Honus Wagner T206, Other Baseball Card Rarities in Heritage Auction One of the most famous of all baseball collectibles, a 1909-era Honus Wagner card is among the fabulous array of vintage sports trading cards and memorabilia offered by Heritage Auction Galleries
News-Antique.com - Apr 15,2008 - Dallas, TX : One of the most famous of all baseball collectibles, a 1909-era Honus Wagner card, is among the fabulous array of vintage sports trading cards and memorabilia offered by Heritage Auction Galleries in their Signature Auction in Dallas, Texas and online, May 2 and 3, 2008.
"This will certainly be the 'can't miss' auction of the season for the serious card collector," explained Chris Ivy, Director of Sports Collectibles Auctions for Heritage. "From the rarest and most coveted tobacco cards to outrageously high-grade bubble gum sets, there is something to excite even the most seasoned hobbyist."
First to draw the hobby's attention is the fabled Honus Wagner T206, graded SGC 10. And Ivy notes that all three of the toughest cards from this beloved set are available within the auction. "Eddie Plank and the Magee error card establish this as one of the few auctions in history to feature all three of these T206's."
Equally thrilling for the advanced hobbyist is one of the few surviving specimens of the 1869 Peck & Snyder Cincinnati Red Stockings trade card, recognized by many as the first baseball card ever produced. "Fewer than ten examples have reached the auction block in the past decade," noted Ivy, "and this example is authenticated by the experts at PSA."
Another source of recent hobby gossip is the incredible "Arkansas Find" of Mint PM1 pins, including a never before seen Chief Bender specimen. "These pins are simply never seen in the flawless condition of this find," explained Ivy. "Even the original mounting cards are here, still attached to the pins. It's safe to say you'll never see PM1's like this again."
Set collectors are not forgotten either, with fabulous complete or near sets of T206, 1952 Topps, 1933 Goudey and numerous high-grade Topps sets among the highlights.
"Magnificent game used artifacts once again headline the offerings from the memorabilia portion of the sale," noted Ivy, referencing rookie jerseys from Hall of Famers "Pistol Pete" Maravich and Albert "Red" Schoendienst among the highlights.
"Both rookie jerseys are thought to be the only surviving examples, with each in stunning, unaltered condition," Ivy explained. "Other gamers from Hall of Fame legends include Freddie Lindstrom, Bob Gibson, Willie Mays, Duke Snider, Gordie Howe and Michael Jordan, to name a few."
"Though lacking Hall of Fame credentials, early Philadelphia Athletics star T. Frederick 'Topsy' Hartsel provides some fireworks of his own," Ivy said, "with his 1910 World Series trophy and game worn jersey consigned to the auction by his family."
Autograph collectors will find some of the hobby's greatest rarities within the pages of this auction catalog. "Two incredible personal collections, one of 1930's and 1940's government postcards, and the other Hall of Fame plaques, feature all of the greatest names of the era," asserted Ivy. Fan favorites like Ruth, Gehrig, Foxx and Ott are joined by the scarcely seen Jesse Burkett, Christy Mathewson and Bobby Wallace.
A collection of artifacts consigned by Joe Montana's high school sweetheart and first
