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Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

Baseball Card and Memorabilia Records Set in $8.5 Million Dollar REA Auction!!!

Mickey Mantle Jersey Hammered Down at $201,450; Carlton Fisk Home Run Ball Sells for $142,200; Countless Baseball Card Auction Records Set At REA!!!

Watchung, New Jersey. Collectors of high-end baseball cards and memorabilia were glued to Robert Edward Auctions as prices soared to astounding levels across the board during the record-setting April 26, 2014 auction. An incredible 147 lots sold for $10,000 or more. Nine lots eclipsed the $100,000 mark. The total sales of $8.52 Million defined this sale as one of the largest and most successful baseball auctions in collecting history. A never-before-offered 1874 Boston Red Stockings Cigar poster featuring George Wright sold for $189,600. This set a new world record for a baseball-related advertising poster, and even more significantly, this result also represented a record price for any kind of American advertising poster ever.

Baseball CardA 1968 Mickey Mantle jersey, originating from the personal collection of a Yankees batboy and purchased in 1985 as a personal keepsake of his favorite player for the then-princely sum of $5,000 (and, fortunately, kept safely all these years), stunned the owner with its final realized price of $201,450. Carlton Fisk’s iconic home run ball from Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, accompanied by a letter of provenance from Cincinnati Reds outfielder George Foster, drew national media attention and sold for $142,200. An outstanding 1916 Babe Ruth rookie card in EX-MT condition (reserve $25,000) was hammered down at $142,200. A newly-discovered example of 1887 N172 Old Judge tobacco card of Hall of Famer Deacon White, with his portrait on the card misidentified as “McGreachery,” was one of the most exciting 19th century card finds in recent years. One of only two examples known, the legendary Old Judge “McGreachery” rarity (res. $10,000) soared to an astounding $130,350. This auction result set a new record for any Old Judge tobacco card ever sold privately or at auction. The list of extraordinary record-setting prices seems almost endless. REA president Robert Lifson comments, “These results speak for themselves: about the quality of the material offered, about the appreciation of the collecting world for how REA presents items and conducts auctions, about the well-deserved trust collectors have in REA, and about the strength of the market.”

T206 Ty Cobb with Ty Cobb Back from Historic 1997 Find: One of only thirteen examples known of the legendary T206 Ty Cobb with “Ty Cobb Tobacco” advertising reverse (res. $25,000) was consigned by the original collector who purchased it at Robert Edward Auctions in 1997. In that historic auction seventeen years ago, a then newly-discovered find of five T206 Ty Cobb with Ty Cobb back examples (approximately doubling the known population at the time) were offered at the same time. In 1997 this card sold for $22,224. In Robert Edward Auctions’ 2014 Spring Sale, it realized an astounding record $154,050. “All T206 Ty Cobb with Ty Cobb advertising back cards are rare and special, and all have gone up in value considerably since 1997,” notes REA president Robert Lifson. “This particular card not only had a special provenance, but there was definitely a consensus that this card was undergraded. It may have technically graded a modest PSA 1, but it was just a very strong card, far better looking than suggested by the grade. It had everything going for it. There was an overwhelming amount of interest.”

1909 T204 Ramly Tobacco Card Collection: The finest collection of 1909 T204 Ramly Tobacco cards to ever come to auction included a total of 183 cards presented in 101 lots. “This was an unprecedented Ramly collection,” according to REA vintage card expert Dean Faragi, “both in terms of quantity and quality.” The collector who assembled the Ramlys did so in the early days of the organized hobby, when condition was just starting to have a significant impact on value. “He constantly upgraded his set. When he found a high grade Ramly, even if he didn’t need it, he bought it. His philosophy was ‘You can never have too much of a good thing.’” That philosophy certainly paid off. The Ramly collection realized an astounding total of $297,790. The highest graded T204 Walter Johnson (res. $10,000; est. open) in the collection, a remarkable card graded MINT, which was once a part of the collection of legendary hobby pioneer Frank Nagy, all alone sold for $59,250.

More $100,000+ Highlights: A 1909-1911 T206 “White Border” Near-Complete Set that included 518 of the 524 cards in the set (res. $25,000; est. $50,000+) sold for an extremely impressive $100,725. The 1889 Brooklyn Base Ball Club Application for Membership in the National League was one of the most hotly contested lots in the auction. REA memorabilia expert Tom D’Alonzo picked the Brooklyn Application as perhaps the most historically significant item in the auction. “This was a true treasure. It is the single most important document that could possibly exist relating to the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers. This application literally represents the birth of the Brooklyn National League franchise.” Long ago originating directly from the family of former National League president Nicholas Young, it was purchased by the consignor for $27,500 in the mid-1990s and has been the centerpiece of his advanced Brooklyn Dodgers collection for the past two decades. As far as value: Times have changed! “There’s no putting a value on an item as important as this. There’s no right number. But the final selling price didn’t surprise me at all,” comments REA’s Tom D’Alonzo. In this auction, the first and only time the Brooklyn National League Membership Application has ever been available for public sale, it was hammered down at $165,900. D’Alonzo’s summarizing comment on the result: “Really, it’s priceless.”

Record Prices For Classics: A Babe Ruth-Lou Gehrig dual-signed baseball (graded NM-MT 8 by PSA) was hammered down for an extraordinary $82,950, a record price in this grade for this classic. A Lou Gehrig single-signed ball with remarkable provenance (including a VHS tape, produced in 1998, that features the original owner describing how he obtained it in 1935) sold for an exceptional $32,587. REA president Robert Lifson notes: “With memorabilia, time and time again, we see how well-documented provenance plays a role in delivering strong prices. It’s not always possible to have this kind of provenance, but when it’s there, it’s impossible not to notice how collectors respond.” A stunning 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle Rookie Card graded EX-MT was the most hotly contested postwar card in the auction. The SMR value in the assigned grade was $23,500. It was hammered down for $41,475, by far setting a new world record for the grade and rewriting the price guides for one of card collecting’s most iconic cards. Vintage card expert Brian Dwyer notes: “The market for the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie has long been on an upswing. That’s a given. But this was a particularly strong and attractive example. Even in the description we mentioned that we felt this might be the best “EX-MT” 1952 Topps Mantle in the Universe.” REA president Robert Lifson adds, “We see a continuing trend where collectors are recognizing that sometimes the technical grades don’t tell the whole story. This goes both ways. But when we can point out that an important card like this ’52 Mantle really is special for the grade and deserves a significant premium, collectors look more closely, usually agree, and bid accordingly. This card deserved to sell for a record price.”

1914 Cracker Jack Cobb and T206 Eddie Plank: A 1914 Cracker Jack of Ty Cobb graded NM-MT+ 8.5 (res. $15,000; est. $50,000++) was on the radar of dozens of bidders, especially those that missed out on it when this iconic condition rarity was last sold at REA in 2012. A favorite of collectors and by far the finest example REA has ever seen, the last time this gem sold it realized $88,875. In this auction, it sold for a well-deserved new record $106,650. REA vintage card expert Dean Faragi, who picked this as his favorite card in the auction, comments, “When we first sold this card, I was floored by it. In 2012, no one knew how to even value it. There is no SMR value for a 1914 Cracker Jack in NM-MT+ 8.5 condition. The highest listed price is for a PSA 8. When we offered it again in this auction, I wasn’t surprised at all to see it sell for more. It’s unlikely we will ever see a 1914 Cracker Jack Ty Cobb to compare to this beauty.” An example of legendary T206 rarity Eddie Plank graded EX 5 by PSA sold for $88,875, setting a new record for this card which last sold for $85,236. The list of extraordinary record-setting prices seems almost endless. REA president Robert Lifson comments, “These results speak for themselves: about the quality of the material offered, about the appreciation of the collecting world for how REA presents items and conducts auctions, about the well-deserved trust collectors have in REA, and about the strength of the market”.

The Pulse of The Market: Collectors, dealers, and market watchers look to REA’s annual spring event as the key barometer of the health of the market and the most important auction event of the year. According to REA president Robert Lifson, “The market was extremely strong across the board. The auction results were staggering and exceeded our highest expectations. Most important, they exceeded our consignors’ expectations. The great prices are the result of many factors including, of course, being given the very best material in the world to offer, taking great care in cataloguing all material, having the largest circulation, extensive research and authentication, the well-deserved confidence of buyers, and an emphasis on the integrity of the auction process. Altogether, it’s a very powerful combination. The bidders appreciate what we do. And this naturally attracts consignments.” By any measure, this was one of the most successful auctions in the history of collecting. “It was also the smoothest running auction in all respects, including collecting the money. As always at Robert Edward Auctions, there were no delays in collecting money and getting it into the hands of consignors. That’s another extremely strong area for REA. In fact, this year over half the consignors had their checks in the mail within one week. Even I’m not sure how we did that. But we did.” All consignors were paid in full, 100 cents on the dollar with no adjustments due to nonpaying bidders, and in record time. “That’s the standard we strive for and achieve at REA when it comes to paying consignors. Perfection. Consignors really appreciate getting paid quickly and they really appreciate getting paid 100 cents on the dollar.”

REA Statistics: The stunning prices on all nineteenth and early twentieth century baseball cards and memorabilia totaled a staggering $8.52 million. The 1866 lots, offered on behalf of 230 different consignors, were won by an incredible 649 different bidders, illustrating the power of the marketing and auction process, and the breadth of bidder interest. Successful bidders included some of the nation’s most prestigious museums, universities, and corporate institutional collections, as well as representatives from numerous Major League teams. An incredible 24,231 bids were placed. “All areas of the auction received a tremendous response and very strong prices. Nineteenth-century baseball items were unbelievable, as always, as were all early baseball cards, advertising and display pieces, graded cards, Babe Ruth items, autographs, memorabilia, non-sport cards and artwork.” Thousands of bidders from all over the world participated. The average lot realized more than double the high-end estimate. An incredible 99% of the lots sold.

Nineteenth-Century Baseball Card Rarities: One of the most fascinating new discoveries ever offered by REA was an 1869 Forest City Base Ball Club Imperial Cabinet Photograph featuring Hall of Famer Al Spalding as a player (res. $5,000; est. open). Originating from the collection of Cleveland News sports columnist and pioneer collector Charles W. Mears, the photo was consigned directly from the Mears family and realized an astounding $47,400. A collection of three circa 1870 team cards, each with advertising for Peck & Snyder Sporting Goods, were another exciting find included in the auction. The three cards, which included one featuring the 1869 Cincinnati Reds, famous as the first professional baseball team, were recently discovered in a 19th century photo album at an estate sale in Ohio. The three cards were each trimmed, but their great rarity made them extremely desirable to pre-1900 baseball collectors. The three cards together sold for $45,030, providing a once-in-a-lifetime payoff and far exceeding the expectations of the seller. Interestingly, the trio was paced not by the 1869 Cincinnati Reds team card (res. $1,000; est. open), which sold for $10,665, but by the 1868 Brooklyn Atlantics (res. $5,000; est. open) which is far rarer, one of only three or four examples known, which sold for $29,625. An exceedingly rare 1887 Four Base Hits George Van Haltren (res. $5,000; est. $10,000++) realized an extraordinary $47,400, and an 1893 Just So Tobacco card of C. L. Childs graded EX-MT by PSA sold for $32,587, a record auction price for any card from this rare set ever.

Vintage Card Prices STRONG At REA: REA is first and foremost a baseball card auction, so it is not surprising that the big money, as usual, was in the cards: An uncut sheet of 1933 Goudey Gum cards with three Babe Ruths and a Lou Gehrig (res. $25,000; est. open), one of only several examples known, sold for an impressive $98,800. A second 1933 Goudey uncut sheet (res. $5,000; est. $10,000+) featuring the classic green background #181 Babe Ruth card was hammered down at $35,550. The auction featured two extremely rare 1913 Boston Garter advertising cards, Ed Walsh and Frank Chance (reserve of $5,000 each), which sold for $22,515 and $41,475 respectively. A 1933 R319 Goudey #106 Napoleon Lajoie PSA NM 7 (res. $10,000; est. $25,000+) realized an extremely healthy $41,475, representing a new auction record for the grade. A very attractive example of the 1909-1911 T206 White Border Sherry Magie error card rarity (res. $5,000; est. $10,000+) in VG+ condition realized $17,775. A rare 1909 E92 Croft’s Candy Ty Cobb card (res. $1,000; est. $2,000+) realized $14,220. A near-complete collection of 1911 M116 Sporting Life cards presented in fourteen different lots realized a combined $57,654. A stunning 1948 Bowman Stan Musial PSA MINT 9 rookie card (res. $5,000, est. $10,000+) nearly doubled the existing auction record for a MINT example, selling for an extraordinary $32,588. Collectors competed fiercely for a breathtaking 1914 Cracker Jack Ty Cobb SGC EX/NM 80 (res. $2,500, est. $5,000/$10,000+), raising the bidding until it stopped at $26,663, a new auction record and almost exactly double the previous highest-recorded sale for the card in the same grade.

Additional Vintage Card Highlights: The All-Time Finest Ernie Banks PSA Collection was presented individually in separate lots. The 19 cards spanning Banks’ entire Major League career totaled $104,931, paced by an astounding $44,438 for the 1954 Topps rookie card of “Mr. Cub” in PSA 9 MINT condition, a record price for the grade. Thirteen PSA MINT 9 Mickey Mantle cards, spanning the years 1953 to 1969, were each offered individually and sold for a collective $111,153. A newly-discovered collection of 156 T206 White Borders (res. $2,000, est. open), still affixed to their original album pages, sold for an impressive $35,550. A near-complete set of 1909-1911 E90-1 American Caramel cards (res. $2,500; est. $5,000+), saved for decades by the consignor (who ironically was not a card collector but fortunately took great care with the cards since buying them as collectibles in his youth), drew very spirited bidding and ended at $22,515. The Joe Jackson rookie card from the same set (res. $2,000; est. open), a beautiful card encapsulated as “Authentic” by PSA, realized a very healthy $21,330. A near-complete master set of 1949 Bowman baseball cards (res. $2,500; est. $5,000+) sold for an impressive $20,145. More recent sets also sold extremely well. An exceptionally crisp complete set of 1963 Topps baseball cards (res. $2,500; est. $5,000++) hammered down at $26,663. The same collection yielded complete sets of 1964 Topps (res. $500; est. $1,000/$2,000+), which sold for $11,850, 1965 Topps (res. $500; est. $1,000/$2,000+), which sold for $16,590, and 1966 Topps (res. $800; est. $1,500/$2,500), which sold for $14,220, all incredibly impressive prices for complete, ungraded sets. Uncut sheets of vintage cards were extremely well received among buyers throughout the auction, with numerous record-setting prices achieved. A 132-card sheet from the 1959 Topps baseball series sold for $10,073, approximately fifty times the modest opening bid of $200. A 132-card sheet of 1967 Topps baseball (res. $500; est. $1,000+) hammered down at $7,703. A 110-card sheet from the 1956 Topps baseball series (res. $2,500; est. $5,000++) realized $23,700.
T206 Drum Checklist Addition Discovery: A previously unknown T206 card of Wid Conroy featuring a very rare Drum advertising reverse (res. $500; est. open), which was discovered by REA in an old-time collection, sold for $16,590. “This was a particularly exciting card for us in the auction,” notes REA president Robert Lifson, “because when it was given to us, it was presented as just a $75 or $100 T206 card of a common player in VG-EX condition. It was part of a near-set assembled decades ago, long before collecting rare T206 backs became popular. We always check the backs for rarities and this gem just happened to be there.” The discovery of any T206 Drum back is noteworthy, but this was a particularly special find as this front-back T206 combination had not been previously confirmed. It was a new checklist addition. “The consignor didn’t understand the significance when we told them. But they understand now!”

Unopened Material: Vintage unopened packs and boxes is a specialty at REA and as always delivered strong prices across the board. A 1963 Topps football wax box with twenty-four unopened packs (res. $2,500; est. $5,000/$10,000) sold for an astounding $32,587. A 1959 Topps football cello box (res. $2,500; est. $5,000/$10,000) set a new auction record, hammering down at $21,330. A 1971 Topps football second-series wax box (res. $2,500; est. $5,000) far exceeded expectations and when the bubble-gum dust finally settled, closed at a remarkable $17,775. A rarely-seen 1959 Fleer Ted Williams unopened wax box with 24 packs (res. $2,500; est. $5,000/$10,000) sold for $17,775. The only known unopened wax pack of 1962 Topps “Mars Attacks” trading cards (res. $1,000; est. open), one of the signature pieces from the Fred Walstrom “Mars Attacks” Collection, sold for $11,850. Tobacco collectors were equally as enthusiastic about an extraordinary unopened pack of 1911 Piedmont Cigarettes (res. $500; est. open). This pack – the first REA had even seen which could possibly contain a T206 card – was riveting to T206 and pack collectors alike, who competed until it hammered down at $8,887. A single 1952 Bowman baseball wax pack (res. $800; est. $1,500/$2,500) realized an amazing $5,628. Not a bad return for a nickel! A newly-discovered 1973 Topps football cello box (res. $500; est. $1,000+) was also hotly contested and realized $7,110. Five additional early 1970s football wax and cello boxes from the same collection were enormously appealing to collectors and sold for a combined $16,116. Unopened 1975 Topps Mini cello boxes continue to be on the rise, and the crisp box offered in this auction (res. $500; est. $1,000/$2,000) realized $3,258.
Additional Auction Highlights:

Autographs: REA’s spring auction featured one of the finest selections of signed baseballs in recent memory with many significant rarities. A 1934 Tour of Japan team-signed baseball with Ruth, Gehrig, Foxx, and Berg (res. $2,500; est. $5,000+) sold for $21,330. A 1949 Mel Ott & Carl Hubbell Dual-Signed Baseball graded NM+ 7.5 by PSA/DNA (res. $1,000; est. open), of special note to “500 Home Run Club” collectors as the ball could be displayed as a Mel Ott “single” (true Mel Ott single signed balls are particularly rare), sold for an impressive $13,035. An incredible multi-signed baseball, signed by sixteen Hall of Famers, including Ruth, Cobb, Wagner, and Johnson, hammered down at $29,625, more than ten times the modest opening bid of $2,500 (representing the seller’s original cost some twenty years ago). A beautiful single-signed Jimmie Foxx baseball (res. $1,000; est. open), graded EX-MT 6 by PSA/DNA, sold for $17,775. A fascinating collection of autographed baseballs, consigned by the family of the original owner, who attended many significant games and then had players sign game-used baseballs, was presented in twenty-three different lots and sold for a collective $77,795, paced by an incredible 1937 All-Star Game baseball (res. $1,000; est. open), which sold for $10,072, and a stunning single-signed Ty Cobb baseball (res. $500; est. $1,000/$2,000), which realized $9,480. Canceled checks have always been highly prized among autograph collectors due to the inherent authenticity they provide for the signatures. This auction featured a particularly extraordinary Christy Mathewson check (res. $2,500; est. $10,000+) that was all the more special because it was accompanied by a letter from Mrs. Christy Mathewson, who personally sent the check as a gift to the consignor’s husband in 1955. This special provenance further distinguished it as one of the best, if not the finest, and most interesting Mathewson check in existence, and collectors took special note. The Mathewson check sold for an astounding $21,330, setting a new record for any Mathewson check to ever appear at auction.
Player Contracts: Player contracts have long been a specialty at REA. Collectors again showed their tremendous interest in this popular area of collecting, responding with record-setting prices. An extraordinary 1914 Ed Walsh Chicago White Sox Contract (res. $2,000; est. open) with a letter of provenance directly from the Veeck family sold for a remarkable $50,362. A 1930 Lefty Grove Philadelphia Athletics Contract (res. $2,000; est. open) realized $47,400. Roy Campanella’s final contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers dating from 1958, signed just weeks before his career ending car accident, was hammered down at $32,587. Signed contracts for ten Hall of Famers, each presented individually, realized a combined $187,170.

Game-Used Jerseys and Bats: Collectors are often driven towards memorabilia issued to specific players and REA’s selection of game-used jerseys and pro-model bats was especially well-received by bidders. A 1924 jersey of Chicago Cubs pitcher Vic Aldridge (res. $2,500; est. $5,000+) was offered that was recently discovered, in of all places, in a house on Catalina Island, off the coast of California. While that might seem like a most unlikely place to find a 1920s Cubs jersey, research reveals that the island was owned by William Wrigley Jr., owner of the Cubs, and for years he made the island the team’s spring-training headquarters to help promote tourism. We don’t know if this really helped tourism, but it helped the gentleman who found this jersey. It sold for $10,072. An outstanding 1919-1922 “Shoeless Joe” Jackson “Black Betsy” Pro-Model Bat graded GU 8 by PSA/DNA and A10 by MEARS, which sold for $48,809 when previously offered at auction elsewhere in 2004, was hammered down at $65,175. An extraordinary 1958-1960 Mickey Mantle signed bat that was obtained in 1958 as the top raffle prize at a father-and-son school dinner sold for a lot more than anyone imagined when it was given away as a prize over 50 years ago. In 2014, this prize sold for $22,515. An exceptional signed Roberto Clemente bat (res. $2,500) that was presented to the consignor as a personal gift by the Pirates star in the stands during the middle of a game, sold for $10,072. Jackie Robinson was another magic name represented in the auction. His game-used jerseys sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars when offered, which is rare. This auction did not have a Jackie Robinson jersey, but did, however, feature a pair of Jackie Robinson Brooklyn Dodgers game-used pants! Dating from his final season of 1956, the pants (res. $5,000) were a more affordable alternative to a jersey. But “affordable” is relative when talking about Jackie Robinson. Amid feverish bidding, they still set the buyer back $26,625.

More Memorabilia Highlights: An extraordinary 1915 Boston Red Sox World Champions Panoramic Photo with Babe Ruth was described as perhaps the most impressive panorama ever offered by Robert Edward Auctions. Collectors obviously agreed. With a reserve of $10,000, it was finally hammered down at $50,362, a record for any panorama photo ever sold at REA. Bob Shawkey’s 1913 Philadelphia Athletics World Championship Pocket Watch (res. $2,500; est. open) realized $18,960. Watches such as these were very popular for teams to award to players in the days before World Series rings became the norm. From more modern times, the auction featured two exceptional World Championship rings. Billy Herman’s 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers World Series Ring (res. $5,000; est. open) awarded to him as a coach was a special highlight. This particular ring was once part of the famed Barry Halper Collection, originating directly from Billy Herman’s wife and accompanied by letters of authenticity from both Barry Halper and Mrs. Herman. After spirited bidding, the ring hammered down at $38,512. A 1999 New York Yankees World Series ring, issued to a high-ranking minor-league staff employee is naturally valuable as a Yankees World Series ring but also due to the its substantial materials (48.29 Grams, 119 Diamonds). With a reserve of $5,000, this modern classic sold for an impressive $29,625. A ticket in the shape of a light bulb from Johnny Vander Meer’s second no-hitter, the first night game in Dodgers history, carried a reserve of $500 and sold for $2,666. A rare Official Negro American League Baseball in Original Box (res. $500; est. open) sold for a record $5,628. It took more than peanuts to land the 1913 Barnum & Bailey “Famous Elephant Base-Ball Team” Circus Poster (res. $1,000; est. $2,000+). This classic poster, featuring elephants playing the National Game, has long been a favorite among both baseball and circus collectors, and realized a record $8,295. A ticket and program to the 1923 Opening Game at Yankee Stadium, saved by the consignor’s father (who actually attended the game!), carried a reserve of $2,500. The souvenirs to the christening of “The House That Ruth Built” realized a staggering $26,662. Babe Ruth was sold to the Yankees for only $125,000!
1934-1956 “Three Stooges” Poster Collection: The first installment of the finest and most advanced collection of original “Three Stooges” movie posters and lobby cards to ever come to auction was a huge hit with collectors. All “Three Stooges” movie posters and lobby cards are extremely rare and have long been recognized as “blue chips” by advanced collectors in the movie poster world as well as among “Three Stooges” collectors. The offering of just a few lobby cards and posters is a rare collecting event. This auction, the first of four installments representing the entire collection, featured 37 lots selling for a total of $144,807. The six one-sheet posters alone sold for $83,246, paced by an amazing record $56,287 for the extremely desirable and early 1935 Uncivil Warriors poster. Forty-one “Three Stooges” lobby cards sold for a total of $61,560, highlighted by $9,480 for a 1934 Men In Black lobby card (res. $2,000). Interesting note: this lobby card had the amazing provenance of having originated years ago directly from Moe Howard’s daughter. Collectors are anxiously awaiting the future installments of this unprecedented once-in-a-lifetime collection. There were only 174 short films in total made by The Three Stooges between 1934 and 1956. This collection has advertising one-sheets and lobby cards representing 115 of them, including the one-sheet for The Three Stooges’ very first short, 1934’s The Woman Hater’s Club, which will hit the auction block in the near future.
Non-Sports Cards (1886-1976): While REA is primarily known for baseball cards and memorabilia, non-sport cards and card artwork from all eras have always been an important area of focus. In this auction, non-sport collectors were treated to the only known example of one of non-sport’s legendary rarities, the R72 Schutter-Johnson “Strong Man” (res. $1,000; est. open). The card, which had been kept in a private collection for more than three decades, sold for an appropriately “strong” $22,515. A rarely-seen complete set of 1950s Exhibits “Slick Chicks” (res. $200; est. open) sold for a staggering $10,665. The second-highest graded “Mars Attacks” set listed on the PSA Set Registry sold for an incredible $68,433 for all fifty-five cards. Several other rare “Mars Attacks” items from the same collection, including display boxes, wrappers, and production material totaled $32,469. Original card artwork was also incredibly well-received by collectors, and numerous auction records were set in the process. A 1950 Bowman “Wild Man” artwork, purchased at another auction recently for $1,200, sold for an eye-popping $4,740. A pair of 1938 Gum, Inc. “Horrors of War” artworks purchased in the same auction for a combined $1,285, realized a superb $4,147. Six original “Mars Attacks” artworks, each offered individually, tallied a combined $46,511. A collection of nineteen 1950 Topps “Freedom’s War” original artworks (res. $2,000, est. open) realized $9,480. Ten different 1962 Topps “Civil War News” original artworks, each offered individually, sold for a collective $22,929, while ten different 1965 Topps “Battle” original artworks offered as their own lots realized a combined $15,997. Perhaps most amazing, forty different ultra high-grade 1959 Fleer “Three Stooges” cards sold for an astonishing combined total of $97,110.
Many other auction records were shattered for pre-1948 baseball cards, nineteenth-century baseball cards and memorabilia, non-sport cards, and Americana. Further information and complete auction results are available online at www.RobertEdwardAuctions.com

Copies of the 694-page full-color premium catalog are also still available free of charge. Go to www.RobertEdwardAuctions.com, click “Free Catalog,” and fill in your name and address. Robert Edward Auctions is currently assembling its next sale. For further information contact: Robert Edward Auctions, PO Box 7256, Watchung, NJ or call (908)-226-9900.