I ran across this tidbit about the “PSA-8” graded McNall/Gretzky T-206 Honus Wagner in Topps Magazine’s 6th Edition (Spring 1991). Madness indeed!
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.postwarcards.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MemorabiliaMadness-1.png?resize=814%2C1000&ssl=1)
The article explains that the Piedmont-backed T206 Honus Wagner achieved the highest price ever (at the time) for a single baseball card, $410k (plus $41k auction fee) during Sotheby’s auction of The Copeland Collection of Important Baseball Cards and Sports Memorabilia in March 1991.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.postwarcards.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/CopelandCollectionCatalog.jpeg?resize=628%2C800&ssl=1)
The card’s history is quite infamous, but I have nothing unique to add to that part of the story; check out Wikipedia or the net54 message boards for more info. However, I’m not sure many people today have seen the auction description, including a photo of the back of the raw, pre-graded card.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.postwarcards.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/CopelandT206WagnerAuction.jpeg?resize=621%2C800&ssl=1)