Period-Signed 1948 Bowman Basketball Near Set (67/72) - From The Golden Age Collection....

Description

Period-Signed 1948 Bowman Basketball Near Set (67/72) - From The Golden Age Collection.


NOTE: The original description for this lot indicated that there are duplicates included for the following cards: 4, 10 Davies, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 33, 44, 48 Sadowski, 54, 63, 70. These duplicates are not included with this Near Set (67/72) and will be offered separately in a subsequent auction. The cards pictured in this listing are the exact cards included in this lot.



1948 marked a pivotal year for the Bowman Gum Company, as it launched its first-ever baseball and basketball card sets. While baseball had long held the nation's attention, basketball was just beginning its rise, with Bowman capturing the earliest moments of that evolution. The 1948 Bowman basketball set remains highly respected for its historical significance and minimalist color design, showcasing players who shaped the league's early years. This near set is made even more exceptional by the presence of player autographs on each card - a rarity that elevates both its scarcity and appeal. Few surviving collections from this era offer such completeness combined with authentic signatures, making this a cornerstone acquisition for advanced collectors of basketball history. Missing card #'s 32 Holzman, 61 O'Keefe, 66 Pollard, 69 Mikan, and 72 Braun, which are all being sold individually in this auction. Includes: 1 Calverly, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Phillip, 10 Davies, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34 Fulks, 35, 36, 37, 38 Jeanette, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 McKinney, 47, 48 Sadowski, 49, 50, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 Zaslofsky, 56, 57, 58 Risen, 59, 60, 62, 63, 64, 65, 67, 68, 70, 71. Overall grades GD to VG/EX with some lesser and some greater. Pre-certified by PSA/DNA.

More Information: The Golden Age Collection
Heritage Auctions is honored to introduce to the sports collectibles marketplace one of the finest collections of vintage signed sports cards ever assembled. This remarkable collection was meticulously cultivated by a single passionate visionary over many decades, with nearly every piece bearing a signature that matches the vintage of its medium. At the core of the collection is a breathtaking run of signed cards spanning several years from the late 1940s through the mid-1950s, widely regarded as the golden age of post-war sports cards. It includes complete or near-complete signed sets from many of the most coveted baseball issues of the period, including 1948-55 Bowman and 1952–1955 Topps runs. Also included are 1948 Bowman Basketball and seldom seen autographed football sets, such as 1948-55 Bowman, 1948 Leaf, and 1950s Topps sets. Each set is a masterclass in curation. In addition to iconic stars and Hall of Famers, there are countless cards bearing period signatures that are incredibly tough to find, either due to the short lives of the players or the relative obscurity of their careers. For set collectors and autograph purists alike, this grouping represents an unfathomable opportunity.

The collection's strength lies in its harmony of condition, completeness, and character, which is an homage to the pure intentions of its creator. With impeccable provenance and a once-in-a-generation level of aesthetic quality, this collection is a celebration of the intersection of sport, history and the spirit of collecting, offering pieces that transcend the hobby and enter the realm of legacy.