T206 Set...Minus the Big Four, and other Subsets...Will values keep climbing?

[asphaltman]

I started a little over a year ago putting together a low grade T206 set...I'm about 40% there. And I'm amazed at how much money even in low grade it has taken me to this point to get to this place. Especially when I look back at what some very large lots or near sets were going for 10+ years ago. Granted we were in an economic slump then compared to now. But it seems the values of everything has really sky rocketed the last few years...is the thought that is really going to continue or will this level off and maybe even values drop a little in the next couple years making completing this set a bit easier?

I'm not surprised at the rare backs....Drum, Broad Leaf, Uzit, etc. But what used to be the very affordable Cycles, American Beauty's Tolstoi's....suddenly aren't as affordable either.

Even putting together the Southern Leaguer set 48, seems astronomical in price compared to what you could have picked one up for even five years ago...

Then it makes me sick thinking about what a Cobb could be had for a few years ago...

Can anyone put a number on what they think you would need to spend to put together set of 520 today in 1-3 grade condition?

[Rhotchkiss]

According to VCP, a solely Piedmont and sweet cap 520 set, with all cards in SGC 2, would cost around $100k. Assume 30% error of margin for unique sales and/or older comps and figure $70k-$130k, with much of the value tied up in how nice are the Cobbs, Young’s, Wajos, Mattys, Lajoies, Speaker, HOF portraits, etc.

Will values keep going up? Over the short term, no clue. Over the long term, I believe yes- I have seen values go up steadily over almost 40 years of collecting, they aren’t making any more, and t206 is the most famous and collectible set out there - it’s the monster!

[trambo]

Great question! I'm working on set #2 as an all PSA 2 set and I have the value pegged currently in the $140k ish range for a 520. that number 2 years ago when I started was likely around $95k+/-.

As for prices in the future, it likely depends on the economy and the number of people chasing the Monster. This is purely anecdotal but it seems like the bigger ticket cards are pulling back a hair (no, the sky's not falling) and collectors are being very picky with the condition of the card (nice 2 sells for more than a lesser 2 sort of thing). I don't think we'll see a crazy drop to 2018 or before pricing unfortunately but from some of the posts I've seen here over the past few years, the sky will likely fall at some point (according to them).

It will be interesting to see and keep on enjoying the journey! Getting sets like this one completed is fun, frustrating, rewarding and will likely make many people crazy! Glad I have my main set largely complete but also miss the chase on both this and t205. Upgrades seem to be fewer and farther between. Good luck!!

[parkerj33]

I have been in this market quite a bit as a seller and buyer over the last 2 years. I believe a low grade (think 1-1.5) raw set will firmly set you back in the 90k range now. I agree some prices have pulled back (I think peak for general non-fancy cards was late last summer). Condition rarities or back rarities will continue to rise. the killer rise will continue to be the real short prints: demmit/ohara stl, lundgren chi, and elberfeld port wash. lundgren and elberfeld BEATERS are 1.5k..... I think southern leaguers have been softer lately, although ryan violat and shags will still set you back uncomfortably.

Goldin just auctioned off a full 520 set last week and it was thoroughly psa 1 caliber throughout....$100k hammer.

[asphaltman]

Originally Posted by parkerj33

Goldin just auctioned off a full 520 set last week and it was thoroughly psa 1 caliber throughout....$100k hammer.

I didn't see this auction...interesting, will have to take a look.

[FrankWakefield]

520 cards

that would be a card a week for ten years...

Keep in mind that if, in a single purchase, you buy multiple cards from the same seller, then you'll save a few dollars on shipping, compared to 520 single card purchases...

Obviously, on a week when you buy a common card that's ok... that would be a typical acquisition, but you need to have set some dollars aside, because many of the cards you'll be getting will case more than that ok common card.

So to get this done in 10 years, it'd take about $175 a week to get there.

15 years will be about $120 a week. (I've added a few dollars extra because the cards are likely to have increased in price more over a 15 year span as compared to 10 years.

And allocating $100 a week will get you close to a finish line in 17 to 18 years. And it'll take patience.

No one ever said that slaying a monster was easy.


If you decide that one Cobb card is enough instead of 'needing' all 4, then you shorten the journey by a couple of years. Or deciding you don't have to have Demmitt and O'Hara will save you time and money.

However long it does take; it'll take even longer if you start the journey three years from now, instead of starting by the end of this month. And knowing this from experience... starting, then stopping and selling, then restarting, is a really long way of doing it.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by FrankWakefield

520 cards

that would be a card a week for ten years...

Keep in mind that if, in a single purchase, you buy multiple cards from the same seller, then you'll save a few dollars on shipping, compared to 520 single card purchases...

Obviously, on a week when you buy a common card that's ok... that would be a typical acquisition, but you need to have set some dollars aside, because many of the cards you'll be getting will case more than that ok common card.

So to get this done in 10 years, it'd take about $175 a week to get there.

15 years will be about $120 a week. (I've added a few dollars extra because the cards are likely to have increased in price more over a 15 year span as compared to 10 years.

And allocating $100 a week will get you close to a finish line in 17 to 18 years. And it'll take patience.

No one ever said that slaying a monster was easy.


If you decide that one Cobb card is enough instead of 'needing' all 4, then you shorten the journey by a couple of years. Or deciding you don't have to have Demmitt and O'Hara will save you time and money.

However long it does take; it'll take even longer if you start the journey three years from now, instead of starting by the end of this month. And knowing this from experience... starting, then stopping and selling, then restarting, is a really long way of doing it.

Well said Frank.