Desert Shield Packs

[Zach Wheat]

I was a little surprised at the ending price of $7,200 (with juice) at the recent REA Auction and $6,845 @ SCP for the latest unopened boxes of Desert Shield packs. Both boxes were sealed and certified by BBCE. You used to be able to buy individual packs for $150 as recent as a few months ago.

I know the availability of packs have been drying up.....but these prices seem a little high. Any other opinions/comments?


Z Wheat

[yankeeno7]

I thought BBCE didnt authenticate Desert Shield boxes because there was no way to prove they are in fact Desert Shield unless you open them.

[ALR-bishop]

I have a set of of the DS cards and 2 packs I bought from them. I do not know how you can tell without opening them, so have no idea if they really have DS cards in them, and never will

[Zach Wheat]

I don't know exactly how BBCE authenticates everything but I know they use a mix of provenance, testing a sample pack as well as using the black light method covered in earlier Desert Shield posts. I know Steve is aware of using this method for authentication as of late 2014. On CU, they also mentioned using a stud finder to detect the foil. I have yet to try that technique.

Re: blacklights, if you shine a blacklight on the back of the pack in a darkened room, you should see the "hot orangeish" border flourescing. You can see this through the wrapper. Regular issue 1991 Topps cards may or may not also flouresce - but all DS cards should flouresce. Previously we found only a small percentage (maybe 0.2%) that didn't....Joe 4Reals posted a great image of the cards flourescing under a black light in that post.

Z Wheat

[ALR-bishop]

In the old days we would never have stood for cards fluorescing themselves

[7nohitter]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

In the old days we would never have stood for cards fluorescing themselves

THAT was funny!

[ls7plus]

I was buying higher grade examples of stars such as Frank Thomas, Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds back in the early '90's. Not many sets were issued (about 6,000, if memory serves correctly), and most were not in good shape. Scarce to begin with + condition rarity = higher and higher prices (plus the patriotic angle doesn't hurt any when it comes to Americana).

Probably as good an investment from the early '90's as you may find for the long term.

Highest regards,

Larry

[Zach Wheat]

I am surpised you didnt buy any BBCE packs.....


Z