Sports Memorabilia, Trading Cards, and Americana May 16'26
Lot 578:
Description
BID PER WHAT YOU SEE IN THE PHOTO, NOT THE AI GENERATED TITLES AND DESCRIPTIONS! 1981-82 Topps Hockey Wayne Gretzky #16 Edmonton Oilers Card
This is a 1981-82 Topps hockey trading card featuring Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers, identified as card number 16. The front design displays an action photograph of Gretzky on the ice against a Washington Capitals player, enclosed within a bold orange border. The team name Oilers is featured in large yellow bubble lettering on the right, accompanied by the player name and position in blue and red text. The Topps logo is printed in the bottom-left corner. The reverse side of the card contains Gretzky’s personal information and professional statistics from the 1978-79 WHA season through the 1980-81 NHL season. It includes a biographical text block detailing his achievements as the youngest scoring champion and his points-per-game average. The back also features the NHL and NHLPA logos and a copyright line for 1981 Topps Chewing Gum, Inc.
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:
This is a raw, ungraded card housed in a clear plastic sleeve. The centering on the front is shifted significantly toward the top and left edges. The corners show visible wear and rounding, particularly at the top-right. The edges display minor shelf wear and several small spots of edge chipping. The front surface appears clear with well-preserved colors. The reverse side exhibits typical age-related toning of the cardstock, though the black text remains sharp and legible.
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