Christie's "Golden Age of Baseball" Auction

[jhs5120]

It's been at least 15 years since Christie's has done a sports auction. Seems like an almost exclusive pre-war auction. It will be fun seeing a high-end live auction for once.

Auction Link

Edit: looks like they added the catalogue for the first day!

[scotgreb]

The whole catalog is available online . . .

It's a very impressive collection of cards and memorabilia, including a large number of Negro League items.

. . . and thanks Jason for bringing it to my / our attention.

Scott

[rjackson44]

very cool thanks jason

[btcarfagno]

Why do I have a sneaking suspicion that some of those 19th century items may have been "lifted" from their original venues? Am I just jaded?

Tom C

[Al C.risafulli]

Holy cow.

This will be one for the ages.

-Al

[MVSNYC]

The preview is Oct 13-19, I'll try to go the first day.

Al, meet me for lunch, then we'll go!

[khkco4bls]

The memorabilia section is just awesome where is this stuff been. Page 64 top is that President Obama?

[h2oya311]

wow, just wow.

[Mdmtx]

Ho Lee Chit. Wowzers. Most anything in that sale would become the centerpiece of my collection. Would love to get one of the Josh Gibson items. Merely wishful thinking...

Mark

[FourStrikes]

Originally Posted by Mdmtx

Ho Lee Chit

nailed it.

[prewarsports]

I was able to view most of these items in person as they were being prepped for auction and it is one of the greatest assemblages of items ever to be offered for sale!

Rhys

[drcy]

It's best not to use the wording 'prepped for auction.' That's what got Doug Allen in trouble.

[prewarsports]

I just meant that they were being put into different piles, some going to auction and some not. They wanted help making sure everything was completely original (in all aspects) before they went off to the actual auctioneers. I have nothing to do with Christies.

It is/was one of the top collections in the country and it will be exciting to see where some of this stuff lands!

[Joe_G.]

Great collection . . .

FWIW, Lot 299 in photo catalogue is an 1888 Detroit cabinet, not 1887. 1888 was first and only year with vertical stripes on uniform.

[Topnotchsy]

Couple of questions for those familiar with Christies:

1) It looks like if I want a catalog I have to buy it? Is that correct?
2) I signed up and created an account and it seemed to indicate that once created I was eligible for bidding. This doesn't seem right. Am I missing something?

Thanks

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Holy Cow! So many treasures. The Shoeless bat is out of this world. Really enjoyed the editorial that accompanied the bat too.

[drcy]

I was just joking. Organizing and cataloging is how I interpreted it.

[h2oya311]

For the avid HOF rookie collector, this auction is both a wet dream and a major nightmare! I'm in real trouble here! There are 10 items on my checklist and I can probably afford only 1 of them (if that). Ugh!

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Did I read that right? 25% BP whoa baby

[conor912]

I am never even remotely jealous of how much more money someone has than I do until I see an array like this.

[wnp22]

So many drool-worthy items. Apart from all the autos and gamers, that Pittsburgh Baseball Club schedule poster is BEAUTIFUL! And would look insanely nice framed up on my wall. If only...

[gnaz01]

Where did a lot of this collection come from??? I haven't seen a ton of these in all the years I'm around........

[sgbernard]

Wow, this is stunning! Thanks for sharing. I don't collect bats, but the bat collection here is insane. A Josh Gibson bat?!? Also, for a T209 collector, I will now have recurring dreams about that Greenville Spinners photo with Shoeless Joe. Fortunately for my bank account, those dreams will cost less than $40k.

[prewarsports]

It is the collection of a private individual. He bought many of these items privately over a period of many years so those are being offered publicly for the first time ever. A really good guy who is as passionate as anyone about baseball history!

[h2oya311]

Originally Posted by prewarsports

It is the collection of a private individual. He bought many of these items privately over a period of many years so those are being offered publicly for the first time ever. A really good guy who is as passionate as anyone about baseball history!

There are at least three items in this auction that I have never seen before or even known about that would fit nicely in my collection (or anyone's, for that matter)...absolutely incredible stuff!

[Snapolit1]

The Gehrig section and items made my night. Great write up. But wasn't the Gehrig retirement day at Yankee Stadium on July 4 a make up of a rain out the preceding weekend? Or was that the Gehrig memorial day in 41? I need to look it up.

[btcarfagno]

Isn't the Connor pay voucher supposed to have been stolen from the archives of the Baseball Hall Of Fame? Allegedly? I believe it originated from a Lipset auction in the late 1980's or early 1990's, but that it plus ones from O'Rourke, Ewing, etc were among items that had been donated to the Hall in 1970??

Tom C

[jhs5120]

Oops looking at the wrong thing!

[btcarfagno]

It looks like the same one to me.

Tom C

[Klrdds]

Originally Posted by btcarfagno

Isn't the Connor pay voucher supposed to have been stolen from the archives of the Baseball Hall Of Fame? Allegedly? I believe it originated from a Lipset auction in the late 1980's or early 1990's, but that it plus ones from O'Rourke, Ewing, etc were among items that had been donated to the Hall in 1970??

Tom C

Yes , you are correct . Donated to the HOF and then stolen. An interesting story about one of them....and not the Connor.
In fact the Connor was auctioned by Heritage a short while ago.
But there is some controversy if this is Connor"s signature or not . Check out the Connor in Ron's book and then compare . Again I have a story about the Connor on the voucher and in the book.

[bigfanNY]

These items were posted to the Web on a site called national pastime meauseum. My understanding was it was a private collection. Most Christie's catalogs do cost but I think if you show up at preview and or auction you get one.. I might attend just for education might throw couple bids on a cabinet or two..

[TCMA]

I will absolutely be attending when the collection is displayed in NYC . I wonder if they'll allow cell phone photography .

[arcadekrazy]

For those interested, the link to purchase a Catalonia now live on Christie's main site. Catalog is 40 bucks plus shipping

[FourStrikes]

Originally Posted by arcadekrazy

For those interested, the link to purchase a Catalonia now live on Christie's main site. Catalog is 40 bucks plus shipping

"Catalonia", of course = catalog - auto-correct be damned!...IMO - and I'm certainly not authorized to spend OPM (other people's money), there's some amazing stuff in this particular auction - one for the ages - and while we as collectors are used to/programmed to receiving "free" catalogs from major auction houses, this catalog offers some exceptional - and potentially never to be seen again in a public marketplace - items, and again- IMO - well-worth the quadruple-sawbuck ($40.00) investment, if only for posterity / research / amazingly cool sh!t purposes.

disclaimer: I am NOT in any way associated with this particular auction house, nor do I have any items represented/consigned to Christies - simply stating my personal opinion, as this is one helluva significant up-scale/important hobby-related offering!!!

my $40 will be in the mail tomorrow - WOW! there's some amazing, one-of-akind sh!t coming into the marketplace - good luck all!

DS

[aljurgela]

Filling out the papers now!! . (Only partially kidding).

I am not really a bat collector, but can someone educate me on how to feel good about these negro league bats? I understand the concept of side writing on a bat, but is that it? Does PSA / DNA actually have records that tie the weights and lengths to certain players, etc? New to this, but some one of a kind things coming that is for sure!!!

WOW!

[CardboardCollector]

Amazing stuff. Sounds like a road trip for me.

[ruth-gehrig]

Perhaps I am wrong but I believe it is a $40 catalog for the memorabilia sale AND $40 catalog for the photo catalog.

[MVSNYC]

Originally Posted by ruth-gehrig

Perhaps I am wrong but I believe it is a $40 catalog for the memorabilia sale AND $40 catalog for the photo catalog.

Correct, $80 total. I've also heard it's add'l for postage & handling. I'm planning to get mine during the preview.

[ruth-gehrig]

Are they free if you attend live? If so maybe I'll throw that $80 towards gasoline

[MVSNYC]

I am not aware of them being free in any situation. I'll buy mine at the preview (if they offer me free copies, I won't argue).

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by MVSNYC

Correct, $80 total. I've also heard it's add'l for postage & handling. I'm planning to get mine during the preview.

Have they provided info on when the preview is?

Also, will there be online bidding for these?

[Kawika]

I didn't much like paying eighty bucks for two catalogs but they arrived today (very quick turn-around, four days from NY to British Columbia) and after a quick perusal I would say that after fifteen plus years in this racket they are the nicest catalogs I've ever seen and totally worth the money. Wonderful stuff, great layout, fluffless prose. Probably nothing in there I'll be able to afford but the books are definitely worth having in your baseball library.

[Kawika]

Originally Posted by Topnotchsy

Have they provided info on when the preview is?

Also, will there be online bidding for these?

Viewing dates are Thursday, October 13 through Tuesday, October 18. Online bidding is indicated in the fine print along with write-in and live bidding.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Kawika

Viewing dates are Thursday, October 13 through Tuesday, October 18. Online bidding is indicated in the fine print along with write-in and live bidding.

Thanks for the info and follow up, David.....I might have to open my wallet for the catalog set...

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by Kawika

Viewing dates are Thursday, October 13 through Tuesday, October 18. Online bidding is indicated in the fine print along with write-in and live bidding.

Awesome. Thanks!

[MVSNYC]

Just purchased mine online. Was going to get them at the preview, but I fear they could be sold out.

(Hi David)

[Leon]

Looking again I am still in awe at the accumulation. I might bid but need to remember the 25% BP tacked on (as was stated, I didn't check myself).....which is a bit more than normal.

[gnaz01]

Ordered both to keep as a reference, but only one showed up (the photograph one). Did anyone order both and receive both??