DALLAS, TX.- Quantity and quality collide in the latest trading card catalog auction from the world’s largest collectibles auctioneer as Heritage Auctions presents more than 2,000 lots spanning nearly 150 years of sports history. The auction is open for bidding and closes in extended bidding format at 10 p.m. CT, April 18-19.

The voluminous catalog opens with a circa 1860 carte de visite (CDV) of the Brooklyn Atlantics Base Ball Club. The rare card is only the second such treasure Heritage has had the opportunity to bring to auction. Other 19th-century rarities include a 1878 Boston Red Stockings cabinet card, a complete set of Allen & Ginter baseball players, a rare N175 Gypsy Queen of Hall of Famer Pud Galvin, an N29 Allen & Ginter of Buck Ewing, graded PSA MINT 9, and a staggeringly rare, complete set of the fragile 1899 to 1900 M101-1 Sporting News premiums.

As the century turns the treasures keep coming, including 20 W600 Sporting Life cabinet cards led by Honus Wagner in both street clothes and uniform. Postcards make their presence known with names like Lincoln Publishing, H.M. Taylor, Novelty Cutlery, Raymond Kahn, Wolverine News, Suhling Company of Chicago, Max Stein, PC796 Sepia, Case Automobile and a lengthy list of from the Rose Company.

The beloved T206 tobacco issue will supply five high-grade Ty Cobb cards, including all four poses, and a Sweet Caporal Eddie Plank. Four, scarce T205 Ramly Hall of Famers, graded PSA NM 7, overcome the steep odds against the delicate gold-foiled issue, as do a pair of gorgeous 1914 Boston Garters and a Christy Mathewson from the 1912 edition of the sock-securing breed.

There is a 1917 E135 Collins-McCarthy Joe Jackson, SGC 92 NM/MT+ 8.5, a 1934 Goudey Lou Gehrig #37, SGC Mint 9, a 1941 Play ball Joe DiMaggio #71, PSA Mint 9, and multiple cards featuring Babe Ruth and Gehrig. A PSA Mint 9 graded example of Ty Cobb’s 1915 Cracker Jack will likely deliver the top result.

The PSA Set Registry Number One example of the 1932 U.S. Caramel Set is expected to draw over a half-million dollars in aggregate bids joined by other key sets, including the 1933 Uncle Jacks Candy, 1948 Bowman baseball, 1956 Topps baseball, 1961 Topps baseball and the 1964 Topps Stand Up Set – all ranking in the top five positions on the PSA Set Registry.

For non-sports fans, the auction includes complete sets of 1938 Horrors of War, including the No. 1 finest set known, the finest graded set of 1956 Topps U.S. Presidents, the second-highest graded set of the 1962 Topps Civil War News and a wonderful near-set of the beautiful 1888 N2 Allen & Ginter “American Indian Chiefs.”

Basketball collectors will encounter near sets of high-grade 1957 Topps and 1961 Fleer, while football fans have a terrific selection of 1952 Bowman Large cards to pursue, four Joe Namath rookie cards and a 2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady Championship Ticket Autograph card in a perfect PSA Gem Mint 10!

Unopened material is still the hottest investment in the hobby right now. This auction features nearly 100 lots of unopened wax packs, cello pack, boxes and cases.

Additional highlights include, but are not limited to:

· 1904 Pittsburgh Leader Honus Wagner Pocket Schedule, SGC 84 NM 7

· 1911 D304 Brunners Bread Ty Cobb, SGC 86 NM+ 7.5

· 1910-11 T3 Turkey Red Ty Cobb #9, SGC 80 EX/NM 6

· 1932 U.S. Caramel Bobby Jones #3, PSA Mint 9

· 1961 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain #8, PSA Mint 9

· 1969 Topps Football Series 2 Wax Box, with 24 unopened packs

· 1980 Topps Baseball Unopened Vending Case with 24, 500-count boxes

· 2004 Upper Deck Trilogy Michael Jordan/LeBron James 1 - 2 Combo Dual Game-Worn Jersey Autograph Card #AUJJJ, PSA Mint 9