This month, Heritage Auctions is set to present an extraordinary collection of Venezuelan Topps baseball cards that captures the essence of an era. Consigned by a South American collector, this trove consists of 117 lots spanning the years 1959 to 1968. Boasting over 1,200 cards, this collection stands out not only for its vastness but also for its exceptional condition, setting it apart from its contemporaries.
The Venezuelan Topps cards were produced through a partnership with Benco, a South American printing company, in response to the rising popularity of baseball following World War II and the emergence of Latin stars in the Major Leagues. Today, these cards are considered rare gems, as most surviving examples bear the scars of time. However, this collection defies the norm with its superior level of preservation.
The Venezuelan Topps cards differ from their regular counterparts in noticeable ways, such as the distinctive differences in cardstock and print quality. These cards lack a glossy finish and are made from coarse, inexpensive cardboard, making them prone to rapid deterioration. This presents a significant challenge to collectors seeking well-preserved specimens. Their scarcity is further compounded by limited production and distribution, as well as a trend among local collectors to affix the cards into specially designed albums. As a result, finding these cards in near-mint or better condition is exceptionally rare, to the extent that PSA, the card grading authority, has never awarded a “GEM MINT” 10 rating to any Venezuelan Topps card.
However, this summer, Heritage Auctions received a remarkable collection that defied the odds, including cards that stand as the highest-graded examples known. Some of the highlights from this collection include a 1959 Mickey Mantle (PSA 5), a 1960 Carl Yastrzemski rookie card (PSA 5.5), a 1964 Ernie Banks (PSA 8), and a 1964 Mantle (PSA 6). Heritage Auctions hailed this collection as “the culmination of decades of steadfast commitment to the art of collecting.”
The later issues of the Venezuelan Topps cards are particularly noteworthy as they feature players who never appeared on an MLB card. These sets introduced future stars, like Dave Concepcion, who made their first appearance on Topps cards in Venezuela before being featured on any U.S.-issued Topps rookie cards. Among the lots up for auction is the 1967 Venezuelan Concepcion, graded 6. The same set also paid tribute to “Retirado” (retired) legends, including Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, and Sandy Koufax, who had recently ended his career after the 1966 season.
The auction will also feature a range of other high-grade cards, such as a PSA 8 1967 Mantle, a PSA 7 1967 Mantle, a PSA 6 1968 Johnny Bench rookie, a PSA 5 1964 Pete Rose, a PSA 6 1964 Willie Mays, a PSA 4 1964 Hank Aaron, and additional cards of luminaries like Koufax, Roberto Clemente, Roger Maris, and other stars and Hall of Famers from that era.
The bidding for these pieces of baseball history is scheduled to conclude on November 16 in the Heritage Fall Sports Collectibles Auction. This event promises to be a landmark occasion, offering collectors the opportunity to own a piece of baseball’s international legacy and celebrate the storied past of the sport’s memorabilia. Each card represents a fragment of history, showcasing the global reach of America’s favorite pastime and the enduring allure of collecting. For those who value the heritage of the game and the artistry of card collecting, this auction presents an unmissable opportunity to acquire a slice of baseball card lore.
