Just Completed a 1915 Cracker Jack Set

[Madi$on18joshua]

I picked up the Cobb from REA which was the last card I needed to complete the set. I ended up paying $6,700 w/ tax & shipping for a PSA 1. I didn't have the euphoric feeling I had imagined after getting confirmation I was the high bidder. I'm guessing once it is finally delivered and I have it in hand I will feel differently or its just the chase is more fun than the finish line :-)

I have three questions for you all knowledgeable gentlemen:

1. I do plan on selling, I am just not sure when, do I get the 42 non PSA graded in a PSA slab? When it comes time to sell will those 42 being in a PSA holder make a notable difference in the price?

2. If I go the auction route, do I have them sell as set or break it up? I know Mile High, I believe will auction both ways and which ever one has the highest value is how it closes.

3. If I do go the auction route, should I even mess around with getting them graded as aren't the auction houses able to get cards graded much faster at a better cost?

Thank you in advance for the feedback.

[jburl]

Congrats on the completion!

Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk

[atx840]

Congrats Micah, what an accomplishment.

[trambo]

I'm a consistency person so I'd do everything I'd could to have them not only slabbed but also in the same slab. That way there's no question of authenticity or any subjectivity to the grade of any raw card but only if you agree/disagree if the overall grade by the TPG is proper.

For something like this, I'd almost be inclined to sell it yourself if you could (or at least try). If it's graded, you can more easily guess at value and if there's no set premium (no idea if there is with a 15 CJ set or not) you'd likely be giving up 20% of the total (my guess is most AH's would give you 105-110% of the hammer price so maybe it's not that bad). Posting the set here may grab the one buyer but also ebay could be an option. I've had some luck selling sets there (48 Bowman and 41 Play Ball) and it's a lower cost option in fees.

Regardless, a big congrats on the set completion! I have a few of the t sets done (01, 05 and 06-520) and the chase was more fun than the completion but it is always fun to get them out and look through them! I'm sure seeing the 15 CJ set in its entirety is pretty awesome!!

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!!

[charlietheexterminator]

Congratulations Micah, you did it !!!

[Fred]

Nice!!! It's always great to reach a difficult goal. I'm a bit sentimental, I'd hold on to it for a while, but that's just me. If you're going to auction it off, then let the auction house advise and definitely let them do the footwork on getting the cards graded.

[yanksfan09]

Congrats! I worked on mine , at times harder than others, over a 10 year span before I completed the 1915 set!

[Bicem]

Congrats, that's no easy task!

[hcv123]

In response to a couple of your questions: Carefully choose your auction house - if you are confident you have chosen wisely - let them decide or at least advise you on the best way to sell/grade etc. I would want all the high value card to be graded.

[Kidnapped18]

Congratulations on the '15 CJ set completion!

1. If the other 42 are already graded in an SGC slab I probably wouldn't bother with PSA especially with the lengthy turn around times. But it would also depend on which 42 are non PSA...Cobb, WaJo, Honus, Matty, JJ are gonna sell regardless of slab

2. I would first try to sell them myself, even offer them here on net54, then I would pick an AH (REA, HA, LOTG etc...) to sell in individual lots and not at the same time maybe break them up in several auctions over a year to maximize the amounts: CJDave sold his CJs on net54 and I believe he did well then he sent the ones that didn't sell to Crazy Uncle and well we all know what happened after that...

For example LOTG auctioned off a complete '14 CJ set earlier this year and some cards didn't come close to their price potential because there were way too many choices...that set had mostly PSA but the Cobb and Moriarity were SGC

3. If you do use an AH I would definitely let them submit the 42 for faster turn around times

Tony

[Rhotchkiss]

Huge accomplishment. Congrats

[ALBB]

I wouldn't spend any more money on it, the set is done

[Seven]

Congratulations! That is no easy feat. Always love hearing the journey's to finish a set!

[BCauley]

Congrats on the completion!

[Madi$on18joshua]

I appreciate the suggestions and the love from you all! Buying is so much easier and more fun than selling!!!! So many choices.

[jayshum]

Congrats on completing the set. It's always a great feeling when that happens. I don't understand why you are already thinking about selling it.

[Stampsfan]

Originally Posted by Madi$on18joshua

I appreciate the suggestions and the love from you all! Buying is so much easier and more fun than selling!!!! So many choices.

Congrats. What a cool set.

I'm with you, I'm way better at buying stuff than selling stuff.

[Madi$on18joshua]

Originally Posted by jayshum

Congrats on completing the set. It's always a great feeling when that happens. I don't understand why you are already thinking about selling it.

lol, my apologies Jay! talk about a delay in replying to a message!!!! My wife and I had been buying properties to airbnb and we were short the funds needed as the house we were trying to buy was in the same zip code as another one we already owned. Because of that we had to put 25% down payment in order to get it. We didn't have enough cash so I was contemplating selling the CJ set.

I ended up selling lots of other cards that were slabbed PSA rookies to get the downpayment needed for the new cabin in Big Bear, which we closed on in October 2020! Here is a list of the cards I sold:

- 51 Bowman Mantle
- 51 Bowman Mays
- 39 Play Ball Williams
- 61 Fleer Chamberlain
- 49 Bowman Robinson
- 79 OPC Gretzky
- 38 Goudey Dimaggio
- 72 Topps Erving
- 58 topps Maris
- 49 Bowman Campanella
- 80 Topps Bird, Erving, Johnson

I have managed to replaced a few of these but luckily I still have the 1915 Cracker Jack set. I still haven't done anything with the raw and SGC slabbed cards yet as I keep using my $$$ to buy other cards - lol.

[RayBShotz]

Whoa! Monumental achievement!
Congrats.
RayB

[jingram058]

Congrats.

The fundamental rule of buying and selling: whatever you have is worth a fortune, whatever I have isn't worth crap.

[JimmyC]

Congrats on completing - one of the iconic sets of all time!

[Madi$on18joshua]

Originally Posted by jingram058

Congrats.

The fundamental rule of buying and selling: whatever you have is worth a fortune, whatever I have isn't worth crap.

Truer words haven't been spoken!!! I literally spit out my coke as I read this!!!

I can remember not being able to sell my psa 2 51 Mantle for $6k!!!! I was trying to sell a 34 yellow Gehrig and couldn't get $3k for it!!! But when I'm buying I seem to be above VCP on the regular! lol.

[Bpm0014]

Congrats brother. That’s a great accomplishment. I will admit that as soon as I finished the T206 set, I was somewhat disappointed. I kind of felt like “now what??” I will wholeheartedly admit that the chase is much more fun than the actual ending.

[brunswickreeves]

Congrats on this amazing accomplishment! One of the most remarkable sets period. I’d hold and enjoy for a while, unless you need to sell, or feel the time is now right given the run up over the past few years.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by brunswickreeves

Congrats on this amazing accomplishment! One of the most remarkable sets period. I’d hold and enjoy for a while, unless you need to sell, or feel the time is now right given the run up over the past few years.

Wow and Wow

Congratulations

[JimC]

Scrolling down the forum topics as usual and scrolled past yours . . . only to say "wait, what was that???" and scroll back up.

Congratulations on what I'm sure is a gorgeous set.

[Leon]

A beltated congrats. Glad you got to keep the CJ's....(until the next big purchase!)
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