Topps Vault will auction rare items at this year’s National Sports Collectors Convention

By Chris Olds | Baseball Editor

VIP attendees will have one more event to attend at this year’s National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago as The Topps Vault will be auctioning 10 one-of-kind and rather significant items during the VIP reception on the opening day of the show.

Among the items — two final two have not yet been unveiled — are proof cards of some notable past releases as well as cards that were never made along with contracts of key players in the history of sports as well as Topps.

— A 1957-58 Topps basketball signed Bill Russell contract (above)
— A 1957-58 Topps-related signed Bill Russell check
— A 1968 Topps color transparency Nolan Ryan Rookie Card
— A 1977 Topps uncut proof sheet with the never-released Reggie Jackson Orioles card (top)
— A 1987 Topps/Nestle set Mickey Mantle signed contract
— A 1979-80 Topps hockey uncut proof sheet with a Wayne Gretzky RC
— A 1980 Topps/Pepsi uncut proof sheet (set never released)
— A 1968 Topps uncut proof sheet with a Nolan Ryan RC

“We are extremely pleased to be able to present a very exciting event to our VIP attendees who support the show,” said Show Manager Mike Berkus. “Topps will give our VIP attendees a chance to bid on and walk away with some fabulous collectibles from their archives.”

The auction will begin at 2:30 on the opening day with payment expected at the event.

For more on each of the items for for show information, click here.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.