An astonishing discovery of unopened ice hockey cards in a Canadian basement has resulted in a whopping $3.7 million at auction. The find, which included a case of 1979-80 cards from the O-Pee-Chee candy and trading card brand, has left a family in Canada ecstatic after the successful auction.
The unopened case, hidden in a Saskatchewan office, potentially contains over 20 rookie cards of Wayne Gretzky, a legendary figure in the sport. The winning bid was made by an anonymous Canadian, with a final amount of approximately $3.7 million, including a 20% premium on top of the purchase.
Heritage Auctions, based in Dallas, has described this discovery as ‘the greatest unopened find of the 21st Century’, emphasizing the potential value of the trading cards, particularly Gretzky’s rookie card. Rookie cards, being the first to depict an athlete as a professional player, often command significant premiums from collectors.
Notably, individual Gretzky cards can range in value from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. In fact, Heritage Auctions previously sold one 1979 O-Pee-Chee card for a record $3.75 million three years ago. The potential for approximately 27 physically pristine Gretzky rookie cards within the discovered case has sparked considerable excitement among collectors.
Jason Simonds, a sports cards specialist at Heritage Auctions, expressed the rarity of this find, stating that it would be a significant statistical anomaly if the number of Gretzky rookies deviated greatly from the estimated 27. The family who unearthed the case celebrated the auction success with a small viewing party, eagerly watching the bids come in.
According to Mr. Simonds, the discovery occurred when the father was clearing out his office in Regina with the assistance of his son. The father, an avid collector, had purchased the sealed case years ago with the intention of building sets of cards to sell, but never followed through. The family has opted to remain anonymous.
The authenticity of all 16 wax boxes within the larger case was verified before the auction. Such cases, originally intended for sale to large stores, were designed for the individual packs to be sold to customers. The remarkable find has captivated the attention of collectors and enthusiasts alike, showcasing the enduring allure of sports memorabilia and the potential for unexpected discoveries.
