Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction February 2024
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/20/2024
A lot made for the lovers of vintage cardboard and hailing from the beginning of Wayne Gretzky's National Hockey League career, offered here is this trio of near-complete and complete assemblies of O-Pee-Chee's hockey releases from 1979-80, 1980-81 and 1981-82. Starting with the near-complete set from 1979-80, perhaps the most famous hockey card release of all-time, the group includes 356 of the 396 cards that make up a complete checklist while missing #'s 18-Gretzky, 22, 23, 37, 49, 51, 56, 61, 98, 109, 122, 127, 128, 129, 139, 140, 144, 149, 156, 157, 183, 191, 197, 203, 208, 248, 250, 250, 260, 264, 279, 316, 329, 335, 336, 342, 345, 352, 362 and 395 for completion. Seen as being an overall EX-MT to NM grouping of cards, the notables include those of 81-Jets Logo Checklist (unmarked), 82-Oilers Logo Checklist (unmarked), 150-Dryden (light factory print mark at top left), 175-Howe, 185-Hull and 230-Bossy (60-40 centering). Additionally, for the checklists, #131 (1-132) and #346 (265-396) are both unmarked and in a condition that is consistent with the rest of the set while #237 (133-264) is marked and while technically being low-grade, presents in the same EX-MT to NM state with neatly done markings.
For the 1980-81 release, including 381 of the 396 cards that make up the checklist, the group is missing only #'s 25, 47, 66, 90, 107, 154, 201, 206, 219, 221, 231, 234, 237, 270 and 342 for completion while those that are present and accounted for are found to be in the condition vicinities of EX-MT and EX-MT to NM. For the notables, the rookie card of Ray Bourque (#140) is seen as being in the top end range of EX-MT to NM along with the 2nd year card of Wayne Gretzky (#250) and the first-year example of Mark Messier (#289). Also including EX-MT range offerings of 3-Gretzky RB (95-5 centering) and 87-Gretzky AS, the rookie card of Mike Gartner rounds out the group with his card in the G to VG neighbourhood due to damage at the top border. All three (3) checklists for the set are included and in the same condition state as the rest of the cards while remaining unmarked.
Lastly, for the 1981-82 release, the only complete set that is included in the lot, the contingent is found to be in the mixed condition ranges of VG-EX to EX and EX to EX-MT with the checklists in similar condition states (#379 is marked, #380 is unmarked and #381 is marked and creased). For the key cards, those of 106-Gretzky (slight corner wear) and 107-Kurri RC (two very small corner dings) are both seen as being in EX to EX-MT condition while 1-Bourque (bottom left corner ding and rough top border edge) and 63-Savard RC (corner wear) are both in the scope of VG-EX to EX and VG to VG-EX condition respectively. Finally, the cards of 125-Gretzky IA (tiny crease and corner wear) and 269-Stastny RC (corner wear and ding at top left) are both around the neighbourhood of G to VG. Overall, the lot makes for a pleasing lot of early-1980s cardboard for your all-important collection!
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