Article
Corporate Card Stores, Autograph Etiquette and Caitlin Clarks Oh My!
Published Jun 26 2025
Hey there, Collectors,
Metz from the Mantel team here, filling in this week!
Hope everyone that attended had a great time at Fanatics Fest and a sincere thanks to everyone who stopped by the Mantel booth and those that shared their story with us. With that done we can all relax until we have to start prepping for The National.
Which is in, checks notes, 34 DAYS!?!
Before true panic sets in, let’s break down some of the stories from this past week.
PR Newswire: Corporate Card Shops are Coming to a City Near You
Replay Sports Cards, the first national franchise concept dedicated exclusively to sports cards, is now seeking franchisees. Traditionally, card shops have been local small businesses, owned by individuals with a dream and a passion for cardboard. It’s an interesting juxtaposition; every local card shop (LCS) you've probably visited has been completely unique, while the term "chain" conjures images of uniformity in the likes of brands like McDonald's, Walmart, and Chili's. How will this first generation of "chain" card shops compare to your standalone LCS? Gamestop has also been exploring this territory, increasingly dedicating retail shelf space to cards as more games shift to digital-only distribution. But it doesn’t feel like a cards store- at least not yet.
Is the era of chain card stores upon us, or is the charm and authenticity of a family-owned LCS impossible to replicate?
The Athletic: Kelsey Plum’s run-in with autograph seeker raises questions about proper etiquette
Celebrities have the paparazzi, and athletes have autograph hawks—both can make their targets feel uncomfortable and spoil genuine encounters for real fans. When and where is it appropriate to ask athletes for autographs? Is it acceptable to wait outside a hotel and request an autograph that you intend to list on eBay just hours later? This article outlines reasonable etiquette guidelines we believe are fair: ask only once, never request more than one item, approach athletes only in public spaces, and always let kids go first.
Panini: Oh My Goodness, Look at These Caitlin Clark Cards
Panini shared this video on Wednesday of some of the most insane Caitlin Clark cards you’ve ever seen. With numerous 1/1’s selling for 6 figures this year alone these sets will no doubt fly off the shelves when available. In the video you can see National Treasures, Flawless, Noir, and Contenders, sets that have previously not had WNBA releases. At the time of this post it’s unclear whether these will be individual WNBA sets or something else entirely. With the price of WNBA hobby boxes rivaling or exceeding NBA boxes this year we don’t even want to know what the price point will be when these boxes are released later this year.
NYT: Can You Know Princess Diana by Owning Her Things?
A large collection of Princess Diana’s belongings, including her Lady Dior handbag, will be auctioned this week. According to the article, more intimate items are the primary attraction, despite often having lower price tags. Such items open the auction to a broader audience—people who don't usually participate in auctions but who still desire to own a rare piece of history.
Do you own memorabilia from celebrities or historical figures? Be sure to share it on Mantel.
Sportico: Honus Wagner T206 Goes Unsold at Auction as Reserve Not Met
Search “Honus Wagner T206” in Google News and you will get dozens of recent examples talking about this auction for a PSA 1 Honus Wagner that ended this weekend. The auction was quickly bid up to over $3.5M upon opening, but that apparently wasn’t enough. The card went unsold as the reserve was not met. With the last Honus Wagner T206 selling for over $7M in 2022 one can only speculate what this means for the Hobby. Was the reserve too high? Is the trading card market slowing down? Has Honus lost his luster?
Let us know what you think.
GQ: LeBron James Just Debuted His Own Richard Mille Watch Collab
During his appearance at Fanatics Fest this past weekend, LeBron James unveiled his first collaboration with Richard Mille. The new RM 65-01 is a limited edition of 150 pieces, blending James’ style with RM’s signature craftsmanship. This isn't James' first foray into watches; in 2013, he collaborated with Audemars Piguet on a special edition of the Royal Oak Offshore. Looking it up on eBay, you can grab one for a cool $50k-$75k.
Did we miss anything or have a story we should include next week?
