If you are a frequent reader of my articles, then you have heard me mention the name “Andy Yanchus” a time or two. Andy was a lifelong collector, a true archivist of everything and anything Pop Culture. One of the lucky few whose passion turned into a career, leading him to be a project manager for Aurora Plastics and then a staff colorist for Marvel Comics.
When handling someone’s massive, lifelong collection like this you do not just learn about the material, but you learn about the person, their interests, and what drove them to collect and become who they were. I first consigned and began processing the Andy Yanchus Collection in July 2022, which has become nearly a two year journey down one of the greatest learning experiences I could ever ask for. With such a wide range of material the collection was broken down into five cataloged auctions in addition to numerous monthly DiscoverIt sales. Later this month on April 27th the final chapter, Part V of the Andy Yanchus Collection, will cross the block bringing an end to the most significant collection we have handled as a company. The best part: it certainly ends with a bang!
Andy’s collection was filled with many surprises and high value discoveries. However, in the last few boxes I did not expect to find what many collectors would consider to be the most comprehensive collection of 1950’s through 1970’s non-sport trading cards to come to public auction. In addition to regularly released card sets, Andy’s collection contains numerous preproduction, unreleased, and promotional Topps items, some of which have never been offered on the market before. The collection was so extensive we were able to establish a pedigree with CGC!
What is a pedigree and why is it important? Per CGC: “Countless collections have surfaced over the years… but every now and then a collection is found that is so exceptional that it becomes a recognized pedigree.” This means that every one of the 1,100+ cards we submitted to CGC for grading will be identified with a custom label indicating the card is from the “Andy Yanchus Collection.”
There is so much to mention it would be impossible to list it all, but if it was a non-sport trading card produced or even a test set that never made it to market, Andy had it. 1969 Planet of the Apes black border cards and 1968 Julia unreleased cards are just a few of the rare and stellar highlights found in Andy’s collection. I can truly say, it’s a once in a lifetime find. If you are a trading card fanatic or someone eager to learn, this is the collection to study. Plus, the best part for collectors, is it is all being sold with no reserve to the highest bidder on April 27th!
