Auctions in the 1970s - And we think we have it rough? :)

[Leon]

One of the large brown boxes of hobby publications I am going through is full of auction correspondence from the early to mid 1970s. As the title says, and we think we have it rough? There are some recognizable names here and a few board members. There must be at least a hundred or more bid lists like these. I usually block out exact addresses and one of these was poorly photoshopped to fit the screen (sorry Bob)... Also, it should be noted that the first scan is merely showing an auction. It doesn't necessarily correspond to any of the bids, it is for show only.

[tennisguy]

$4.40 bid placed by Lionel for the E103 Williams Wagner (VG). Awesome!

Happy New Year everyone!

[Sean]

Great stuff. I feel like I'm looking at something from the Dark Ages.

It must have taken so much more effort to shill an auction back in the '70s.

[Buythatcard]

Was there a Buyer's premium back then? Did they charge insane S/H rates?

Probably not.

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by Sean

It must have taken so much more effort to shill an auction back in the '70s.

After learning, as a result of a series of furious postal exchanges, that his bid on the E103 Wagner had been topped by ten cents, Lionel had to scurry off to the local Western Union to send off his winning telegram bid of $4.60. This made Lionel grumble, as obviously the whole collecting world was going to hell in a hand basket.

Brian

[cardinalcollector]

Good stuff Leon, it was a lot of fun to be collecting in the late 60s and early 70s.

[Jay Wolt]

Leon, fantastic! Thanks for posting 'em

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Buythatcard

Was there a Buyer's premium back then? Did they charge insane S/H rates?

Probably not.

No buyer's premium, but your consignors were likely paying 30 - 40%

[CobbSpikedMe]

I love how Carter would take the time to type up his bids all nice and the other's chicken scratch had to be deciphered by the auctioneers.

That's awesome.

AndyH

[Huysmans]

Great read, thanks for posting Leon.

I'm curious if the photos mentioned originating from Yankee stadium are connected with the large format The Babe Bows Out photo that REA sold a few years back?
The auction is dated Jan of 1974... with the REA write-up stating the photo was purchased by their consignor at a local sale of Yankee Stadium items that occurred at a small little league field in Queens in 1975 during the stadium's renovations.

[timn1]

I remember writing that letter like it was yesterday.... where did the last 43 years go, anyway?

[DaveW]

just curious Tim - Did you win any of those bids? Did you get the Old Judge card for $4.25?

[sb1]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

No buyer's premium, but your consignors were likely paying 30 - 40%

No....almost all of the material back then was owned by the seller/dealer.

[trdcrdkid]

Originally Posted by sb1

No....almost all of the material back then was owned by the seller/dealer.

Except in the bimonthly auctions in Card Collector’s Bulletin, for which Charles Bray charged a 15% buyer’s premium (raised from 10% in the early 1960s).

[timn1]

I did get a few prewar cards back in the 70s, but as a 15-year-old (in '74) I was basically playin' with no chips...

Originally Posted by DaveW

just curious Tim - Did you win any of those bids? Did you get the Old Judge card for $4.25?