Robert Edward Auctions’ highly anticipated March Encore sale has sent ripples through the vintage card collecting community by shattering multiple records and achieving unparalleled success. The star of the show was undoubtedly the 1933 V353 World Wide Gum Canadian Goudey #80 Babe Ruth card, graded PSA EX-NM 6, which commanded an impressive $32,400, setting a new benchmark for this coveted piece of baseball history.
Not content with just one standout sale, the auction also saw a 1911 E94 George Close Candy Ty Cobb, graded SGC POOR 1, and a 1909-1911 T206 White Border Ty Cobb Bat Off Shoulder, graded PSA EX 5 with a Tolstoi Back, fetching $28,000 and $27,600 respectively, both establishing new record prices. The event featured a staggering array of over 3,300 lots, ultimately realizing over $1.3 million in sales from approximately 66,000 bids, underscoring the robust demand for high-quality vintage memorabilia.
Among the other high-flying highlights of the auction were a 1976 Topps #500 Reggie Jackson, graded PSA GEM MINT 10, which sold for $30,000; a 1980-1981 Topps Basketball Larry Bird/Magic Johnson Rookie, graded PSA MINT 9, which garnered $25,200; and a 1948-1949 Leaf #79 Jackie Robinson Rookie, graded PSA VG+ 3.5, which fetched $23,400, further cementing the strength of the vintage card market.
Equally noteworthy were the sales of a 1911 M110 Sporting Life Cabinet Honus Wagner, graded PSA GOOD 2 (MK), and a 1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle Rookie, graded SGC GOOD+ 2.5, each achieving a sale price of $14,400. Rare items on offer also captivated collectors, with an Extremely Rare 1921 Schapira Bros. Candy Babe Ruth box part commanding $10,800 and an 1888 N28 Allen & Ginter John Clarkson, graded PSA EX-MT 6, selling for $8,100, both setting new records in their respective categories.
Further records were broken by a Billy Southworth Single-Signed Baseball, a 1909-1911 T206 White Border Cy Young Portrait, graded PSA POOR 1 (Brown Hindu Back), which fetched $7,500, and a 1934 R320 Goudey #37 Lou Gehrig, graded SGC GOOD+ 2.5, selling for $5,280. Brian Dwyer, President of REA, emphasized the extraordinary achievements of the auction as clear evidence of the enduring strength and vitality of the vintage memorabilia market, instilling a sense of optimism for the upcoming Spring Catalog Auction.
The March Encore sale at Robert Edward Auctions will be remembered as a watershed moment, where record prices were shattered, collectors’ passions were ignited, and the timeless allure of vintage cards was reaffirmed.
