A piece of sports memorabilia history is about to take center stage as the exceedingly rare 1913 Honus Wagner card from Voskamp’s Coffee prepares to headline an upcoming sports auction. Clean Sweep Auctions has revealed that their September event will showcase this elusive card, originally found only in packages of coffee and tea distributed by Voskamp’s Coffee, a Pittsburgh-based company. Over the past century, these cards have become increasingly scarce, making the appearance of the Wagner card in this auction a significant event for collectors.
The Wagner card to be auctioned has recently been graded and encapsulated by the PSA at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago, marking only the third time a Voskamp’s Wagner has received a PSA grade. SGC, another grading authority, has graded just four examples of this rare card to date. This marks the first time a Voskamp’s Wagner card has been included in a public auction since 2017, offering collectors a rare opportunity to add a highly sought-after piece to their collections.
Aside from the iconic Wagner card, the auction will feature a diverse range of vintage baseball cards and memorabilia that are sure to capture the attention of collectors:
– Two 1887 N172 Old Judge cards showcasing Hall of Famers Mike “King” Kelly and Harry Wright.
– Early career Ty Cobb cards, including an E102 graded PSA 2 (mk) and a T206 with a green background graded PSA 1.5.
– A variety of Cy Young cards, including a PSA 5 Portrait card.
– Pre-war treasures like P2 Sweet Caporal pins, E103 Williams Caramel Ty Cobb, and more.
– A selection of Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio cards from significant years in their careers.
– A nearly complete 1947-66 Exhibit set, a 1954 Wilson Franks Ted Williams graded PSA 1, and a high-grade 1955 Topps baseball complete set with a BVG 7 Roberto Clemente rookie card.
Stepping into the realm of autographed sets and modern highlights, the auction presents a nearly complete autographed 1952 Bowman Baseball set, individual autographed cards of baseball legends like Roy Campanella and Willie Mays, and iconic basketball cards featuring Michael Jordan’s early career. Football enthusiasts can also anticipate high-grade Bart Starr cards spanning from his rookie season to his final issue in 1971.
The memorabilia section of the auction offers a glimpse into sports history with items like a Walter Johnson single-signed baseball, a 1933 New York Yankees team-signed baseball with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, a signed Roger Maris rookie card, and unique collectibles like vintage pennants, tickets, and programs dating back to the early 1900s. The inclusion of boxing memorabilia, presidential autographs, and entertainment autographs adds an extra layer of diversity to the auction, appealing to collectors with various interests.
Steve Verkman of Clean Sweep Auctions expressed excitement about the eclectic mix of items in this auction, noting that there is something for every type of collector to appreciate. The September event is poised to be a landmark occasion, offering collectors a chance to acquire rare and diverse pieces that celebrate the rich tapestry of sports history encapsulated in these timeless collectibles.
