The Barry Halper Collection of Baseball Memorabilia will not be seen together anywhere except in this limited edition three-volume, slipcased catalogue of the auction which is to take place at Sotheby's in New York in late September 1999. The catalogue has over 2,000 photographs, most of them in color, and detailed descriptions of each lot with auction price estimate. The catalogue also has personal commentary on the Collection by Yogi Berra and Ted Williams.
This catalogue is more that just a detailed record of the Halper Collection. It is a comprehensive volume documenting the rich history of our national pastime, and has been designed to be an essential addition to any baseball library. As a piece of baseball history, the Halper catalogue is a collection in itself and will not be reprinted once the initial supply is gone.
"By pursuing his avocation with the ferocity and determination of Ty Cobb stretching a two-base hit into a triple, Barry Halper assembled the world's largest and most significant private collection on baseball, an achievement that should be ranked with the great American collections of the American century...." This quote from Sotheby's auction catalog underscores the importance of Barry Halper not only to the sports-memorabilia world but also to baseball history. During a 50-year stretch, Halper gathered over 100,000 items from the great game, including a 1912 World Series program signed by "Smokey" Joe Wood and President Woodrow Wilson, a ticket stub from the Lou Gehrig memorial game, and Mickey Mantle's 1956 Triple Crown Trophy. The entire legendary lot will be offered in two separate auctions: one live at Sotheby's New York headquarters (September 23-29, 1999) and the other via the Internet at www.sothebys.amazon.com. (For more information, visit our section detailing the auctions and the collection.)
The handsome, slipcased catalog includes three volumes highlighting the event. The first two contain over 2,000 photographs (most in color), plus detailed descriptions and estimated auction prices of the items; the items are divided into 16 sale sessions arranged chronologically and by theme. The third volume examines the history of baseball and includes a timeline of the sport's past as well as essays written by Yogi Berra, Ted Williams, and others. An essential resource for bidders, this catalog also makes an outstanding addition to any sports fan's library. --Andy Boynton
