A man who purchased a photo album, a few Coca‑Cola bottles and two oak chairs for less than $100 at a yard sale in Baileyville, Maine, uncovered a piece of sports history. Inside the album was an 1865 photograph of the Brooklyn Atlantics mounted on card stock, which the Library of Congress identifies as the first dated baseball card. The card, one of only two known copies, later sold for $92,000 at a Maine auction.

Provenance and authentication

The card’s authenticity was confirmed by Sportscard Guaranty LLC, a grading firm that provides third‑party verification for collectibles. Bob Luce, a senior grader at the firm, said the authentication process was essential before the item could enter the market, likening it to a security layer in the digital‑asset world.

Auction details

The verified card was consigned to Saco River Auction Co. in Biddeford, Maine. According to the auctioneer Troy Thibodeau, bidding opened at $10,000 and the final price, including an 18 % buyer’s premium, reached $92,000 on February 6, 2013. NPR reported an $80,000 hammer price, confirming the high demand for such a rare artifact.

Historical significance

The Brooklyn Atlantics were a dominant amateur club, winning league championships in 1861, 1864 and 1865. The card captures nine players and their manager in a formal portrait, providing a rare visual record of baseball during the Civil War era. Its scarcity and status as the earliest dated card set a benchmark for the modern trading‑card market.

What to watch next

Collectors will monitor whether the remaining Library of Congress copy surfaces at future auctions, and whether additional early‑era baseball cards emerge from similar low‑price finds. The role of third‑party grading firms in establishing provenance for historic memorabilia is also likely to attract further scrutiny.