Unreleased Mahovlich Canadiens Centennial Autos!!!

[RGM81]

Came across this lot this afternoon. This will probably anger and excite large sections of the Habs fan base.

https://www.classicauctions.net/Frank_Mahovlich_s_Rare__Never_Released_Signed_2008-LOT159437.aspx

[30ranfordfan]

Can you provide some context @RGM81 ??? Were these pulled from the checklist, or just ssp'd ??

[WillyC]

maybe Frank couldn't be bothered with breaks or cracking wax and told Upper Deck he was keeping a few.

Upper Deck... Ok, Big M.

[RGM81]

Can you provide some context @RGM81 ??? Were these pulled from the checklist, or just ssp'd ??

So for the Habs Inks set, they ultimately released 65 cards for the checklist, 5 of which are SSP'd. The Shutt is the white whale for many people, but they are out there. I've seen maybe 3-5 over the years, many of which recently thanks to a super cool Facebook group. He inscribed a few of them with HOF 1993.

These Frank Mahovlich autos were never on any product checklist. Brother Pete is, of course, in the auto set:



But this is quite the surprise for a lot of people. Twelve years later, new cards hitting the open market is sure to pique interest, and long-time collectors of this release are gearing up for what could be one big time bidding war. We don't know how many of these will be out there. Obviously the AKA will be /25 and the HHOF Induction Inks are /81, but for the Habs Inks itself? Impossible to know.

[creasecollector]

Now this is way cool.

I love hearing about unreleased cards hitting the open market. This will no doubt anger some Habs set collectors, but it begs the question: What other cards exist that we truly don't know about yet?

This lot will sell for big money. My guess is on a Habs Inks set collector.

[30ranfordfan]

But this is quite the surprise for a lot of people. Twelve years later, new cards hitting the open market is sure to pique interest, and long-time collectors of this release are gearing up for what could be one big time bidding war. We don't know how many of these will be out there. Obviously the AKA will be /25 and the HHOF Induction Inks are /81, but for the Habs Inks itself? Impossible to know.

Yeah, it begs the question: "what happened?"

Not crazy to think that Mahovlich (or any player) normally gets UD to agree to let them keep a copy of a card... or cards... as part of their deal.

Let's make something up: There were 81, 25, and let's just say 50 copies made. They send him those cards to be signed - agreeing that they'll get 80, 24, and 49 copies back (signed).

Were the cards lost in the mail? Damaged along the way? Mahovlich never sent them back?

True story.... I have a small dresser at home, that was (allegedly) once owned by Frank Mahovlich.

[RGM81]

Twenty minutes left and it’s over $3200!!!

[30ranfordfan]

Twenty minutes left and it’s over $3200!!!

Final prices include buyers premium.:

$4,690.80

[RGM81]

Final prices include buyers premium.:

$4,690.80

A tad shy of $4,700 is pretty amazing. There haven't been any Steve Shutt sales for a while now (he's the white whale) but those are usually in the $3,000-$3,500 range. So somebody is going to be a very happy collector today.

[creasecollector]

That price is simply amazing!