Suitcase Full...OLD baseball cards

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Posted By: Tonya

My uncle came across while cleaning out an estate I believe, an old suitcase (roughly the size of a briefcase but real deap) that was filled to the top of baseball cards. Some, unopened packs, possibly 15-20 of them, the rest, all in what I see as excellent condition (but I don't know crap). He nor I, know anything about and have never collected baseball cards. I can date some back as early as the 1930's era, but that is just going by the colors/pictures themselves and what I have compared to pictures located over the internet. Some could be earlier than that, I was too afraid to touch them by digging into it all.

My question is, how does a man find out what he has, what its worth, without being taken? Whose the best person to go to? I don't believe he is interested at this time in trying to sell but I am not sure he'd likely turn down real good money for them.

I'd like to go thru them, but I don't know who is who in the baseball world. And there are so many cards out there, its unbelievable.

So, where does a person start? Anything to look for on the cards?

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Posted By: warshawlaw

I am sure many of the folks here would be pleased to help you ID the materials. Where are you located?

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Posted By: John

Tonya;

Congrats you have many options. First a few digital pictures would be nice. Most all of the members here would be glad to give you a rough idea of value on your new find. You can post images or you can email them to me and I will be happy to post them for you.

Next I would by a copy of the book below (link) it is a huge volume of cards and there rough values. Spend a little time looking them over and search the book. If you have any questions on a certain card once again please feel free to ask. Don’t be afraid to handle them just be careful with them. As with any paper collectible condition is key the better the more they are worth.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0873498798/qid=1102174373/sr=2-3/ref=pd_ka_b_2_3/104-6136920-7790300


You may also feel free to contact some of the bigger dealers such as Mastronet.com or Sportscardsplus.com these are decent businessmen and very successful auction houses. But as with any price quote don’t be afraid to get a second opinion from the board here or another dealer.

Best of luck hope this helps.

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Posted By: Scott

...at the end of your post.

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Posted By: Glen V

You can look for some of the cards on the Old Cardboard website - they have pictures of different issues with an estimated value (start looking under R cards - Goudeys?): http://www.oldcardboard.com/

Or, buy the Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards from your local books store or Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0873498798/qid=1102178071/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-0251518-2914555?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

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Posted By: Tonya

I live in Nebraska, Omaha to be exact. I will see about grabbing up some and scan them. The unopened packages should stay unopened right? Don't make alot of sense not to open them, as you don't know whats in there. I will get back to you later this evening with some more information.

Thanks alot everyone for the posts already.

Tonya

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Posted By: Richard Dwyer

If you went to a dealer, they would expect something for the hassle. So what you might want to do is find someone from this forum who could meet you somewhere to look over your cards. That person could bring their priceguide books with them to show you what your cards are worth. Many dealers won't show you in black & white what they're worth, because they're looking for a steal. Having someone from here help you would take a lot less effort. Maybe you should give that person one of the nicer cards for the hassle.

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Posted By: Richard Masson

Unopened material that old is very rare and worth more than the stuff inside.

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Posted By: steve k

What a fantastic, unbelievably lucky find getting that suitcase full of cards at the estate sale. I was also very fortunate recently when moving into a house built around the early 1900s. In the far corner of the dark attic buried underneath some very old newspapers, I discovered a box full of baseball cards that for some reason was forgotten about and left there. In it were many nice cards including a rare Topps t-206 Honus Wagner printed in the early 1900s which is now the pride of my baseball card collection. Congratulations on that find and good luck with it.

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Posted By: Richard Masson

If Dave Levin can find a breifcase, why can't this guy? I will trade you my Donruss T-206 Wagner so you can complete the set.

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Posted By: David Smith

No, it wouldn't be a complete set without the Fleer and Upper Deck t-206 Wagners.