Highest graded copy of the first issue of Sports Illustrated being auctioned
Online, September 19, 2009 (Newswire.com)
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IVEGOTNEATSTUFF at eBay is at it again! Late last night they listed what is currently the highest known
professionally graded copy of Sports Illustrated #1. For something over 55 years old it is not showing its
age - having been professionally graded 9.8 out of an almost impossible 10 by the Certified Guaranty
Company of Sarasota, Florida. To top it off, it even has White pages. At the time of this release, the bidding had already reached $1,000.
"This is the first time this graded copy has been on the market," said David Bull of
IVEGOTNEATSTUFF. "It was apparently very well cared for to have survived in such great shape for so
long."
Originally published by TIME on August 16, 1954, the magazine depicts Milwaukee Braves star Eddie
Mathews swinging and New York Giants Wes Westrum catching at Milwaukee County Stadium. At the
time it was published, most attempts at printing a sports related magazine had failed. Apparently after
unsuccessfully trying to buy the name Sport for $200,000, they settled on Sports Illustrated for a much
smaller payment of $10,000. Their gamble with the name paid off, as Sports Illustrated now boasts a
circulation of 3,000,000 per week in the U.S. alone.
Don't be looking for any bathing beauties in this issue though - Sports Illustrated didn't start their swim
suit edition until 1964, and it would be hard to see them through the protective plastic case anyway.
For auction details:
http:// www.tinyurl.com/highestsi