Rare Robinson, Duncan, TCG cards highlight list
When Fanatics Collect and Sotheby’s announced in June they were partnering up, the duo promised to run auctions that would contain top-of-the-market trading cards.
They are making good on their word with their inaugural auction, “Holy Grails,” at the end of this month.
The live auction will feature 32 of the rarest and most coveted trading cards from the 20th and 21st centuries, celebrating legendary athletes such as Tom Brady, LeBron James, Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, and many more.
An exhibition and the auction will be held at the Harlem Parish, a magnificent, deconsecrated church on West 118th Street in New York City — a fitting backdrop for these objects of devotion.
The two-day exhibition will be open to the public on Sept. 23 and 24, with the live auction set to take place the second day.
The auction provides a variety of cards, including baseball, football, basketball, soccer, and TCG. There are plenty of jaw-dropping pieces in the auction, led by a Robinson rookie card, 1948 Leaf in a PSA 8. The card is a pop 40 with just nine graded higher. The card sold for $38,400 in November 2017 through Heritage Auctions. It’s estimated to fetch between $275,000-$300,000 in the “Holy Grails” auction.
Another top baseball masterpiece in the auction is a Clemente 1955 Topps in a PSA 9. PSA has graded 11 Clemente rookies in a 9, with only one PSA 10 in existence. Robert Edward Auctions sold the card for $960,000 in June 2023.
There are 11 high-profile basketball cards in the “Holy Grails” auction. A 1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Tim Duncan in a BGS 8 is one of the top pieces.
Perhaps the cards that could pull in the highest bid amounts are from Pokémon. A 1998 Pokémon Japanese Promo Illustrator Holo CoroCoro Comics Pikachu – CGC 9 with an Akabane autograph is estimated to go for between $550,000-$650,000.
For a complete auction listing, check out Sotheby’s website.
