Since Mastro Auctions introduced its Classic Collector events a couple years ago, the sales have been a bonafide industry hit. Never has that fact been more obvious than when Mastro Auctions prepared for its June Classic Collector event. According to Doug Allen, COO and president of Mastro Auctions, consignments for the June sale were closed before the February sale was even completed.
“Due to the sheer volume of consignments we had received by that time, we knew our June sale would be off the charts in terms of material,” says Allen. “The auction is literally busting at the seams with great items.
Allen says the trend appears to be holding as Mastro Auctions looks ahead to the October Classic Collector event. “We still have some room for additional consignments but the window is closing fast,” says Allen. “The popularity of our Classic Collector auctions has never been stronger for both buyers and consignors. If a seller wants to take advantage of the benefits that one of these sales generates in 2008, now is the time to contact us.”
In the meantime, for buyers, there are plenty of amazing items to bid on in the June Classic Collector event. Over 2,100 auction lots will open with a minimum bid of $100. Bidding, conducted entirely over the Internet, will begin on June 9 and conclude on June 25 and 26. Specific highlights include the following.
Baseball Cards, including a 1916 D329 Weil Baking Co. #39 Ty Cobb – PSA VG-EX 4 “1 of 1!”; 1930 Baguer Chocolate Rogers Hornsby – SGC 60 EX 5; 1914 T213 Type 2 Coupon Cigarettes Christy Mathewson – SGC 40 VG 3; 1909-1912 PX7 Sweet Caporal Domino Discs John McGraw – PSA Mint 9 “1 of 1!”; 1907-1909 PC805 Novelty Cutlery Postcard Three Finger Brown – PSA VG 3 “1 of 2!”; Scarce 1911 M110 Sporting Life Cabinet Card Hal Chase – SGC Authentic; 1911 T205 Gold Border George Bell, rare “Broad Leaf” back – SGC 60 EX 5; 1909-1911 T206 White Border Ty Cobb, Portrait, green background – PSA VG-EX 4; 1952 Topps #404 Dick Brodowski – PSA NM-MT+ 8.5; 1910 E90-3 American Caramel Joe Tinker – SGC 40 VG 3; and more.
Baseballs include: 1924 New York Yankees Signed Ball (6 signatures) – including Babe Ruth; and 1999 New York Yankees World Champions Team signed ball (30 signatures).
Unopened Packs, Cases and Boxes include a 1965 Topps Five-Cent Display Box; and a 1969-1970 Topps Ten-Cent Display Box.
Among Baseball Bats are: an MLB Hall of Famers signed Commemorative Bat (52 signatures) including Aaron, Mays and Musial; Alex Rodriguez 1997-1998 Louisville Slugger Game Used Bat; and 1938 Detroit Tigers multi signed Mickey Cochrane Store Model Bat (29 signatures) including Gehringer and Greenberg.
Baseball Autographs include a Satchel Paige Circa 1948 signed Real Photo Postcard; Circa 1960 Yoo-Hoo Advertising Clock – signed by Yogi Berra; pristine 1946 “The Detroit Tigers” Hardcover Book – signed by Tiger Legends; and 1950’s-2000’s signed Envelopes, Cachets and First Day Covers Collection (1,450+) including Bill Buckner, Don Larsen and Ron Santo. Offered is an impressive gathering of more than 1,450 signed envelopes, cachets and First Day Covers. The signatures provide a sizable representation of diamond stars for the 1950s through the present (with several key multiples). The autographs have been penned in a variety of ink types and colors and average “8-9” strength.
There are Baseball Photographs, including: an oversized Toledo Mud Hens 1924 and 1925 original Team Photographs (2); Cincinnati Reds 1941 Team signed Oversized Photo (34 Signatures) including Warren Giles, Lombardi, McKechnie, Lloyd Waner and Johnny Vander Meer; and 1950’s-1980’s News Service Photographs and Wire Photographs Collection (279) including Berra, Durocher and Ford.
Football items include: a 1965 Topps #122 Joe Namath SP Rookie Card – PSA EX-MT 6; 1981 Topps #216 Joe Montana Rookie Cards SGC-Graded High Grade Collection (40); 1956 Ohio State Football Jersey and Letterman’s Jacket (2 items); Historic NFL Legends signed 2003 Pro Football Hall of Fame 40th Anniversary Limited Edition Print (109 signatures!) including Namath and Walsh – Serial-Numbered “55” in a Limited Edition of 120 pieces; 1903 University of Michigan versus University of Wisconsin Football Program; Extremely Desirable 1919 University of Michigan versus Ohio State Football Program; Historic October 18, 1924, University of Michigan at University of Illinois Football Program – The Red Grange Game!; Extremely Desirable October 22, 1927 Ohio State at University of Michigan Football Program and Ticket Stub for the New “High Stadium” dedication (2 items); and 1934 University of Michigan Football Programs Collection (8 different).
There are good Basketball lots, including: 1986-1987 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan Rookie Card – BGS Mint 9; 1986-1987 Fleer High Grade complete set (132) plus stickers (11) – including six PSA GEM MT 10 examples!; Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar signed basketballs (2 items); Michael Jordan UDA signed 1998 NBA Finals Game Used Floor Segments Display – serial-numbered “68” in a Limited Edition of 223 pieces; 1972-1973 to 1981-1982 Topps Sets Hoard (68); and 1984-1985 Philadelphia 76ers Team Signed Basketball (11 signatures) including Barkley, Erving and Malone.
Boxing includes Joe Louis and Max Schmeling signed Print – serial-numbered “268” in a Limited Edition of 1,500; 1950’s Joe Louis Portrait Photograph; Johnson versus Jeffries 1909 “Fight Signing” George Bain News Service Photograph; rare 1910 T223 Dixie Queen SGC-Graded Collection (10 different); and Boxing Legends Signed Gloves Collection (6) Including Ali, Frazier and “Cassius Clay”.
Americana highlights include: 1932 Lambert and Butler “History of Aviation” complete set (25) – #1 on the PSA Set Registry!; 1966 Topps “Superman” High Grade Complete Set (66); 1889 N226 Kinney “Navy Vessels of the World” SGC-Graded Complete Set (25); 1962 Leaf “Famous Discoveries and Adventures” Complete Set (50); and a 1940’s Mutoscope Pin-Ups SGC-Graded Collection (73).
Political Presidential items are timely, and include a Jefferson and James Madison 1801 signed Land Grant; John F. Kennedy 1953 Signed Letter on United States Senate Stationery!; extremely rare 1920 James Cox “The Tie That Binds” Presidential Campaign Sheet Music; Extremely Rare and Gigantic 1956 Eisenhower Display Button – 9-inch diameter!; Abraham Lincoln February 20, 1864 handwritten “Let the Request Herein Be Granted” Cut Passage with Signature; John Adams Free Frank Signature; 1896 McKinley/Hobart “Home Defenders” Campaign Poster; scarce 1916 Charles Evans Hughes “For President” 1-3/4-inch Pinback; and a jumbo 1912 Wilson/Marshall Jugate Campaign Pin.
Historical items and entertainment lots will include: the most desirable stock certificate – 1888 “Standard Oil Trust” signed by John D. Rockefeller and Henry Flagler; 1888 exceptional example of J.&E. Stevens’ “Darktown Battery” Mechanical Cast-Iron Bank; Bela Lugosi circa 1931 signed Photograph – an intense image!; and a 1940’s Disney Thermo Plaques and Art Tiles by Kemper-Thomas (11 items) plus one original box.
To register for Mastro Auctions’ June 2008 Classic Collector auction or to get more information, go to www.mastroauctions.com, or call (630) 472-1200. Bidding begins on June 9 and ends June 25 and 26.