I've told this story before, but in 1995 Rob Lifson was running an SCD Auction (pre-REA days) and he offered Barry Halper's Old Judge collection as one lot. It was loaded with Hall of Famers, Spotted Ties, Brown Champs, and assorted rarities. There were roughly 750 cards, with no pictures and minimal description (although he provided a set of black and white photocopies by request).
The lot opened at $17,500, roughly $25 a card, and received only the opening bid. Nobody would touch a large lot like that back then because there was no place to go with them. Wish I bought the lot and kept it.
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