Brady Buys into Card Biz, and Finally, a Chance to Try Pappy!

Hey there, Collectors.

Big week! Yesterday Topps released their 2025 Series 1 baseball product and Mantel has been abuzz (case in point here and here). Did you pick up a box on release day? Swing on by Mantel and show off your hits.

If Pokémon is more your speed, you’re in luck. We’re kicking off a new giveaway for Above the Mantel readers who refer their friends to the newsletter. Details are at the bottom of this email, but the rules are simple and the prize is great… the impossible to find Pokémon Prismatic Evolutions ETB. Good luck!

CNBC: Tom Brady Buys Ownership Stake in Sports Collectibles Company

Tom Brady is no stranger to collectibles- as you might recall, he was the subject of one of last year’s biggest chase cards, and his December auction at Sotheby’s, deemed The GOAT Collection, brought in over $9M. And now that connection is growing stronger, as Brady announced yesterday that he’s acquiring a 50% stake in CardVault, which will be rebranded as “CardVault by Tom Brady.” The company specializes in sports cards and memorabilia, and per the announcement, Brady aims to modernize the fan experience, blending history, community, and sports collectibles.

Town&Country: How the Art But Make It Sports Creator Prepares for the Super Bowl

If you are online, you are already familiar with @artbutmakeitsports, which pairs iconic sports moments with famous artworks. The account creator, LJ Rader, spoke with T&C about how he prepares for major events like the Super Bowl, curating compelling images and weaving cultural touch points, maintaining a mix of high-quality posts and real-time engagement for his nearly 1M followers. His Eagles celebration post (above), was expertly juxtaposed against Triumph of Bacchus (by Michaelina Wautier, 1643-59)- look at the champagne pour vs. the feeding of the grapes!

cllct: Pappy Van Winkle Barrel to be Auctioned Publicly for First Time

Sazerac, the company behind America’s hardest-to-find bourbon, is auctioning a barrel of the elusive Pappy Van Winkle 15-Year-Old for the first time, with proceeds benefiting California wildfire relief (World Central Kitchen and Another Round Another Rally, specifically). “Pappy” remains highly collectible, with bottles of the 15-Year-Old valued at around $2,000. This batch, yielding around 125 bottles(!!), should go for quite a bit more than that, though we’re left wondering if the fine folks at Sazerac will bottle it up, or if you’ll be left with the barrel, a mug and a cork.

NYT: Three Men Convicted of Playing a Role in Ring That Preyed on U.S. Museums

You’ll recall last month we wrote about a crime ring that targeted small museums over a span twenty years. Now three members of the crew will be going to prison, after the ring leader, Tony Trotta, testified against his former accomplices. The group hit more than a dozen museums in the US, and stole priceless artifacts including Yogi Berra’s World Series rings and Tony Zale’s boxing title belts, melting many down for raw materials. Though convictions bring closure, the destruction of irreplaceable items for minimal gain has left victims with lingering heartbreak.

Hodinkee: Bilanz Reports Rolex Is Shutting Down Carl F. Bucherer

Rolex is shutting down the Carl F. Bucherer brand following its acquisition of the parent company back in 2023. This decision marks the end of the 137-year-old Swiss luxury watchmaker, which had been family-owned since its founding in 1888. The brand’s products, available in around 250 stores, will be gradually phased out or replaced by other brands in Bucherer and Tourneau retail locations. While financially motivated, the move signifies a significant shift in the legacy Swiss watch landscape.

NYT: Rutherford Chang, Who Turned Collections Into Art, Dies at 45

Rutherford Chang, a conceptual artist known for exploring value and obsession in creative projects, passed away at 45. His works included collecting over 3,400 copies of The Beatles’ White Album, creating layered recordings of the vinyls’ imperfections, and melting 10,000 pre-1982 pennies into a 68-pound copper cube to examine currency’s worth. Per his obituary, Chang’s projects blended playful thoroughness with cultural critique, offering meditative reflections on everyday objects and systems. RIP.