch of history and nostalgia to the proceedings.
REA’s President, Brian Dwyer, expressed his delight at the auction’s success, emphasizing the strength of the vintage market and setting an optimistic tone for the upcoming Spring Catalog Auction. With a string of new records set and collectors eager to add to their collections, the vintage card market continues to thrive, making each auction a must-watch event for enthusiasts around the world.
