1970s HOF rookie cards...why so little love?

[Lucas00]

https://robertedwardauctions.com/auc...mini-wax-cases

https://robertedwardauctions.com/auc...ard-assortment

https://sportscollectorsdigest.com/c...charlie-conlon

[bk400]

Originally Posted by Lucas00

https://robertedwardauctions.com/auc...mini-wax-cases

https://robertedwardauctions.com/auc...ard-assortment

https://sportscollectorsdigest.com/c...charlie-conlon

Goodness, I guess some inventory did hit the market. Thanks for the detail.

[Kutcher55]

Originally Posted by Lucas00

https://robertedwardauctions.com/auc...mini-wax-cases

https://robertedwardauctions.com/auc...ard-assortment

https://sportscollectorsdigest.com/c...charlie-conlon

Thanks for sharing. That’s interesting and a cool story about Charlie C.

40-60k cards certainly isn’t “nothing,” but it’s not exactly junk wax era volume either. (I know, you weren’t suggesting this). Ultimately in a 660 card set it is less than 100 cards per player, which is only a bit more than a drop in the bucket in the grand scheme. It surprises me that minis no longer have much of a (if any) premium over the regular set. Some collectors just view them as a novelty and prefer the full sized set. They still do carry a premium when you get to 8+ territory although not so much with the high profile cards as some of the lesser stars and tough commons. Hard for me to see why they aren’t 2X or more valuable than the reg set but the market doesn’t have it that way.

[Elberson]

The secret is to keep quite and just keep buying lol

[bk400]

Originally Posted by Elberson

The secret is to keep quite and just keep buying lol

Easier said than done!

Separately, I've found that the 70s Topps cards are, perhaps unsurprisingly, extremely condition dependent in basically every set. When I look at cards in the 7-9 graded range, there's usually at least one of the following problems (in addition to collector-induced wear and tear on corners and edges):

1) Centering
1a) Centering
2) Stains (presumably wax), usually on the back of the cards
3) Print spots (not sure what those little white circular marks that show up on the colored backgrounds are called)

My personal view is that a well-centered 1970s card -- perhaps more so than on cards from other decades -- makes a massive difference in eye appeal. And it appears that others share that view as well, as sellers of well-centered cards within a given grade seem to want a premium.

Although my eyes tend to agree, I was slightly surprised that a well centered card with a small wax stain on the back seemed to be more expensive than a more off-centered card that is otherwise devoid of print spots or wax stains.

[Bigdaddy]

Because every thread needs a card….

[Exhibitman]

I recently acquired 4000+ 1975-80 Topps FB cards and less than 100 were centered and clean enough to keep. Lots of nice sharp clean o/c stuff.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Lucas00

https://robertedwardauctions.com/auc...mini-wax-cases

https://robertedwardauctions.com/auc...ard-assortment

https://sportscollectorsdigest.com/c...charlie-conlon

Looks like somebody got a bargain on those wax cases. Roughly 681 bucks a box...or $18 bucks a pack.

Even in 2009 that was a bargain price. I remember Mini unopened packs were easily selling for 50 bucks a pop in the late 80's.

I'd love to pick up an unopened box for anywhere near what those went for.