Rare 1889 Baseball Card Poster Heading to the Block Next Month

I've got two posters on my wall: a framed print entitled Legends of Baseball II that I got for Christmas many years ago that has some classy old-time ball cards and a Godfather poster honoring the 25th Anniversary theatrical release that I snagged from the back room of a theatre I worked for back in university. Both are very office-worthy in my books. I'd have them in the living room but I do share the house with my wife and kids so that's not really an option.

Next month someone's going to get an instant office makeover should they win the following from Leylands:

 

From 1889, the poster advertises the Goodwin Round Album - a nine-page full-color premium that was available as a mail-away offer. Two other posters are known to exist but they've got a different format. 

The unrestored piece of art includes a handful of Hall of Famers such as Cap Anson, Charles Comiskey and Mickey Welch. It was discovered at an estate sale in March. The story has two dealers passing it over before a family made the connection of baseball, cards and old and snatched it up. 

Its estimated value is $100,000 and will have a reserve of $45,000 when bidding opens in May at Lelands.com.

Topps Player Contracts

I've heard about Topps selling some of their old player contracts via their eBay-affiliated Topps Vault, but I hadn't really given them much attention seeing as how the Topps Vault only ships within the US. This is odd to me seeing as how eTopps likes Canadians and you can get things shipped to Canada through their eStore, just not with the Topps Vault. Oh, well. I get to save some money, I guess. But man, did I want to bid on those A-Team proof cards.

I digress. Here's a little piece of interest for Yankees fans:

"Donald" Mattingly's 1989 Topps contract. $75 per year? WOW! And you have to use it to buy Topps swag. Interesting indeed.

By the time you read this, the Mattingly auction will likely have ended. But there's still plenty more to pick from including Ozzie Smith, Randy Johnson and Ron Kittle. Not to mention Wolverine and Rogue, but the mutants are from a different seller.

For the BIG Spenders: Clemente Jersey, Ruth Bat and Huge Photo Lot Hit the Auction Block

To me, dropping $20 is a lot for a single card. Needless to say, I won't be taking part in Lelands' latest auction. Their just released fall catalog includes a ton of items for those deep-pocketed souls not left reeling from the recent stock market roller coaster ride. I'll just window shop.

Here's some highlights:

• 600 lots of historical photos.
• Photo collection of Dallas Cowboys team photographer Ron St. Angelo.
• Hand-written letter from Roberto Clemente signed with his nickname "Momen."
• Clemente's game-used bat from the 1972 All-Star Game.
• Clemente batting helmet, circa mid-60s.
• Clemente game-worn winter league uniform from the San Juan Senadores, circa mid-60s.
• Signed document transferring Ted Williams to the Boston Red Sox from 1937, which is signed by Williams.
• Boston Red Sox World Series rings from 2004 and 2007 in their original boxes.
• A program from the first modern World Series in 1903 between Boston and Pittsburgh.
• Team-signed Yankees balls from 1927 and 1928.
• Three Babe Ruth signed balls.
• A 1932 hickory game-used Ruth bat.
• A whistle from James Naismith, the inventor of basketball.
• A Cleveland Browns game-worn jacket from Otto Graham from the 1950s.

The photo lots include images of the Chicago Black Sox, including Joe Jackson, deal-ball era images of Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Edd Roush, Evers, Eddie Collins, Chief Bender, John McGraw, Frank Chance and Ed Walsh; original Carl Horner images used on the T206 tobacco cards, Nat Fein’s Pulitzer Prize winning “Babe Bows Out,” vintage photos of Ruth and Lou Gehrig, , a large Jackie Robinson collection including photos of him in his first game with Brooklyn in 1947, famous moments like Sandy Amoros’ 1955 World Series catch and Willie Mays’ 1954 World Series catch, and vintage boxing images of John L. Sullivan, James J. Corbett, Jack Johnson, Jess Willard, Stanley Ketchel, Tom Sharkey, Bob Fitzsimmons, Joe Gans and Battling Siki.

Historical photography includes a vast civil rights movement collection, crime photography depicting Bonnie and Clyde, Machine Gun Kelly, Al Capone, Pretty Boy Floyd, John Dillinger, Ma Barker, Albert Anastasia, Lucky Luciano, Legs Diamond, and the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. There are also several Ansel Adams vintage prints.

Lelands fall auction ends November 21 should you win the lottery before then. Here's a link to the auction's index should you want to browse and dream.