An amazing story of some 700 baseball cards packed away for more than 100 years in an attic has thrilled hobbyists and fans alike. Karl Kissner, of Defiance, Ohio, found the box of cards in the attic of the home occupied by his grandfather at the turn of the century. Somehow the cards were placed away in storage and remained there during the lives of two of his relatives. Only this year, when the home was being cleared after their death, was the discovery made. The 1910 baseball cards depict such figures as Ty Cobb, Cy Young and Honus Wagner. The cards are from an extremely rare series issued around 1910. Up to now, the few known to exist were in so-so condition at best, with faded images and worn edges. But the ones from the attic in the town of Defiance are nearly pristine, untouched for more than a century. The colours are vibrant, the borders crisp and white.It appears that Kissner’s grandfather, a butcher, was provided the cards by a supplier to be given away to customers. “It’s like finding the Mona Lisa in the attic,” Kissner said.The cards will be auctioned later this year and may fetch as much as $3 million by some estimates.