Robert Edward Auctions’ March Encore sale proved to be a vintage card enthusiast’s dream, as multiple records were shattered with each gavel drop. The star of the show was undeniably the 1933 V353 World Wide Gum Canadian Goudey card featuring the iconic Babe Ruth. This piece of baseball history fetched an impressive $32,400, leaving collectors and spectators alike in awe of its allure.
The auction saw a flurry of bidding activity, with more than 3,300 lots up for grabs. In total, the event generated over $1.3 million from a staggering 66,000 bids, showcasing the enduring popularity of vintage sports cards among collectors.
Among the standout sales were the 1911 E94 George Close Candy Ty Cobb and the 1909-1911 T206 White Border Ty Cobb Bat Off Shoulder cards. The former, graded SGC POOR 1, sold for $28,000, while the latter, with a Tolstoi Back and a PSA EX 5 grade, fetched $27,600, establishing new records for these coveted pieces of baseball history.
Not to be outdone, other notable highlights included a 1976 Topps #500 Reggie Jackson card in pristine PSA GEM MINT 10 condition, which commanded a price of $30,000. The 1980-1981 Topps Basketball Larry Bird/Magic Johnson Rookie card, graded PSA MINT 9, followed closely behind at $25,200. Additionally, a 1948-1949 Leaf #79 Jackie Robinson Rookie card in PSA VG+ 3.5 condition was sold for $23,400, further solidifying the auction’s reputation for offering top-tier collectibles.
The auction also saw impressive sales of rare items, such as an Extremely Rare 1921 Schapira Bros. Candy Babe Ruth box part that fetched $10,800, and an 1888 N28 Allen & Ginter John Clarkson card in a stellar PSA EX-MT 6 grade that garnered $8,100. These unique pieces set new benchmarks for their respective categories, underscoring the rarity and demand for such one-of-a-kind memorabilia.
Setting additional records were a Billy Southworth Single-Signed Baseball, a 1909-1911 T206 White Border Cy Young Portrait card with a Brown Hindu Back graded PSA POOR 1, which sold for $7,500, and a 1934 R320 Goudey #37 Lou Gehrig card in SGC GOOD+ 2.5 condition that went for $5,280.
Brian Dwyer, President of Robert Edward Auctions, expressed his excitement over the auction’s success, noting that the robust sales figures were a testament to the enduring strength of the vintage sports card market. With the Spring Catalog Auction on the horizon, collectors and enthusiasts can look forward to more thrilling opportunities to add prized pieces to their collections and witness the continued growth and excitement within the hobby.
