auction scene
 

As the steady stream of sportscard auctions continues into the end of the year...to me...it seems the quality of items being offered is greater than in recent years.

Some cards that really haven't been seen for sale/auction in the last 2 years...some early cobb postcards like the dietsche fielding specifically comes to mind.

Also a much more broad array of babe ruth cards are available these days...honey boys, lots of caramels, w's, spaldings...exhibits.

While it seems modern has corrected in many instances significantly...it will be interesting to see some hammers on vintage and if prices hold up...based on few comps in the last few years...and the sagging economy.

This is what I collect. Whats happening in your niche?

I counted 17 different t206s Cobb's in just one auction. Again, as a consignor, I find it hard to believe people accept this when consigning. Either

A. they are coming from one consignor

B. Consignors feel there is enough demand it wont hurt prices.

C. Dont ask, dont care

Though I have managed to win a few, I'm still being outbid even in the most random auctions, on obscure items. The eyeballs are still out there

I’m having a hard time finding bargains on the things I like. A Mordecai Brown portrait in common back PSA 3 just sold over 2k, as an example (though I’m not specifically looking for that).

The mid to low grade 52T Mantle cards seem to be softening on price somewhat, though still way up from a couple of years ago.

The Cobb rookie postcards seem to be still doing fine.

I love the abundance of offerings, some really nice cards coming to market, and prices are strong for quality pre war. I can usually find several cards I'd like to add to the collection in each auction but you know how it is, watch 12, bid on 6, and hope to get 1.
I've throttled back on purchases a bit waiting to see what the next 12 months bring but I was fortunate to pick up a relatively rare Cobb at a good price at the last Heritage.

Wow I am more like watch 18 bid 12 pray for 1 and walk away to bid on the next auction

An auction house is like a someone's mouth. You can always find teeth that you want to look at. Right, Pete ? :D

Too much
 

Prices are high almost across the board on vintage at the AH … I snuck in a few I considered a good buy at the last REA but had to pay up to win 2 lots at the Heritage last week (and I use that term very loosely when you consider a “win” in a major auction means you paid more than anyone else on Planet Earth both sane and insane was willing to go!) . Then reality set in when the invoice came including the 20% juice plus the tax OUCH and the delivery I was up about 30% over my admittedly overly generous bids. Still happy with the cards but man I’m just going to stick with private purchases when they can be found…. fees and prices are making me put my wallet back in my pocket for a while.

The US Consumer is super strong, they’re spending, especially bidders in all the big AH’s it’s so amazing to watch. I’ve concluded that as each year passes there are more and more collectors who will spend whatever it takes to get that special piece.

I believe a bunch of collectors have looked at card prices over the last three years and said, I don’t want to be left holding bag. Time to sell.

Let’s hope the parallels between the 2020s and the 1920s don’t continue to the same conclusion.

They won't.

Parkplace33 For as many as you think don’t wanna be left holding the bag there sure as hell is a lot of others who want to take the bag no matter what they have to pay, they want the cards. It’s amazing the staying power of high-end quality vintage, it’s not coming down.

the hobby you mean????? I've seen a lot...i've seen most...most of it has become kinda mundane...but every now and then something curious presents itself!

There are some tremendous items out there among the zillions of mainstream offerings. I am looking at a serious chase of two items in the upcoming auctions.

In some cases, the auctions are refining their offerings very nicely: fewer lots but really strong stuff. The latest LOTG is a great example. I don't really collect most of the items offered but I was very impressed with the selectivity of the items and how they were presented. It is one of the better reads of recent catalogs.

Hi Pete, that's a beautiful Cobb fielding pose! is that a recent pickup?

I think the Ruth/Gehrig market is softening a bit as others have observed. I expect things to continue to drop or be flat for the next couple of years except for those really rare or iconic cards (like the Ruth rookie).

Could be, Gary. I wouldn't mind a bit of weakening so I can add a few more Ruth cards to the accumulation.

thx...had it over 10 years I believe.

Auctions Lately
 

It seems to me that prices on prewar baseball are up substantially in 2021-2022 if looking at that market overall. There are always people buying and people wanting to sell. Some of the sellers are cashing in on the profits while others are worried about the direction of the US economy.

Some motivations for buyers are these:
1. Most prewar baseball has far out-performed most mutual funds and bonds in recent years.
2. Investing in a physical asset can be a hedge against inflation.
3. Some short-term Flippers are hoping to make a quick profit buying from one auction and relisting in another auction.
4. Cyber currencies are crashing, and digital collectibles might be a risky fad. Prewar baseball is now being seen as a more "conservative" type of investment by comparison. The prewar baseball "market" is well established now.