1939 HOF cover signed by all 11 living members... Ruth, Wagner, Cobb, etc.
 

Hi all, I need some help on an estimated value of a very nice signed item.

Its a 1939 Hall of Fame cover, and it is signed by 11 of the living members of the Hall of Fame at the time. A very nice piece.

I have been asked for my help in pricing this piece, and thought Id post it here for your feedback.

Any info you can give on an estimated value and where or how to sell is greatly appreciated.

Thanks Frank

http://centuryoldcards.com/images/1939covercloseup.jpg
closeup

http://centuryoldcards.com/images/1939coverframed.jpg
framed

This is a Johnny Evers from my collection. A similar single signed one sold in an REA auction some years ago for $1,350.00.

I would guess $12,500+ if placed in a top tier auction house. More if the autos are fully authenticated.

I could be way off but that's my take. Nice piece!!

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g5...20100/fdc2.jpg

Are they real in the first place? Looks to nice to me, but im not an expert in autos.

Frank - a nearly identical envelope signed by 11 of the original 12 (plus honored guests) sold in 2008 for $12,925.00 (see here: http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/...2008/1145.html).

I have a feeling that with the economy being a little weaker right now, that this item would fetch in the $10k-$11k range.

Here it is:

Thanks Jon, thats the kind of info I was looking for

I think the framed one has much better eye appeal, but that item you show is similar, thanks


PS. Its real, it has an 17 year old COA, and Ive already recommended getting a new one before selling it.


Was first looking for estimates/opinions on overall value of this item today.

...and secondary looking for advise on best place to sell.

thanks Frank

Frank - happy to help and I agree the presentation of our friend's is pretty darn nice. I think the only drawback to the piece, as a whole is, that it a $$$5-figure signed envelope which somewhat limits the potential buyers (in other words, someone has to really enjoy the medium).

REA I think, without question, would be the best avenue to sell it in.

Frank - one other thing of note. While I can't figure out PSA/DNA's "new" premium item authentication fees that went into effect maybe a year or so ago, I believe that based on the value and number of signatures - that's going to be one expensive piece to authenticate - like around $1000 in fees (please someone correct me if I'm computing this incorrectly). However, if your friend was to consign it - the auction company will most likely bear the authentication costs (REA for example, does).

Something to keep in mind.

Great piece. I do think the piece would have to be taken out of the frame to authenticate though.

Joe

Just curious as to who issued the 17 year-old COA. Can you please advise?

I would harbor a guess at 15k as an auction estimate!

Here is a picture of the COA from Nov 1993

As you can see it is expired (10 years) and this piece should be sold with a new one Im sure

http://centuryoldcards.com/images/1939covercoa.jpg

Just noticed that the one that sold at REA a couple years ago for just under $13K is actually missing 1 of the 11 original living members, Honus Wagner.

I found this one that is even closer, it has the same 11 players w/o all those extra sigs. It looks to have sold for $25,300 at Christies about 12 years ago (Nov 1998)
http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/l...jectID=1341546

I was originally thinking 20k but thought i would get called out if i went that high!

ITS A GREAT PIECE!

PSA/DNA will be a must Im sure...
all 3 are different



http://centuryoldcards.com/images/1939coverx3.jpg
there is no Wagner in the bottom one

Well, Gallery of History is still in business and run by mr. Axelrod. Thats something positive I guess.

But those prices on his items are nuts!

personalized 3x5 by Hank Aaron= $499.00 ! ? ! ?

is it just me, or is it odd that 3 items that were postmarked at the same time and place and, one can gather that they were probably all signed at or around the same time, would have such drastically different types of Cy Young signatures?

Id figure 10K on that item.

The Honus Wagner and Nap Lajoie signatures also look very different on the first two envelopes. I'm not an autograph expert, but perhaps it's because they were signing so many things in a crowded environment?

Greg

What is this?
 

Are you guys looking at the same photo as I am? I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it looks to me like many of the sigs were penned by one person. Maybe all of them were penned by one person. The first sig that caught my eye was that "Walter Johnson." Has anyone certed that piece? All I can say is "OMG!."

COA Expiration Date?
 

How does a COA "expire? I remember in one of my first "Coach's Corner" videos I spoke about a "Coach's Corner" COA in which "CC" stated that they only guaranteed the autograph to be authentic for twenty-one (21) days after the close of the auction. After twenty-one days the guarantee "expired." What the heck does that mean?

This was one I did not want to get involved in, but truth has stated what I was thinking all along, that first cover that started this thread is IMHO not authentic.
Your friend can spend $1000 to send it to PSA but I thought I would save him the money.

Agreed...
 

Not to pile on...but I do not believe JSA or PSA will pass this item.

Same here... that's why I had asked to see the original COA. The Johnson, LaJoie and even Ruth are way off, and what the heck is going on with the "Tr" of Tris Speaker?

This looks like one of those "Las Vegas Strip" items that has the typical elegant and opulent framing (which only serves as a diversion to the fact that the piece is contrived). When you browse these Las Vegas "galleries", there is some good eye-candy but you are hard-pressed to find anything authentic.

I would save the authentication fees and cut the losses...

Though you are right about those LV strip guys, History for Sale, despite having prices that are beyond anything ever seen anywhere else on this planet, does have authentic material in their inventory. I would say virtually everything I have ever seen on their site is authentic.

Cut your losses.
 

I agree, Perezfan. Did you guys read my original comment here? I wrote "Are you guys looking at the same photo that I am?" Look at that "Walter Johnson." Look at that crazy "Cy Young." The "Babe Ruth." The "Cobb." OMG!!!

Save, youself a lot of money and only have them do the Wagner or the Ruth. That should tell you what you do not want to know.

Ahem,.. I'll repeat my earler post,..

Gallery of History is still in business and run by Mr. Axelrod.

Your Point?
 

And your point is?

Coach's Corner
 

It appears to be similar to the unlimited supply of these that C.C. runs nearly monthly. Good luck to your friend.

Wondering the same thing... what is the significance of them still being in business, and repeating the post?

I'm assuming refund...

Changing Your Opinion?
 

Jon, are you changing your opinion on this piece now?

I just woke up (Im in Hawaii)

I am not surprised at the comments myself after seeing the Christies cover I found last night.

Thanks for the comments, I know a few of you do this for a living.

The Lajoie and Wagners are so different among many other things you guy pointed out.

Babe Ruth
 

When I first looked at your piece this morning I was shocked at the previous comments about it. My first thought at looking at it was "Holy crap, these are all penned by one person." The "Walter Johnson" was the most obvious followed by Young, Ruth, etc.

Speaking of Coach's, their new auction is up and while I LOVE this 1919 Black Sox signed team ball:

http://www.myccsa.com/Lot.aspx?LotID=241527

They do have (2) Hall Of Fame signed envelopes in the auction that opened up yesterday, a "special New Year's Eve auction".

Also, if you need virtually any pre-1900 baseball Hall Of Famer cut, might want to skip the festivities and sit by your computer and bid away! I'm sure you will get it cheap because nobody will wants to skip festivities!

Connie Mack
 

Gotta love that Connie Mack!!!

I am just pointing out he fact that you have someone to go after,sue, etc.

It's not one of the coa's from some unheard of company that no longer exists(if it ever did), so at least you got that going in your favor.

I actually never had an opinion one way or another on the authenticity (never mentioned anything about it) - but assuming for the moment that this piece, or a similar one like it, is indeed authentic, my opinion on value hasn't changed.

Let me be the first:

I don't like it.

The first?
 

Exactly. Like I wrote a few pages ago "Looks like they are all (at least most of them) penned by one person."

David - you can be the third :).

We would have been remiss not to say anything about those sigs and I think Richard would agree with that.

misread post

Oops. I posted thinking page 1 was all there was. Didn't see all the posts. (Still got that eye, though. :) )

agree with everyone else....
 

At first glance the Eddie Collins is REALLY bad:eek: