1958 Topps Football Unopened Wax Box (24 Packs) with Jim Brown Rookie Showing Plus Original Topps Mailing Case!

Sold For:

$156,000

Year:

1958

Auction:

2017 Fall

Lot #:

18

Category:

Unopened Packs and Boxes

Presented is one of the most incredible pieces of unopened material that we have ever had the privilege of offering: an exceptional complete original unopened wax box of 1958 Topps Football containing twenty-four unopened wax packs, one of which features the rookie card of Hall of Famer Jim Brown, the key to the set, on the back. This is the ONLY complete unopened wax box from this classic set that we have ever seen or heard of in existence, and consultation with several leading authorities in the unopened field supports such a claim. As if the existence of this box was not incredible enough, it is accompanied by the original factory case that was shipped directly from Topps to stores in 1958. The case still has the computer punch card affixed to one of the side panels directing that this case be mailed from Topps in Brooklyn, NY to Bobbitt Candy Company in Enid, Oklahoma. Everything about this box is simply superb. All twenty-four packs are in pristine condition with tight seals and brilliant red and yellow colors. The original Topps advertising sheet remains neatly folded inside the box. The case, which is also the only one of its kind that we have ever seen, was intended to hold twenty-four boxes containing twenty-four packs and displays bold red and black colors, with a football player designed alongside "Topps Pro Football with Rub-A-Coin Quiz" and a five cent price tag. Steve Hart, the foremost expert on unopened material and the owner of Baseball Card Exchange, has authenticated this box and provided a letter to accompany it, which reads in full: "To Whom It May Concern: This letter is being written for the 1958 Topps football wax box that is labeled #X0144. The box contains 24 unopened wax packs and still has the original Topps advertising sheet inside the box. All 24 packs are original and untampered with. The condition of the packs are NM-MT to MINT condition. Condition wise, it appears that Topps produced this box yesterday! This amazing wax box and wax packs inside could not be improved. To add to the freshness and extreme high condition of this box, there is 1 pack with a Jim Brown RC showing on back. The far right row, third pack down, clearly shows Jimmy Brown facing outward on the back of the pack." 1958 Topps is one of the most popular football sets produced and is highlighted by thirty-one Hall of Famers, including the rookie cards of Jim Brown and Sonny Jurgensen. While it is impossible to provide guarantees with reference to grading of unopened material, there is, of course, the very real possibility that within this box are ultra-high-grade examples of these cards and others from the set. Given the meteoric rise of high-grade rookie cards recently, including the incredible $336,000 public auction sale of a PSA MINT 9 Jim Brown rookie in February 2017, it is hard not to consider the increased value prospects of a completely original and pristine unopened wax box of this classic issue. The entire box comes shrink-wrapped by Baseball Card Exchange. The display box has survived in outstanding, unimprovable condition. The display case shows light shelf wear along the edges and on the top panels where it was originally stapled shut. A few pencil notations are present on the top flap as well. This is potentially a once-in-a-lifetime chance to acquire this stunning unopened wax box that would make a superb addition to any football card or unopened wax-box collection. Reserve $10,000. Estimate (open).