Thank you all! Chris, the white dog is mine but fortunately she knows better
Here are a few of my favorites from the larger collection:
1. 1960 Venezuelan - I saw one on eBay three years ago and almost pulled the trigger. I was saving for an engagement ring and could not pull the trigger. It took me until this past weekend to find another low grade for sale, and still cost 5 times what the eBay one went for.
2. 1959 Venezuelan - I bought this from one of my favorite eBay sellers. He had been contacted by his Venezuelan consignor about moving the card. Neither of us new exactly what it was worth or what it looked like. We had a tiny thumbnail image and the card was raw. I pulled the trigger anyway and paid just slightly less than a beater 52 Topps Mantle. It graded out for at a 1.5, so I was ecstatic. And, a lower grade one just sold on eBay for a little more than twice the price I paid for it.
3. 1968 Venezuelan - I severely underestimated the value of this card. I saw one for auction and thought for sure it would not hit the minimum bid and I'd be able to negotiate the guy down. It met and exceeded the minimum by a bit, and I thought it would be years before I saw another. As luck would have it, another seller posted one the day after the auction closed with a buy it now of half the opening bid of the other one. Not only that, but it was in much better shape. I clicked purchase immediately and then read the fine print--the guy sometimes uses stock photos. Fortunately, I got the card pictured.
4. 1959 Home Run Derby - I purchased a near complete set of these, raw, from a coin dealer on eBay. I had tried to negotiate for just the Mantle but to no avail. I think the Mantle ended up grading out at a 2 and I was able to help some board members add to their sets.
5. 1962 Post Canadian - This was one of the harder cards I ever added to my collection. It is the most difficult of the Post Canadian variations and is another instance where I managed to catch a listing quick enough to hit the buy it now.
6. 1962 Pittsburgh Exhibit 5 of Clubs - I did not realize it at the time, but this is the only one of this variation graded and is the only one I am aware of in existence. I am sure there are more, I just have not seen them. I'll likely part with this in trade at some point, but, until then, I am enjoying owning it.
