There are sports cards and sets ranging from less than $1,000 to $750,000 in Memory Lane Inc.’s upcoming I Own it Now catalog, many of them rarely offered. The dilemma for collectors is whether to pull the trigger at the listed price or wait a little while and try to save a few bucks. If there’s something you want, that wait can be agonizing. Other collectors may not be as patient.
The unique sale returns later this week with more than 100 lots presented in a full-color catalog available online or in traditional form. Unlike the company’s regular catalog auctions, all lots listed in the I Own it Now event will be for sale at the listed price for a set time period; in this case, from February 24 at 1 p.m. EST until 1 p.m. March 6. That’s when all unsold lots will be open to offers that can be placed through Memory Lane. I Own it Now will close on Friday, March 9 at 6 p.m. EST.
Lot #1 is a T206 Honus Wagner (PSA 2), sports collecting’s ‘Holy Grail’ card. The Wagner, from a long-time east coast resident’s long-time collection, is available at $750,000. It’s not the only T206 rarity available, though. A well-centered Sweet Caporal-backed Eddie Plank, graded PSA 4, is also listed and carries an I Own it Now price of $89,995.
Collectors of 1914 Cracker Jack cards are well versed in the condition challenges presented by the set. Finding even mid-grade cards is a tough task and the competition for Hall of Famers is always stiff. MLI will offer a PSA 5 Christy Mathewson in this catalog at a price of $110,000.
Babe Ruth is well represented in the catalog. There is a solid single-signed Ruth baseball ($27,500), a dual-signed Ruth-Lou Gehrig ball ($19,995), two signed Ruth checks (both under $7,000), a PSA 8 1933 Goudey Sport Kings card ($27,500), and a PSA 6 1932 U.S. Caramel ($11,995) among others.
Some scarce Ty Cobb cards also make their way into the catalog including a 1911-14 Brunners Bread (PSA 6) at $75,000, a 1911 T3 Turkey Red cabinet with checklist back ($10,495), a 1908 E-102 card that many consider his true rookie ($8,495) and a 1911 M116 Sporting Life ($3,650).
There is a PSA 3 1909 E-90-1 Joe Jackson American Caramel as well ($24,995).
Perhaps the most eye-popping item in the catalog, though, is a 1932 U.S. Caramels complete set of 31 cards, all graded PSA 8. For the collector who likes high end consistency, this impressive grouping is currently #3 on the PSA Set Registry and carries a price tag of $335,000.
Pre-War collectors can gaze upon a 1909 T204 Ramly set of 121 cards, painstakingly collected with an overall grade of 4.054 and now available at $100,000. The set includes a PSA 7 Plank and ranks sixth on the PSA Registry.
The first major post-War set is in the catalog as well. A master set of 1948-49 Leaf, with a GPA of 6.46 and including near mint 7s of Jackie Robinson (rookie), Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Satchel Paige is offered at $100,000.
Sprinkled throughout the catalog are various seldom seen and/or top shelf cards of some of the hobby’s all-time all-stars including the likes of Mathewson, Young, Johnson, Wagner, Mays, Mantle, Berra, Aaron and Rose.
Collectors of football cards will find several ultra high-grade cards from the 1955 Topps All-American set, along with a 1949 Leaf yellow background Sid Luckman, one of only five PSA 8 copies in existence. It’s priced at $49,995 and is one of several top end cards from the Leaf set being placed in the sale. There is also a PSA 9 1935 National Chicle Knute Rockne at $39,995.
Hockey card collectors will see one of that segment’s true scarcities, a 1966-67 Topps USA Test Bobby Orr. Graded 8.5 by PSA, it’s offered at $49,995.
Basketball card collecting’s modern magnet, the 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card is represented by a BGS 9.5 copy that is listed at $11,995. Hoops fans will also enjoy reading a one page hand-written letter penned by the late Pete Maravich to someone going through a tough time. Signed ‘Pistol Pete Maravich’, it’s offered at $8,500.
American history and pop culture are represented too. There’s a rare Neil Armstrong black and white signed photo of the 1969 moon landing at $8,500 and a signed check/photo display of all four Beatles at $39,995.
To receive a catalog or to register, contact Memory Lane at (877)606-5263 or visit their website.
The company is also accepting consignments for their next regular catalog auction, slated for this spring.
