Jump starting the New Year with a resounding bang, Mile High Card Company concluded its Premium Holiday auction on January 31st, 2013 and saw tremendous results across the board. This auction had a markedly different feel in terms of size and scope in comparison to traditional MHCC auctions, focusing on a smaller lot size with select higher-level items being offered continuing the format the company has used the previous three years to start the year.

This elite format allowed us to concentrate on what we feel is the “best of the best” resulting in superior collectibles achieving record-setting prices. Said MHCC President and CEO Brian Drent, “We are always excited to be able to offer top shelf material in this more exclusive auction format. Our loyal customers have come to expect nothing but the best from our company, and once again our amazing consignors stepped up to the plate and made this tremendous sale a top flight event with the level of collectibles that were offered.”

The auction consisted of some of the most desirable tobacco era complete sets in the hobby, the likes of which haven’t been seen in the auction arena in quite some time. Mile High Card Company has built its reputation on being the auction house of choice when consignors of truly rare and special items decide to liquidate.

Leading the way in the sports card offerings was the sale of a stunning 1911 T3 Turkey Red’s Complete Set that sold for a cumulative $200,642.00, with individual highlights of the #9 Ty Cobb graded PSA EX/MT 6 selling for $25,273.00 and the #101 Wee Willie Keeler PSA 7 commanding $13,438.00, while the #16 Johnny Evers PSA 6 EX/MT found a new home at the tune of $7,063.00. The auction also featured an outstanding 1911 T205 Complete Set that was completely PSA graded with an amazing GPA of 5.869 ranking as the third highest graded complete set on the PSA Set Registry. The set was offered in the MHCC aggregate form and sold individually for a total of $131,609.00, some of the highlights of the set are the following: A stunning 1911 T205 Gold Border Addie Joss PSA 6 EX/MT with Only One Graded Higher by PSA sold for $6,420.00, while a T205 Gold Border Irvin K. Wilhelm “‘Suffered’ in 18th Line” PSA 4 VG/EX reached unprecedented levels with a sale of $7,132.00, a T205 Gold Border R. Hoblitzell “No Stats” PSA 5 EX found a new home in tune with market pricing at $11,308.00, as well the popular pasteboard of Ty Cobb from the 1911 T205 series graded EX/MT 6 by PSA sold for $5,426.00. Also offered in the impressive assemblage of pre war material was a stunning and attention commanding 1911 M116 Sporting Life Master Set #2 All-Time Finest on PSA Set Registry with GPA of 6.387 that fetched an impressive $98,508.00! As well a terrific

1913 T200 Fatima Team Card Complete Set Completely PSA Graded #3 All Time Finest on the PSA Set Registry was sold as individual lots for a cumulative $15,532.00.

In addition to the highlights from the Pre War era the following collectibles performed to exceptional levels: A 1909 T204 Ramly Eddie Collins PSA 8

NM/MT sold for an impressive $16,286.00, while a 1915 Cracker Jack #30 Ty Cobb SGC 86 NM+ 7.5 closed at $17,362.00, and a 1933 Goudey #92 Lou Gehrig PSA 8 NM/MT sold for $12,440.00, the sale also featured the realized price of $17,101.00 for a 1933 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth

graded SGC 88 NM/MT 8, a 1975 Topps #620 Gary Carter graded  PSA 10 GEM MINT sold for an impressive $6,932.94, also selling was a 1948 Leaf Near Complete Set Completely PSA Graded #10  Current Finest on the PSA Set Registry sold for $22,922.00, performing far above recent market value was a 1950 Bowman #22 Jackie Robinson PSA 8.5 NM/MT+ which sold for $5,969.00, proving that Mickey Mantle is the backbone of our hobby an attractive lower grade 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle graded PSA 1.5 FR sold for an impressive $6,566.00, as well a 1964 Topps #581 Gonzalez/Moore PSA 9 MINT sold for an awesome $1,774.00, In addition to cards MHCC offered a select group of unopened lots that were highlighted by the following: A 1972 Topps Full Unopened 5th/6th Series Wax Box sold for an impressive $7,235.00, while a scarce 1991 Topps Desert Shield Full Unopened Wax Box sold for $5,098.00.

As with all Mile High auctions there was a select amount of exceptionally high-end memorabilia that was highlighted by the much ballyhooed Spectacular and Incredibly Rare Babe Ruth and Al Capone Signed OAL (Harridge) Ball that sold for an impressive $61,863.00, a 1927 Babe Ruth Single-Signed Ball With Exceptional Provenance LOA PSA/DNA AND JSA sold for $8,435.00, as well a 1927 New York Yankees Reunion Team-Signed Ball Signed in the early 1940s with (11) Signatures Featuring Ruth, Gehrig, Lazzeri, Pennock, Bengough LOA PSA/DNA and JSA reached a new home to the tune of $7,477.00, an Exceptional Roberto Clemente Signed ONL (Giles) Ball LOA JSA with removals realized $4,484.00, while a Babe Ruth Signed Post Card PSA/DNA 9 MINT sold for $$4,874.00, and a scarce Circa 1910 Ty Cobb “Fan for a Fan” reached a final realized price of $6,788.00

Drent commented at the conclusion of the auction, “once again, the number of newly registered bidders combined with the strength of the final sale prices offers evidence that the hobby continues to thrive, and that truly great material will always sell for tremendous prices.”

As always, the entire list of prices realized is available on our website at www.milehighcardco.com, and as we prepare for a return to our standard-sized auction in May, we are actively seeking consignments of quality hobby material.

If you desire the maximum possible return for your prized sports cards and/or memorabilia, please call our office at (303) 840-2784 to speak with one of our team of experts. Additionally, our popular Consignor Incentive Program continues, with all consignors earning reward points and our top consignor earning another in a long line of exceptional rewards.