1969 Topps Alcindor PSA 10

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

The fact that the grading process is not more transparent suggests that people should buy the card not the holder. $400k for cardboard that isn't rare except for the number assigned to it by a third-party grading company is just irresponsible. So you have the only PSA 10 on August 19, 2016. What that company or number will mean with respect to that card or otherwise in 5 or 10 years is no certainty. It's just a bet made by someone with ridiculous amounts of disposable wealth.

To each his own, by I much prefer relative card scarcity to high grade scarcity.

Totally agree with this. Any number of things could burst a 1 of 1 PSA 10's bubble. Perhaps 4-5 more grade out as 10's over the next few years (totally possible with a 1969 card)... or worse, and in line with a previous post, perhaps a scandal is eventually outed, in which graders, or those paying off graders are buying and submitting 9's in order to have them bumped to 10's. Given today's market there could be hundreds of thousands, even millions to be earned, on easy to find, relatively affordable (8-9's of most of these are easily attainable) cards awaiting a bump to 10. I cannot imagine the wages/salary of a grader are enough to full offset the temptation to cash in, that one (or more) may eventually feel. It all seems pretty precarious, with an awful lot outside the buyers' control.

[sushihotwings]

One thing that I believe helps to keep PSA and it's graders on the honest side is that they are publicly traded. This means they have a board of directors which are there to maximize shareholder value but to also act as a check and balance system for management. This can help to prevent shenanigans but nothing is foolproof of course. Plenty of publicly traded scandals as well. Enron etc. As for the Alcinder rookie price, of course it is hard to imagine for normal folk like us to understand. But people paying these prices are CEOs of large corporations, hedge fund guys etc. they have the disposable income and like expensive toys. They also didn't get to where they are in life by being completely foolish with their money. Very rare and one of kind items will always have a market with the uber rich.
David Lamont

[Fred]

What do you think the bidding would be on the card if it were graded PSA 9? That would be the indication of how much influence TPG companies (especially PSA) have over a fool and their money. I suppose it's all relative. If you have millions and millions to piss away then a few hundred K isn't going to kill you.

[eomint]

Well, the gorgeous t206 Cobb 9 that sold last night on SCP seems to indicate that prewar high grade and rare stars are starting to take off. $488,000. When you consider 54 Aarons are selling for $300-350K it makes some of the high grade vintage stuff look like a relative bargain if one can afford it.

[CMIZ5290]

Originally Posted by eomint

Well, the gorgeous t206 Cobb 9 that sold last night on SCP seems to indicate that prewar high grade and rare stars are starting to take off. $488,000. When you consider 54 Aarons are selling for $300-350K it makes some of the high grade vintage stuff look like a relative bargain if one can afford it.

This card absolutely blows me away. $500K for a PSA 9 Cobb, and it's not the Green portrait. IMO, the front of the card looks almost like a 10, but the back has some ink bleed and tiny staining. I guess the mix of the two makes for the grade of 9. Having said that, this price stuns me....

[eomint]

There is no PSA 9 Green Portrait, in fact there are no 9s period of any Cobb during his prime except 3 of the Bat off Shoulder, that makes a mint Cobb extremely rare. The last one sold in 2004 at HA for about $60K, implying a 15% compound annual return over the last 12 years to get to the price it sold for. Not cheap but definitely not ridiculous for a gem that survived 110 years like that, you can't pull a card from a pack today that is so stunning.

[4815162342]

Originally Posted by eomint

There is no PSA 9 Green Portrait, in fact there are no 9s period of any Cobb during his prime except 3 of the Bat off Shoulder, that makes a mint Cobb extremely rare. The last one sold in 2004 at HA for about $60K, implying a 15% compound annual return over the last 12 years to get to the price it sold for. Not cheap but definitely not ridiculous for a gem that survived 110 years like that, you can't pull a card from a pack today that is so stunning.

Were you the buyer or the consignor?

[CMIZ5290]

Originally Posted by eomint

There is no PSA 9 Green Portrait, in fact there are no 9s period of any Cobb during his prime except 3 of the Bat off Shoulder, that makes a mint Cobb extremely rare. The last one sold in 2004 at HA for about $60K, implying a 15% compound annual return over the last 12 years to get to the price it sold for. Not cheap but definitely not ridiculous for a gem that survived 110 years like that, you can't pull a card from a pack today that is so stunning.

Yes, I know. I have the card in a PSA 8OC.....

[insidethewrapper]

You would think with all the advanced technology today, that cards could be graded without human involvement. Lasers to precisely measure the borders and software developed to assess corners, color etc.
I would definitely send my cards to a company in which the human element is greatly reduced.

I thought the grading companies didn't know who submitted the cards and then I see on the label " From the so and so collection or find :