REA’s May Encore Auction recently wrapped up with a flurry of activity, culminating in record-breaking sales and a spotlight on vintage treasures that captured the hearts of collectors. The auction, which ended on a Sunday night, saw collectors eagerly building complete and near-complete classic baseball sets from the 1950s, driving a strong trend in high-grade set building within the collectibles market.
One of the auction’s standout sales was a 1958 Topps near-complete set, missing only one card, which fetched an impressive $126,000. Ranked #13 on the PSA Set Registry with a GPA of 8.00, this set exemplifies the exacting standards collectors demand for such compilations. Following closely was a 1957 Topps complete set, ranked #24 on the PSA Set Registry and boasting a GPA of 8.00, which sold for $99,000. Additionally, a 1959 Topps complete set, ranked #29 on the PSA Set Registry with a GPA of 8.01, fetched $72,000, further underscoring the fervor for these classic sets.
The auction also shone a light on pre-war rarities, attracting significant attention and setting new records. A highly anticipated lot was a 1909-1911 T206 Ty Cobb Bat Off Shoulder card with the rare Uzit Back, graded PSA FAIR 1.5, which sold for $54,000, establishing a new record for its grade and back combination. Furthermore, a 1933 R319 Goudey #53 Babe Ruth card sold for $30,000, marking a record price for its grade of VG-EX 4.
With over 3,600 items up for auction and more than 63,000 bids placed, the event generated nearly $1.8 million in total sales. Among the other top-selling items were notable baseball cards, including a 1955 Topps #164 Roberto Clemente Rookie card in PSA NM-MT 8, which fetched $52,800, and a 1954 Topps #128 Hank Aaron Rookie card, also in PSA NM-MT 8, reaching $36,000. Additionally, a 1907 Wolverine News Postcard featuring a Ty Cobb Portrait Rookie in SGC FAIR 1.5 garnered $29,400, while Mickey Mantle’s 1951 Bowman #253 Rookie card in PSA EX 5 went for $25,200.
Other highlights included a 1933 R319 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth card in PSA VG-EX+ 4.5, a 1955 Topps #123 Sandy Koufax Rookie card in PSA NM-MT 8, and a 1954 Topps #94 Ernie Banks Rookie card, all fetching $24,600 each. An unopened wax box of 1980-1981 Topps Basketball cards featuring the rookies Larry Bird and Magic Johnson sold for $17,400. Additionally, a 1933 R319 Goudey #181 Babe Ruth card in PSA VG+ 3.5 went for $15,600, while a 1951 Bowman #1 Whitey Ford Rookie card in PSA NM-MT 8 was purchased for $14,400.
REA President Brian Dwyer expressed delight at the auction’s success, noting the robust results and emphasizing the resurgence of interest in high-grade set building. Dwyer remarked, “This is a very positive sign of great things to come in our upcoming events and the industry as a whole.”
Looking ahead, REA is gearing up for its June Encore Auction, set to open on June 13, followed by the larger Summer Catalog Auction starting on July 23. The latter coincides with the 44th annual National Sports Collectors Convention, where REA will take center stage at Booth #6032, promising even more excitement and extraordinary finds for collectors.