T206 Johnson Portrait pricing, the new Green Cobb?
 

I've been following the pricing of the Johnson portraits fairly closely over the past year+ and last nights PWCC results are pretty amazing. A Johnson Sovereign Portrait in PSA 6 sold for $11227.00.

To my knowledge there are 2 of these cards graded PSA 6 and both sold almost a year ago, one on ebay for approximately $4600 (I was the underbidder) and the other I believe thru Heritage for around $5500. Coincidently, the other PSA 6 is currently up for sale thru Heritage and is up to $9,000 with bp.

This price increase seems very similar to the move we saw in Green Cobbs 2-3 years ago and as we know that pricing increase has continued, will the Johnsons continue to increase faster than other higher end T206 star cards? Is the Mathewson the next portrait to take that price jump? Heck a Johnson psa 2.5 went for over $1600 last night in the same PWCC auction.

It is crazy the rate of increase of some of these cards. Unsustainable I would think but who knows? People aren’t afraid to throw around a lot of cash for cards over the past year or two especially.

Despite the fact that it is in a different PSA holder with a different cert#, I think the one that sold last night is the same exact card that sold in REA last year for $7,800.

Regardless, the prices that Wajo portraits are getting recently are silly/stupid. Until 11pm last night, I was the high bidder on the Heritage Wajo, and I was afraid I was overpaying, but immediately after the PWCC auction ended, I got a text that I was outbid. I will not bid again. In my opinion, people are WAY overpaying for this card.

FWIW, the 2.5 that ended for $1600 was really clean for the grade, nice registration, and had no creases or wrinkles. Could've been a "3.5" on another day.

The card is as popular as ever, though.

He is the #3 player from his era and the greatest right handed pitcher of all time. As Wagner and Cobb cards continue to rise, I see WaJo following. Collectors are concentrating on cards of the top names. I see this trend continuing.

Chain effect. As previously mentioned, Johnson is widely regarded as a top 3 player of his era, right behind Cobb & Wagner. Cobb has spiked, Wagner is hot, Johnson is next. Watch for Young to follow suit, as not much has separated Young & Johnson in terms of market prices, and he holds strong name recognition and 2 unbreakable records.

Ted & Joe are hot
 

Ted Williams & Joe Dimaggio seem to be getting really hot. PWCC had a '39 Dimaggio PSA 5 go for $1,333. A 1941 Williams PSA 6 with centering 75/25 ss at best, PSA 6 go for $1,800. And a 1948 Teddy PSA 5, really nice centering top out at $1,851. I thought I put in a couple solid bids but got blown out of the water, whew!

I was surprised at that price as well, but I can understand the underlying trends supporting the increase. Beyond his status as a player, I also think that the card is aesthetically off the charts. I know a few here have cited it as their favorite in the set.

You could buy a Johnson portrait 1 six months ago for $300

Impossible to find them that inexpensive now

Sovereign backs have been hot for over a year. especially those in PSA 4 and up. I definitely think that played a big role in this one.

I personally think the bidding was waaaay overdone on this specific card, but it is a pretty low pop.

As someone who isn't that much of a back freak, I'd rather have a common back PSA 6 for just over half the price of this one and spend the rest on something else.

For what it's worth, one might characterize the bidding on the WaJo Sov as "thin" -- the second underbidder topped out at $8700.

There were not multiple bids stacked around the final price. The consignor must be happy that "r***o (693)" put in his/her snipe. :)

Not that thin as 4 individuals were willing to pay over $8600 for it. Given the $4600 selling price on ebay mid last year thats up close to 90% in a year, seems pretty good to me.

Using PWCC results as evidence of market trends is dangerous. Just ask anyone who bought Clemente rookies in late summer of 2016.

To be fair, that manipulation was not limited to PWCC auctions; it was evident across many venues. Look at Goodwins “results” from that time.

T206 Walter Johnson cards
 

OK....if this crazy "price hyping" continues, I'm tempted to pull these out of their respective sets and consign them to "hi-bidder" auctions. And, wait for the "big $$$$" to roll in :)


http://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan7...ohsonSGC40.jpg . . http://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan7...ohnsonPSA4.jpg


SWEET CAP 150, Factory #30
http://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan7...weetCap150.jpg . . http://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan7...ohnsonP150.jpg



TED Z

T206 Reference
.

Great cards Ted!

I have one and debated trying to do a back run as this is tied for my favorite card image. Seeing what the prices are starting to do, I wish I had jumped in on the run 3 years ago when I started getting the itch to do it.

LOVE that Hindu Johnson Bryan. Thought about a back run too but faded after these three.

http://www.net54baseball.com/picture...ictureid=10126

http://www.net54baseball.com/picture...ictureid=24426

http://www.net54baseball.com/picture...ictureid=22710

Very nice Dean!

I am currently doing a full Wajo back run (portrait and pitching). Dean, if you'd be willing to trade/sell the EPDG please let me know.

Have 2 more since I took this picture. Purposefully leaving myself some easy backs.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1773/...aa7ac6b1_o.jpg

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1791/...3906961e_o.jpg

Wajo Portrait
 

I actually think Wajo portrait is undervalued relative to the price increases we've seen from Young portrait and Cobbs.

Very nice Jay! The Wajo pitching backrun is quite an undertaking - the Red Hindu Cycle 460 and AB 350 no frame should be easy pickens compared to the BL 460 and Drum (not sure if there is a BL 350).... :)

Toughies
 

Yessir...BL460, Drum, and the portrait Old Mill are the impossible ones. I kind of like that it's a project that will take years to complete.

Years and just a wee bit of $$$. It’s a great undertaking, seriously. Phenomenal HOFer with tons of really great rare backs. You of course gotta add the T213, T214, and T215 to the list (not sure if they make those poses). Great project

As much Johnson is respected by people "in the know", I don't think his name will ever have the cache' of a Cobb, if you will.

Exactly! It seems these days people are just willing the prices up on these cards and other people are just willing to pay these prices??

Why is it that most people talk about rising “prices” and not rising “values?” It’s as if we’re always in buy mode, and rising prices are bad. But if you happen to own a card or two with “rising prices,” isn’t that good?

Fantastic group there Jay! Well done.

Yes, the T206 WaJo pitching pose is also found in the T213-2, T213-3, T214, T215-1, and T215-2 sets. The T213-2 is easy, but the others are very tough.

Val, I knew you would come to the rescue with the answer to my query. I hope all is well and you are having a good summmer. I am going to try to get another trade club scheduled this fall - winter; hopefully you will come and we (including Jay who is local) can all peep some rare Wajo stuff.