Although it soared past the $4 million mark in bidding, a T206 Honus Wagner card failed to reach it reserve at Goldin Auctions on Saturday night.
Had it sold, the "Connecticut Wagner" would have been the 12th-most expensive sports card in history.
Bidding ended at $4.148 million, including buyer’s premium. That mark would have been a record for any T206 Honus Wagner PSA 1 example and the third-highest price for a T206 Wagner in any grade.
According to Goldin, the card changed hands privately for an undisclosed sum in 2020. Previously, the card sold publicly in 2010 for $282,000.
RELATED STORIES:
- T206 Honus Wagner: Why world's most expensive card is so valuable
- Jefferson Burdick was godfather of card collecting, gave T206 Honus Wagner its name
- Top 10 most expensive sports cards of all time
- Photo used to create T206 Honus Wagner card sells for $117,500
- Honus Wagner's true rookie card is even rarer than the T206
Last year marked the first time in 30 years no T206 Wagner sold publicly.
In April, another Wagner with inferior eye appeal, graded PSA Authentic/Restored, sold for $1.98 million, a price which was far from a boon for the famed card, which industry experts say has never been sold for less than its purchase price.
In this instance, the sale price narrowly surpassed the previous purchase price, but realized a paltry gain compared to historical sales records.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.