A lesson in the value of overlooked treasures lurking in the depths of your basement has emerged from Saskatchewan, Canada. Recently, a cardboard box filled with hockey cards, long forgotten in a basement, fetched a staggering $3.72 million at auction, as revealed by a press release from Heritage Auctions.
Contained within this unassuming box are 16 smaller boxes, housing a total of 48 packs of O-Pee-Chee hockey cards from the 1979-1980 season. Remarkably, these cards are described as being in pristine condition, “fresh off the factory floor,” amounting to approximately 10,752 cards in total. The allure of this collection lies in the possibility that it harbors one of the most sought-after treasures in the hockey card world: Wayne Gretzky’s rookie cards.
Chris Ivy, the director of sports auctions at Heritage, expressed no surprise at the attention this collection garnered, stating, “We knew from the moment we heard this O-Pee-Chee case existed that it would get the attention of hockey card collectors worldwide.”
Manufactured by the renowned O-Pee-Chee company, the 1979-1980 release became iconic, particularly for containing the rookie debut card of Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. It is speculated that within this set, there may be around two dozen rookie cards from Gretzky’s inaugural season with the Edmonton Oilers. Notably, this collection represents the only unopened case of 1979-1980 OPC cards to have surfaced in the 21st century, according to Heritage Auctions.
The backstory behind the discovery of these cards adds another layer of intrigue. The cards’ owner, once a fervent collector, had amassed such a sizable collection that his family lost track of its contents. It was only recently that his son stumbled upon the hidden treasure amidst “stacks and stacks” of other items in their Saskatchewan home.
According to Heritage Auctions, the owner was oblivious to the existence of this remarkable case until a recent inventory check revealed it among a long-forgotten stash of boxes dating back to the late 1970s and early 1980s. These boxes contained deadstock cards acquired directly from a wholesaler.
Describing the find as a “thrilling miracle of survival,” Heritage Auctions considers it one of the most remarkable trading card lots ever offered. The auction, part of the Sunday Winter Platinum Night Sports Auction, witnessed other notable sales, including a high-grade 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card fetching $2.37 million. In total, the event raked in an impressive $25.98 million in sales.
This extraordinary tale serves as a reminder of the hidden treasures that may lie undiscovered in the recesses of our homes. It underscores the importance of revisiting forgotten collections, as they may hold valuable assets that could yield significant returns. The allure of uncovering such gems adds a layer of excitement to the prospect of exploring overlooked corners of one’s personal space.