Sports Memorabilia, Trading Cards, and Americana May 16'26
Lot 419:
Description
BID PER WHAT YOU SEE IN THE PHOTO, NOT THE AI GENERATED TITLES AND DESCRIPTIONS! A Collection of Vintage Topps and Bowman American Football Trading Cards, 1950s-1980s
An assortment of vintage American football trading cards housed in three cardboard storage boxes. The collection primarily consists of Topps brand cards from the mid-1970s through the late 1980s, with several notable cards from the 1950s and 1960s. The cards are organized with handwritten sticky notes designating specific years and types, including 1978 Topps, 1979 Topps, 1981 Topps, 1986 Topps, 1987 Topps, and categories such as Mid-70s to Early-80s Rookie Cards.
Highlighted cards in protective top-loaders include a 1951 Bowman Leon Hart (Detroit Lions), a 1961 Fleer Mike Ditka (University of Pittsburgh), a 1963 Topps Dick Lynch (New York Giants), a 1978 Topps Joe Klecko Rookie Card (No. 168), a 1980 Topps Walter Payton All-Pro (No. 160), a 1980 Topps Otis Anderson Record Breaker (No. 1), and a 1981 Topps Joe Cribbs All-Pro (No. 410). Other visible cards include 1977 Topps team cards for the Buffalo Bills, Wilbur Jackson (49ers), Lemar Parrish (Bengals), and Dan Sullivan (1974 Topps). One section is labeled FOOTBALL to be Autographed. The lot contains hundreds of cards across the three boxes.
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:
All cards are in ungraded condition. Cards held in protective top-loaders range from Very Good to Near Mint (VG-NM) with varying degrees of centering and minor corner wear consistent with age. Bulk cards in boxes have not been individually inspected but appear generally well-preserved with typical edge wear, surface scuffs, and toning common for cards of these eras.
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