I keep all my auction catalogs for reference and source material no matter how old they are -roughly 30 years worth. The 1991 Copeland Collection or the Mastro Auctions or the Sotheby's 3 volume Barry Halper Collection -are all now pretty historic in their own right.
In one of these catalogs I spotted a 1940's Cuban card of Turkey Sterns and a photo featuring Carl Horner's mugshot...neither of which remain in my collection, but I do remember them.
Here's another reason for keeping auction catalogs: stolen or long-lost items do on occasion turn up in these catalogs. Hank Thomas can attest to this when he spotted his grandfather's Presidential-autographed Baseballs in a Ron Oser Auction.
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