Off Topic: 1980 Topps
 

Sorry for being off topic and not pre war. But this is beyond stupid. A PSA 9 can sell for under $400. Yet people spend $30,000 just for a stupid 10 grade.

http://www.milehighcardco.com/1980_T...-LOT38559.aspx

I'm completely speechless. Had no idea. Wow.

You either love him or hate him. There is no doubt that Rickey collectors are diehard.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1980-Topps-4...p2047675.l2557

The above respectable raw card just went for 2 bucks, yup a raw ex-mt very respectable copy.... 2 bucks. Slap a number 10 on some plastic and boom....30 grand. Unbelievable!

That's beyond crazy to me. Makes me think of what I could buy with 30k! Certainly wouldn't be card that there's probably over 100,000 of. I have no idea what type of numbers that card was printed in but people I'm sure still have pallets of unopened 1980 topps.

Just noticed the back of that "10" also... Very off center!

I'm sure there are plenty of "9"s that look probably even better with sharp corner and centering and are probably technically better as well with that off centered back.

Crazy registry freaks! No offense to anyone who that may apply too, I just don't get it at all.

they are collecting numbers, not cards.

Those wax boxes sell for $900-$1000 each so if someone has pallets of unopened 80 topps wax boxes they essentially have a pallet of $$$$$$

Rickey
 

I wonder if the buyer refers to himself in the third person, much as Rickey did? :)

High grade
 

That is absolute lunacy to me. Really? I just can't see the value. Give me a stack of 30 low grade wagners, cobbs, cy youngs, Babe Ruth's, etc over that any day! But we all have different collecting goals. And it doesn't have to make sense to me.

Labels are commodities quite independent of the cards. It has nothing to do with the card, really, because outside of the holder, tossed in with a bunch of very strong 9s, I doubt you could tell the difference or pick out the 10, even with a loupe.

A grader at PSA could make HUGE $$$ pretty easily I suspect.

Which doesn't explain why it has only happened a dozen times or so......

Those labels mint money, so you really do have to wonder exactly what is going on.

The description in the auction says there are almost 1300 of the 9s. And with around 13 of the 10s I would guess PSA is minting money from grading review submissions on the 9s....

+1

I'm certain there is a cottage industry of people who do nothing more than submit hundreds of 9's with the hope of getting back a few 10's. Some probably make a high five-figure, or even a six-figure income doing nothing more than looking for nice 9's to resubmit. Like I said, the TPG's are minting money. And where else can you buy something for $400, resubmit it, and if it bumps to a 10 get back a commodity worth 30K? The only thing I can find even remotely comparable is buying a lottery ticket, and hitting a jackpot.

Barry, there was a comparable of sorts in the 1980's and early 90's in the first edition modern literature bookcollecting world as it pertained to mint condition dust jackets. First books by modern authors were selling for more than nice Fitzgerald or Steinbecks. When the bubble burst the ensuing sell off resulted in what booksellers describe as a race to the bottom. (yes, a few will still hold up, a vast majority did not).

Bruce- was it based on the condition of the dust jackets, or on some other factor?

All condition of the dust jacket, but especially for first books by an author(like rookie cards). They even started to value author signatures only over nice inscriptions, and some of that is still around. Unlike some cards though, printing or binding errors(unless they denote an issue point), destroy the value entirely.

WOW.. And I bet those 13 10's were done for only special people.

An egotist and his money are soon parted.

30k....
 

that's a lot of hookers and blow