This month, Heritage Auctions is set to unveil a truly remarkable assemblage of baseball cards from a South American collector. The collection, spanning the years 1959 to 1968, consists of 117 lots of Venezuelan Topps baseball cards. With over 1,200 cards in total, this collection stands apart not only for its vastness but also for its exceptional standard of preservation.
These Venezuelan Topps cards, produced in collaboration with South American printing company Benco, capture the essence of an era in baseball history. They are rare gems today, as most surviving examples bear the scars of time. However, this collection defies the norm with its superior condition, making it a truly treasured find.
Topps’ Venezuelan issue made its debut in 1959, mirroring the first two series of their regular set. Produced exclusively for the South American audience in limited quantities, these cards are highly sought-after by collectors today. The decade-long initiative culminated in the 1968 Venezuelan series, which yielded some of the most elusive and coveted baseball cards in Topps’ storied history.
One immediately notices the distinguishing features of the Venezuelan Topps cards, particularly the differences in cardstock and print quality compared to their regular counterparts. With their absence of a glossy finish and the use of inexpensive cardboard, these cards were prone to rapid deterioration. Collectors seeking well-preserved specimens face a significant challenge due to their scarcity. Limited production and distribution of these cards, along with the practice of affixing cards into specially designed albums by local collectors, further contribute to their rarity. In fact, PSA, the card grading authority, has never given a “GEM MINT” 10 rating to any Venezuelan Topps card.
However, this summer, a groundbreaking collection surfaced at Heritage Auctions. This collection includes cards that are the highest-graded examples known. Some notable highlights include a 1959 Mickey Mantle (PSA 5), a 1960 Carl Yastrzemski rookie card (PSA 5.5), a 1964 Ernie Banks (PSA 8), and a 1964 Mantle (PSA 6). These cards are hailed as the culmination of decades of steadfast commitment to the art of collecting.
The later issues of the Venezuelan Topps cards are particularly noteworthy, as they feature players who never appeared on an MLB card. These sets introduced future stars like Dave Concepcion, who made their first appearance on Topps cards in Venezuela before being featured on any U.S.-issued Topps rookie cards. Among the lots up for auction is the 1967 Venezuelan Concepcion, graded 6. The same set also paid homage to “Retirado” (retired) legends, including Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, and Sandy Koufax, who had recently ended his career after the 1966 season.
In addition to these rarities, the auction will feature other high-grade cards such as a PSA 8 1967 Mantle, a PSA 7 1967 Mantle, a PSA 6 1968 Johnny Bench rookie, a PSA 5 1964 Pete Rose, a PSA 6 1964 Willie Mays, a PSA 4 1964 Hank Aaron, and more cards of luminaries like Koufax, Roberto Clemente, Roger Maris, and other stars and Hall of Famers from the era.
The bidding for these pieces of baseball history will conclude on November 16 during the Heritage Fall Sports Collectibles Auction. This event promises to be a landmark occasion, offering collectors the chance to own a piece of baseball’s international legacy and celebrate the storied past of the sport’s memorabilia. Each card represents a fragment of history, showcasing the global reach of America’s pastime and the enduring allure of collecting. For those who value the heritage of the game and the artistry of card collecting, this auction presents an unmissable opportunity to acquire a slice of baseball card lore.
