Heritage Catalogue

[Yoda]

I just finished perusing the latest Heritage catalogue and, as usual, was blown away with the material on offer, some of which I have been bidding on. What gets me are the descriptions, flowing prose about the player, the game and, of course, the card on offer. I often imagine there must be a dozen PHD English composition professors toiling away in the Heritage boiler room creating interesting narratives.
But I wonder: How many different ways can you describe Ty Cobb, his feats on the Diamond and quirky personality without being repeating yourself.

[Orioles1954]

Originally Posted by Yoda

I just finished perusing the latest Heritage catalogue and, as usual, was blown away with the material on offer, some of which I have been bidding on. What gets me are the descriptions, flowing prose about the player, the game and, of course, the card on offer. I often imagine there must be a dozen PHD English composition professors toiling away in the Heritage boiler room creating interesting narratives.
But I wonder: How many different ways can you describe Ty Cobb, his feats on the Diamond and quirky personality without being repeating yourself.

I'm an auction house writer. I used to do the flowery pose but now just get to the point.

[JeremyW]

A majority of us appreciate that.

[Gary Dunaier]

Originally Posted by Yoda

What gets me are the descriptions, flowing prose about the player, the game and, of course, the card on offer . . . How many different ways can you describe Ty Cobb, his feats on the Diamond and quirky personality without being repeating yourself.

I strongly agree. My thinking that if you're willing to spend thousands on a Babe Ruth autograph, you already know how great he is and how he's the Sultan of Swat and all that, and what you really want is information about the specific piece being offered. Maybe a few lines about the player, just because, but nothing elaborate or flowery.

Of course, there are always exceptions.

For example, if the biographical information is specifically relevant to the piece being described.

Or, if it's a card that's valuable not because of the player but because of something having to do with the card itself. Then the description would explain why a card of someone you've never heard of is so expensive. The 1958 Topps Pancho Herrera "missing A" error is a good example of a card that falls into that category - the card shown here (PSA Mint 9) sold for $17,926 in a November 2015 Heritage auction.

[BigBeerGut]

I feel opposite. As we evolve and our love for Cobb and friends grows it is a challenge to find new ways to express his immense character

Posed with 2 choices i would rather read a fresh new arrangement of words from an auction writer trying to keep it fun while inserting new ideas as compared to a generic standard cobb bio with each and every card because it just got boring

or why not just do away with the write up why even have it ???

Do not forget the 'write up' is just as much for the Seller as it is for the Buyer