All I know is I’m glad Robert Edward specializes in baseball memorabilia and trading cards, because if it was a vintage football sales outlet, I would have to take out a second mortgage on my house.
How owner Rob Lifson gets all this good stuff is beyond me. Anyway, the reason I bring REA up is because the preview for its April auction went up today.

Almost any notable vintage baseball card and autograph, in addition to a strong selection of game-used material, is included in this spectacular once-a-year sale.

The crazy thing about REA is that it always was a very solid auction. Most auction houses came into the industry with presentations as small as 10 or 20 lots, or possibly with a few hundred less-than-impressive offerings, but not REA.

Today I actually pulled out REA’s catalog from its June 10, 1995, sale. The black and white publication was definitely thinner than its color catalog of today, but it still had over 900 lots and they were all very strong, and even included a Honus T206 card.

Lifson has always done it the right way, and even though his operation is rather small, as compared to some of his competitors (runs it out of his home) and employs only three people, REA is always at the top of baseball collectors’ lists every year.

So, if you haven't checked out his Cooperstown-like sale, and you are a sports memorabilia enthusiast, do yourself a favor and check out his site. Bidding starts April 17.