Aste Bolaffi auctions AC Milan charter, Gigi Riva jersey

(ANSA) - Rome, December 5 - Aste Bolaffi auction house has announced a football memorabilia auction to be held December 14 in Milan, intended for passionate sports memorabilia collectors from around the world as well as football fans and curious investors alike. The auction will feature books, prints, autographs, posters and other extremely rare items, covering five centuries of Italian football history. The star of the sale is AC Milan's first charter (estimated price of 80-120,000 euros), the only known testament to the birth of the club. Among the most successful teams in the world, AC Milan was founded as the "Milan Cricket and Football Club" on December 16, 1899, by Samuel Richard Davies, Alfred Edwards, and Herbert Kilpin, who lead the team to its first three championships and designed its signature red-and-black striped shirt. Printed in Milan in 1900, the 16-page booklet featuring a red cover and title in black typed characters goes back to the origins of AC Milan's legendary adventure. "The document testifies to the extraordinary relevance of our auction, which comes at a crucial moment in AC Milan's history," said Aste Bolaffi CEO Filippo Bolaffi. "Whoever will lead the team, whether old or new ownership, may do so starting from its origins, with the only known existing document that kicked off the illustrious history of the club".
    Among the other top lots is the iconic No. 11 shirt worn by one of the greatest Italian footballers of all time, Gigi Riva, when he led Cagliari to their only Serie A title in 1969-70 (estimated price of 8-12,000 euros). Riva was such an emblem for the team that, to honor him, his number was retired from the Sardinian club's roster in 2005. Another top lot is the shirt worn by legendary Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff during a match of the 1977-78 championship, which was won by his team, Juventus. The beginning of football in Italy is showcased by a selection of very ancient lots, such as a rare text documenting a game played in Florence during the 1672 carnival (estimated price of 2-3,000 euros). At the time, football was widespread across Italy, and accompanied festivals and official celebrations abroad: an example is the etching by Jacques Callot dedicated to a game played in 1629 in honor of the Duchess of Lorraine (estimated price 1,500-2,000 euros).
    One of the most unusual lots is a notebook owned by future national TV show host Mike Bongiorno, containing autographs by players and athletes collected when he worked for La Stampa newspaper in Turin at the age of 15 (estimated price 1,500-2,000 euros). A video on the auction house website tells the story of the AC Milan charter.