Sports Memorabilia, Trading Cards, and Americana May 16'26
Lot 399:
Description
BID PER WHAT YOU SEE IN THE PHOTO, NOT THE AI GENERATED TITLES AND DESCRIPTIONS! A Collection of 1980-81 and 1981-82 Topps Basketball Cards Featuring Hall of Fame Players
This collection of vintage basketball cards primarily consists of the 1980-81 and 1981-82 Topps series. The 1980-81 cards feature the distinctive perforated three-panel tri-card design, with the lot containing both unseparated tri-cards and multiple individual panels. Notable individual panels include rookie-era examples of Hall of Famers Larry Bird (Scoring Leader), Magic Johnson (All-Star West), Julius Erving, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Other 1980-81 panels present include Pete Maravich, George Gervin, Robert Parish, Wes Unseld, Moses Malone, and Artis Gilmore. The 1981-82 cards utilize a standard vertical format with a team-name banner at the bottom. Key players from this series in the lot include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (#20), Magic Johnson (#21), Artis Gilmore (#4), Robert Parish (#13), and Darryl Dawkins (#86). Several Super Action cards are also present. The card backs include printed 1980 Basketball Checklists and player biographical information. A portion of the collection is housed in individual plastic top-loaders, while the remainder is loose.
Provenance / Authentication Note: This item originates from a single-owner collection assembled by a dedicated sports fan (with a strong focus on Notre Dame and New York Yankees memorabilia). The collector actively pursued autographs over many years through in-person events, including games, autograph shows, and visits to National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum during player events, as well as through direct mail requests to athletes and celebrities. The collection included supporting material such as handwritten correspondence sent to athletes (in some cases with payment enclosed), along with photographs of the collector with various signers. A portion of this same collection was featured in our March 21st auction, where multiple items were authenticated by James Spence Authentication (JSA). In regards to any items with signature(s): While this specific item(s) may not be individually submitted for third-party authentication, it originates from the same collection and shows consistency with previously authenticated pieces. As with many large autograph collections, there may be a small number of facsimile or clubhouse-style signatures present, but for the most part we have seen AUTHENTIC SIGNATURES within the collection. Based on the overall provenance and our review, we maintain a strong level of confidence in the authenticity of most items. Bidders are encouraged to review all photos carefully and bid according to their own level of comfort. No additional authentication documentation is included unless visible within the lot photos. Please reach out with any questions.
Condition report:
These are raw, ungraded cards in various states of preservation. The 1980-81 panels exhibit the expected rough perforated edges from separation. Centering varies across the lot, with some cards shifted toward the edges. Corners show degrees of wear ranging from relatively sharp to light softening. A visible crease is present on the 1981-82 Robert Parish card in the lower right top-loader. Surfaces generally appear clean, though minor print defects and light scuffing common to the era may be present.
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