The gavel came down on Robert Edward Auctions’ (REA) March Encore sale, not just depicting the end of an auction but signaling the shattering of multiple records in the vintage baseball card market. Highlighted by the sale of a 1933 V353 World Wide Gum Canadian Goudey Babe Ruth card that fetched an eye-popping $32,400, the auction set a new standard for the industry. The event saw over $1.3 million in total sales, with more than 3,300 lots going under the hammer.
Among the top sales was the exceptional 1933 V353 World Wide Gum Canadian Goudey #80 Babe Ruth card graded PSA EX-NM 6, which commanded a staggering $32,400. Adding to the excitement were the record-breaking sales of a 1911 E94 George Close Candy Ty Cobb graded SGC POOR 1, which sold for $28,000, and a 1909-1911 T206 White Border Ty Cobb Bat Off Shoulder with a Tolstoi Back graded PSA EX 5, fetching $27,600.
The vast array of items offered in the auction attracted a flurry of bidding activity, with nearly 66,000 bids placed throughout the event. Noteworthy sales included 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 that fetched $25,200, and a 1948-1949 Leaf #79 Jackie Robinson Rookie graded PSA VG+ 3.5, which went for $23,400.
Further enhancing the auction’s appeal were standout pieces like 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, both of which achieved significant sales at $14,400 each. Rare items also drew considerable attention, with an Extremely Rare 1921 Schapira Bros. Candy Babe Ruth box part selling for $10,800 and an 1888 N28 Allen & Ginter John Clarkson graded PSA EX-MT 6 fetching $8,100, each setting new records in their own right.
Setting further records were items such as a Billy Southworth Single-Signed Baseball, a 1909-1911 T206 White Border Cy Young Portrait graded PSA POOR 1 with a Brown Hindu Back, selling for $7,500, and a 1934 R320 Goudey #37 Lou Gehrig graded SGC GOOD+ 2.5, which made $5,280.
REA President Brian Dwyer expressed his elation at the auction’s success, citing it as a testament to the robustness of the vintage market. The remarkable prices achieved during the March Encore sale have set an optimistic tone for the upcoming Spring Catalog Auction, hinting at more astounding sales and record-breaking bids in the future.
