How rare would a stack of 1921 Herpolsheimer's be? Including Babe. Just wondering :)

[Atari]

October 2023:
Hi again, everyone. It's been a few years, here's my post on the status update for these awesome cards:
https://www.net54baseball.com/showpo...6&postcount=63


Old thread from 2019 below....


It took me awhile to find you guys, but this seems like the best spot to ask.












In their "Ultra-Rare 1921 E121 Herpolsheimer Fred Toney sale" Love of the Game Auctions says:

"The most difficult, however, are the cards advertising the Herpolsheimer's Boys Fashion Shop. The reason for this is that just 69 or 70 cards from the issue are known to exist, no more than one example of each subject."

Well... here's 39 more that are now "known".

The cards have lived in a metal Band-Aid box probably since the mid 1930s.

Planning to grade and sell them soon but trying to get an idea of what you guys think the Babe Ruth may be worth.

I've searched everywhere, but I've never seen a Herpolsheimer backed Babe Ruth before. 1 of 1?

[swarmee]

Welcome to the board. Way to make a splash. No back picture? Checklist? New names? Or team/position variations?

[Atari]

Originally Posted by swarmee

Welcome to the board. Way to make a splash. No back picture? Checklist? New names? Or team/position variations?

Was going to post the list, but what do you think? Should I tease it? I've contracted the herps!

Ok, here you go. Since you were first to reply

[Jobu]

Nice find!

Here is a 2012 sale of a Ruth:

https://www.robertedwardauctions.com...okie-sgc-vgex/

And a 2010 sale of a really nice one:

https://www.robertedwardauctions.com...th-rookie-psa/

Yours isn't quite as nice as the 2012 sale (depending on what the back of yours looks like), BUT Ruth cards have gone way up in value since 2012. So I would say that yours will definitely bring more than the 2012 sale and to find out how much more you will need to grade it and send it to auction.

[philliesphan]

Jobu-

1921, not 1916. Different issue, different team, RC vs. non-RC

It's a very different issue altogether

[Jobu]

Ah, my bad guys. Did that on my phone and wasn't paying enough attention.

Originally Posted by philliesphan

Jobu-

1921, not 1916. Different issue, different team, RC vs. non-RC

It's a very different issue altogether

[oldjudge]

Great cards. That Ruth will sell for a lot.

[Atari]

Originally Posted by Jobu

Nice find!

Here is a 2012 sale of a Ruth:

https://www.robertedwardauctions.com...okie-sgc-vgex/

And a 2010 sale of a really nice one:

https://www.robertedwardauctions.com...th-rookie-psa/

Yours isn't quite as nice as the 2012 sale (depending on what the back of yours looks like), BUT Ruth cards have gone way up in value since 2012. So I would say that yours will definitely bring more than the 2012 sale and to find out how much more you will need to grade it and send it to auction.

Yeah, I saw those too. They are the 1916's. This is the 1921. Have never seen "mine" before anywhere (they belong to my uncle).

[swarmee]

Can you post a picture of the backs? There are a lot of different E121 backs:
http://www.oldcardboard.com/e/e2/e12...y-of-backs.asp

Reasoning: slow-rolling people like this makes people think you're a scammer.

[Leon]

The very infamous pencil is finally shown!!

[Atari]

Originally Posted by Leon

The very infamous pencil is finally shown!!

Hi Leon!

[philliesphan]

Unclear why you wouldn't show the card backs - as the E121/W575-1's are not hard as a general issue, just difficult with the Herpolsheimer's advertising reverse.

The known cards were all found at the same time, and up until that point, only a single example of each card was identified. There is some controversy/debate on the erasure of the back writing on some of the cards - I'm sure you can find more here on Net54 on that topic.

Putting a price tag on a unique or near-unique card is quite difficult. I'd say get the cards authenticated and graded -

The Ruth that sold in 2004 went for just under $8k IIRC

[Atari]

Originally Posted by philliesphan

Unclear why you wouldn't show the card backs - as the E121/W575-1's are not hard as a general issue, just difficult with the Herpolsheimer's advertising reverse.

The known cards were all found at the same time, and up until that point, only a single example of each card was identified. There is some controversy/debate on the erasure of the back writing on some of the cards - I'm sure you can find more here on Net54 on that topic.

Putting a price tag on a unique or near-unique card is quite difficult. I'd say get the cards authenticated and graded -

The Ruth that sold in 2004 went for just under $8k IIRC

Was just waiting for a post like yours sir. Here you go:





This is the back of the Babe Ruth. Not perfect, but pretty good?:


roll a die.com

[Atari]

I am going to reach out to PSA, SGC, BGS next week to see if any of them are interested in grading the lot. Do you think one of them would do it free of charge? I'd think the bragging (and marketing) rights to be the first registry to see, grade, and list these is worth something?

[Jobu]

Ahhh, no. They will all be happy to grade them for you, but PSA is going to charge you between $3,000 (card value $25,000-$100,000) to $5,000 (value $100,000+) for just the Ruth.

Originally Posted by Atari

I am going to reach out to PSA, SGC, BGS next week to see if any of them are interested in grading the lot. Do you think one of them would do it free of charge? I'd think the bragging (and marketing) rights to be the first registry to see, grade, and list these is worth something?

[Atari]

Originally Posted by Jobu

Ahhh, no. They will all be happy to grade them for you, but PSA is going to charge you between $3,000 (card value $25,000-$100,000) to $5,000 (value $100,000+) for just the Ruth.

Hard to judge the value of a good one-of-a-kind industry press release

Which of the 3 major services can currently issue a press release with nicely edited youtube video of them grading this lot? Would you watch that video?

[Atari]

Been going back over this thread and the broader 1921 Herpolsheimer's saga a bit more because these cards will be going to auction very soon. I'll let the auctioneer who has them make the official announcement, but I think they're in the best hands they could be in, especially in terms of knowledge and passion for these nearly impossible to find cards.

btw, it took quite some time to get to this point because my uncle unfortunately was unexpectedly diagnosed with stage IV liver cancer and died 20 days later in 2020. We have been going through mourning of his loss and the whole probate process since then. Really sucks as he was like my dad and big brother and best buddy all in one. He was a collector of many things and an auction goer himself. He would have really loved to watch the sale of these cards. RIP.

[pcoz]

I have the Holsum Ruth 1/1 from 1920. I paid 84k 4-5 yrs ago. It’s estimated to be in the 125k-140k+ area presently. E121’s have easily doubled the past five years, and with that iconic pose, I think your card will bring a haul, congrats!






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Luke]

Awesome find! Which other HOFers are in there? I see Maranville and Sisler. I would think this card would top $100k easily and $200k wouldn't surprise me.

[IMAXMAX]

Whoa! Congrats::::
I guess my 1/1 Stengel(thanks Leon!) is now a 1/2...all good though.
Hope these cards are found to be authentic, and helps put the doubts about the legitimacy of the original find to rest.

Do these cards also have pencil marks on the back?
Was the pencil in the band-aid box too?

[Atari]

Originally Posted by IMAXMAX

Whoa! Congrats::::
I guess my 1/1 Stengel(thanks Leon!) is now a 1/2...all good though.
Hope these cards are found to be authentic, and helps put the doubts about the legitimacy of the original find to rest.

Do these cards also have pencil marks on the back?
Was the pencil in the band-aid box too?

Ha ha no the pencil is a home depot carpenters pencil. I've been remodeling the kitchen and that was the pencil on my desk.

No pencil marks on the backs of these herps that I can see.

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by Luke

Awesome find! Which other HOFers are in there? I see Maranville and Sisler. I would think this card would top $100k easily and $200k wouldn't surprise me.

Post 4 has the list of Herpo's in this find.

Brian

[Atari]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

Post 4 has the list of Herpo's in this find.

Brian

I copied all the pics to the first post now. Apologies for rolling them out slowly.

[Atari]

Originally Posted by pcoz

I have the Holsum Ruth 1/1 from 1920. I paid 84k 4-5 yrs ago. It’s estimated to be in the 125k-140k+ area presently. E121’s have easily doubled the past five years, and with that iconic pose, I think your card will bring a haul, congrats!






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Very nice card! Would have guessed better than 40/VG3.

[oldjudge]

Hi Pete! I think that the card will go for a lot less than $100,000. Although there are now only two copies, there are many ad back Ruth rookies with only a few copies known and in this condition they would sell for between $150,000 and $200,000. This is from the post Red Sox period and is a lot less desirable than a rookie card. I would value it at $40,000 to $60,000.

[pcoz]

Hi Jay! Didn't realize there were two, and in its condition, I agree on price and on your assessment of the value of the rarer Ruth RC ad backs. The E121/E122's have continued to climb though in price on their popularity and being undervalued for too long. Super card/find nonetheless.

[riggs336]

The cards have lived in a metal Band-Aid box probably since the mid 1930s
[/QUOTE]I

Amazing find! That style Band-Aid box was used in the 1940's and '50's. The '30's version had a sliding lid. Just something to know when you pitch the AH's.

https://www.kilmerhouse.com/2013/04/...-bandages-tins

[seablaster]

Damn. I just checked all my Band-Aid boxes and all I found were Band-Aids.

[Atari]

Originally Posted by riggs336

The cards have lived in a metal Band-Aid box probably since the mid 1930s

Amazing find! That style Band-Aid box was used in the 1940's and '50's. The '30's version had a sliding lid. Just something to know when you pitch the AH's.

https://www.kilmerhouse.com/2013/04/...-bandages-tins

Thanks. Yes, I was planning to figure out the date range of the can. I just assumed it would have been from when the original owner became a mature adult. Which as we all know is 18 years old on the nose.

[Cardboard_Mike]

It looks like your uncle will be retiring early.

[Madi$on18joshua]

So sorry for your loss, sounds like he would have really enjoyed watching the auction! which auction house are they with, I would love to make a go at a couple.

[NonSportDaniel]

Maybe the auction house can auction them as a group, and as individual cards and whichever goes for more will decide who wins them.

Sorry for your loss. I lost both of my parents in the last three years. Sucks getting old.

[autograf]

Originally Posted by NonSportDaniel

Maybe the auction house can auction them as a group, and as individual cards and whichever goes for more will decide who wins them.

Now, THAT's funny Daniel.

Well, one good thing in your favor is that during Covid, Ruth cards went up exponentially. Best of luck with the sale and disbursement of the funds to family. Sorry for the loss of your uncle.

[Brian Van Horn]

Not meant to rhyme but overjoyed to avoid.