Need General advice about selling T206 Set

[chris6net]

I haven't been involved in the hobby for at least a year due to personal reasons but I have a General Question which I am sure you guys can help give me some advice.
I have a near T206 set minus only 13 cards which takes into account all of the rarities. I am short a few commons and Demmitt, Doyle, Magie, Plank and Wagner. I have 69% of my cards graded by SCG with an average grade of about 40 and the rest are ungraded. I have an UZIT graded 40 and all of the Cobbs and O'Hara.
I have floated the idea in my head of selling the set in the next few years and my questions are
Should I get all the cards graded to keep it uniform
Should I try to sell within the next year or wait several years
What avenue should I look to sell the cards
And approximate value of my set
I don't need to sell the set for financial reasons but I haven't had the time to enjoy the set and am just looking for advice.
I am really hoping the collecting bug gets me again and I don't end up selling.
Thanks
Chris N

[Peter_Spaeth]

At that grade level I think it's relatively unlikely (but who really knows) the cards are going to be worth substantially more in a year or two or three, so if you're sure you want to sell I would do it when you're ready. Everyone is going to put in a plug for their favorite seller most likely, and there's no right answer; the real decision is whether you try to sell yourself or consign. I tend to think either way you will do better card by card but others may disagree. Some of the major AHs may not want to do card by card but there are certainly ebay sellers who will. Glad to make suggestions by PM.

[GregZakwin]

Sent you a PM

[ruth_rookie]

Originally Posted by chris6net

Should I get all the cards graded to keep it uniform

I would get them all graded to maximize value. That’s just me though. If 30% of your set is ungraded, that means you will spend approximately $1,500-$2,000. It is my humble opinion that you will recoup that, especially on the big names (Johnson, Lajoie, Mathewson, etc.). If I were bidding on your set, I would bid much more aggressively if I knew they were authentic and unaltered.

Good luck and congrats on accomplishing such a massive feat as tackling The Monster”!

[Rhotchkiss]

Interview and ultimately consign to an auction house. They will get the cards graded and you should be able to get them to throw that in as part of your agreeing to consign with them (that way you don’t pay). The AH will know how to best sell the set off to maximize price. They will likely sell many lots off as singles and then the balance may be grouped together in larger lots. I have never sold a T206 set- hell I have only consigned a single card once - but that’s my take.

[wazoo]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

Interview and ultimately consign to an auction house. They will get the cards graded and you should be able to get them to throw that in as part of your agreeing to consign with them (that way you don’t pay). The AH will know how to best sell the set off to maximize price. They will likely sell many lots off as singles and then the balance may be grouped together in larger lots. I have never sold a T206 set- hell I have only consigned a single card once - but that’s my take.

I think that makes a lot of sense. Might be quite the undertaking to sell them individually on eBay. But if you’re in no rush and have the time, you could slowly sell then off one by one. Good luck and I hope the hobby bug gets you again!

[hcv123]

and that's what you asked for so.....

From your post it sounds like you really are ambivalent - as long as you are - I would put them away somewhere till you have greater clarity. Should that clarity lead to selling - I would be sure to grade the HOFers, rare backs and any if there are that are possible condition rarities. Anything currently ungraded that doesn't fall into that category, is probably not worth grading. Auctions houses are one and done - they do the work and take their commission (you should easily be able to negotiate no commission on your end - just the buyers premium on the other side. Depending on the value of your time and how much of it you are willing to spend - you could likely do a bit better through BST here and ebay. Most importantly - when in doubt - wait till you have clarity - you would hate to have that sick feeling of having sold something that you decide you really didn't want to after the fact.

[Rhotchkiss]

Oh, I totally agree- if you don’t have to/want to sell, don’t. Keep the set. It will only go up in value. My response assumes that you were a seller.

[rats60]

I am going to disagree with everyone here and tell you not to sell. Stick it in the closet and wait a few years. You don't need the money. PWCC just sold your Green Cobb for 9700. 5 years ago that card was less than 2k. The other Cobbs are doing nothing but go up. Same with WaJo, Matty, Cy Young, OHara St.L. and the Uzit. If you get the collecting bug again, you will be sorry you sold. You don't want to have to buy these cards back at higher prices. One day if you need the money, then sell it. Or several years down the road, if you don't think you will ever collect again, sell it. But I think that you just don't have time and some where down the road you will. You can pick it up again and buy the 9 commons you need and you will have a really nice 519 card t206 set.