Vintage Rarities III is open for bidding! The auction includes vintage baseball memorabilia including autographs, cards, and much more! This is another incredible auction, that while small in quantity, more than makes up for it in the quality of the items. With each passing year, various unique pieces of sports memorabilia surface at auction and in turn, get collectors in a frenzy. Here is another one of these examples. Imperial Sports Auctions, of Helotes Texas, is proud to offer the earliest known signature of Henry (Lou) Gehrig. The Vintage Rarities III online auction is open for bidding from February 21st through March 10th.
Signed “Henry Gehrig January 1917?, this remarkable antiquity presents an opportunity for advanced collectors to secure an amazing piece of memorabilia for their collection. An excerpt from the item description remarks “Our featured offering tells a story of two classmates from a Manhattan public grammar school. From 1908 through 1917, Henry Gehrig attended grammar school at the Fort Washington PS 132. By many accounts he was known as an average student…His fellow classmate, Percival Singerman, while not on the merit list for attendance, excelled in academics…on Percival’s graduation day January 31, 1917, these two convened and Gehrig shared his penning in this black titled ‘Autograph’ book along with several other classmates”
The storied history and provenance for this lot is remarkable. It has remained in the family for nearly a century until now. The consignor of this lot is the son of the young boy who received Gehrig’s signature along with several other classmates that January in 1917. A notarized Letter of Provenance from our consignor along with additional supporting documentation from the Fort Washington PS 132 school also accompanies this lot. Simply a breathtaking and a true one-of-a-kind item!
Several other key pieces of vintage baseball memorabilia are being offered in this sale as well. Other featured lots include an extremely scarce 1913 World Tour pennant with Christy Mathewson depicted, a 1940's HOF ball with signatures of Ruth, Cobb, Johnson, Wagner, Speaker and more. You will also find several signed baseballs including Babe Ruth, Roger Maris, Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson and Jimmie Foxx among others. Another fine collection of early signatures, all circa 1925-1929, include rare autographs of Miller Huggins, Ruth, Gehrig and more scarce 1927 Yankees players and a 1929 Phil. Athletics Team signed sheet with Foxx, Cochrane, Collins et al.
An impressive group of vintage pre-war cards are also offered in this sale. They include SGC graded caramel issues of Ty Cobb and Christy Mathewson along with a high grade Babe Ruth Exhibit postcard . A very scarce 1916 BF2 Ferguson Bakery felt pennant of Ty Cobb is also included.
Overall, this eclectic group of vintage baseball autographs, cards and related memorabilia is sure to delight beginning to advanced collectors alike.
Imperial Sports Auctions, located in Helotes TX, features quarterly auctions comprised of vintage baseball memorabilia. Our auctions include, but are not limited to, autographs, cards, game used equipment and other related memorabilia. Recently auctioned was a Ty Cobb autographed T206 for an impressive $27,600 and Mantle signed homerun ball with provenance for over $10,000. Our focus is on high end, unique items in a smaller auction format. For additional information, register to bid in our auction or if you have a collection to consign, please visit us online at www.imperialsports.net or call toll-free 877.226.9054.