News

An exceptionally scarce 1913 Honus Wagner card, produced exclusively in the Pittsburgh area where the baseball legend made his name, is set to make its auction debut.

Clean Sweep Auctions has announced that it will feature the 1913 Voskamp’s Coffee Wagner card in its September auction. These cards were originally distributed in packages of coffee and tea by Voskamp's Coffee, a local Pittsburgh company, making them extraordinarily rare today. The Wagner card offered by Clean Sweep was recently graded and encapsulated at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago, marking only the third time such a card has been graded by PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator). SGC (Sportscard Guaranty Corporation) has graded just four examples.

This marks the first time a Voskamp’s Wagner has appeared in a public sale since 2017.

Key Auction Highlights

Among other significant offerings are two 1887 N172 Old Judge cards featuring Hall of Famers Mike “King” Kelly and Harry Wright. Additional notable cards include:

• E102 Ty Cobb graded PSA 2 (mk)
• T206 Ty Cobb (green background) graded PSA 1.5
• Ty Cobb (bat on shoulder) graded PSA 4
• Cy Young Portrait graded PSA 5

The auction also showcases several pre-war collectibles:

• P2 Sweet Caporal pins lot
• E103 Williams Caramel Ty Cobb
• E101 Honus Wagner graded PSA 3
• T3 Turkey Red Ty Cobb graded PSA 1
• 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth cards in collector-grade condition
• 1941 Play Ball Joe DiMaggio graded SGC 5

Other noteworthy lots include a nearly complete 1947-66 Exhibit set missing just four cards, a rare 1954 Wilson Franks Ted Williams graded PSA 1, and a high-grade 1955 Topps baseball complete set featuring a BVG 7 Roberto Clemente rookie card.

Autographed Sets and Modern Cards

Clean Sweep is also offering an almost complete autographed 1952 Bowman Baseball set. Individual cards of Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges, Mickey Mantle, and Willie Mays are being sold separately, with the remaining cards offered as one lot. The set is missing only three cards.

Leading the basketball section are a PSA 6 1984-85 Star Michael Jordan and a PSA 8 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan. Football enthusiasts will find several pristine sets and a collection of high-grade Bart Starr cards ranging from his 1957 rookie card to his final 1971 Topps card.

Memorabilia and Other Collectibles

The auction's memorabilia highlights include:

• A Walter Johnson single-signed baseball
• A 1933 New York Yankees team-signed ball featuring Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and seven other Hall of Famers
• A signed Roger Maris rookie card

Additional items feature:

• 1914 Joe Tinker and 1920 Brooklyn Dodgers pennants
• Tickets and programs dating back to 1905
• Boxing cards and memorabilia
• A selection of historic presidential autographs
• Entertainment autographs

"This auction boasts perhaps the most diverse selection of material in our history," commented Steve Verkman of Clean Sweep Auctions.

via SportsCollectorsDaily