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In the recent Heritage Spring Sports Card Auction, a rare T206 Ty Cobb card with a tobacco advertisement back was sold for $432,000, outshining even the fabled Honus Wagner card in rarity. The auction also featured a sought-after M101-5 Sporting News Blank Back Babe Ruth rookie card, which garnered $348,000, showcasing the enduring allure and value of vintage sports memorabilia.
This spring's Heritage Auction brought remarkable attention to a T206 Ty Cobb card, distinct for its association with Cobb's tobacco brand, which fetched $432,000 due to its scarcity—only about 25 are known to exist. The card's back, proclaiming "King of the Smoking Tobacco World," is unique in the T206 set, and its rarity is accentuated by its glossy finish, a tribute to its origins with a short-lived tobacco product.
Among other high-profile lots was the lone PSA 4 graded Babe Ruth rookie card from the M101-5 Sporting News Blank Back series, closing at $348,000. Standout sales also included a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card at $204,000 and a 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card, which hit $210,000.
The auction saw over 2,450 bidders worldwide, pushing the total sales to over $10 million. Noteworthy was the sale of one of the three PSA 10 graded 1969 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie cards, which netted $180,000. Chris Ivy, Heritage's Director of Sports Auctions, noted the auction's broad appeal, from high-profile cards to significant gains for cards previously valued in the four-figure range.
A highlight was the auction of a signed 1951 Bowman Willie Mays rookie card, remarkable not only for its rarity—with only 31 signed copies known—but also for its backstory and sale price of $126,000. Collectors also showed strong interest in unopened materials, with a 1967 Topps Football cello box and a 1970 Topps baseball (Mixed Series) cello box each selling for $81,000. Additionally, a Jackie Robinson UCLA football debut ticket stub exceeded expectations, fetching $22,800.
An estate sale discovery of eight 1914 Lawrence Semon issue postcards, including Ty Cobb, turned a $400 investment into $50,370, highlighting the potential for incredible finds in the vintage card market.
For those interested in the full auction results and exploring more about these and other memorabilia, Heritage Auctions offers detailed insights on their website.
