10 Notable Auction Prices Realized for PSA-Certified Items in 2019 – To say it was a HUGE year in the hobby is an understatement. Multiple records were broken across several categories of collectibles including vintage sports cards and high-profile memorabilia items. PSA-certified items were at the forefront. Auction houses across the country were themselves doing record business in 2019. This resulted in the sale of tens of thousands of cherished sports and non-sports collectibles being sold, the majority of which came with third-party certification from PSA/DNA. Here is a look at some of the top selling items from 2019.
Sold for $1.35 million via Mile High Card Company in October, 2019
Once again, vintage cardboard led the way with many outstanding auction prices realized (APR). From a 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner (graded PSA Good 2) that sold for $1.35 million via Mile High Card Company in October, to a 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #144 (PSA Mint 9) that sold through Heritage Auctions for $528,000 at the start of last year.
Overall, PSA reports that ten of the top-selling collectibles auctioned last year were all certified by the industry’s leading third-party authentication and grading company.
With a combined value of $6,671,250, the lineup includes not only coveted cardboard, but also a 1929 Babe Ruth game-used bat.
Authenticated by PSA/DNA as a true Ruth gamer that’s been attributed to the Bambino’s 500th career home run! The 35-inch, 38-ounce ash bat was sold by SCP Auctions in December for an astounding $1,008,000.
In addition, a rare Olympic gold medal from the 1936 Berlin Games, one that received a full Letter of Authenticity from PSA/DNA, also made the cut as it brought in $600,000 via Goldin Auctions in December.
The medal is 24k gold-plated over silver. Its history reveals that it belonged to U.S. track-and-field star Jesse Owens. It was one of four gold medals he earned at the 1936 Summer Olympics. This is just the second Owens’ gold medal to surface; the other two have so far been lost to history. This fact, along with the historic, yet deplorable location of the games themselves, helped make it one of the true jewels of the hobby in 2019.
Sold for $765,000 in December 2019 by Heritage auctions
Four more top-selling cards from last year, all sold through Heritage, that were authenticated and/or graded by PSA included:
- 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 (PSA NM-MT+ 8.5) for $765,000 in December
- 1910 Old Mill Joe Jackson (T210) Series 8 (PSA VG+ 3.5) that garnered $600,000 in March
- 1933 Goudey Lou Gehrig #160 (PSA Mint 9) that brought in $576,000 last January
- 1916 Famous & Barr Co. Babe Ruth #151 that captured $540,000 in August
Rounding out the lineup from the 2019 auction circuit is a circa 1932 Lou Gehrig signed and personalized photo to Babe Ruth (PSA/DNA Mint 9). It fetched $480,000 via Hunt Auctions in June.
Last, but certainly not least was a 1998 Pokemon Japanese Promo Pikachu Illustrator – Holo (PSA Mint 9) that brought in $224,250 by way of Weiss Auctions in October.
PSA is the world’s largest trading card, autograph and memorabilia authentication and grading service. Since 1991, PSA has examined and certified over 35 million collectibles with a combined value of over $1 billion. For additional information, visit www.PSAcard.com.
10 Notable Auction Prices Realized for PSA-Certified Items in 2019
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