reports from the 2017 National

[SMPEP]

Yup. Ebay and auction houses trump the Nationals. Airfare, hotel, admission and hassle of dealers/travel ... or just bid and get it sent to you. And honestly in the course of a year ... more is offered in the other venues at better prices.

Of course this is just the bitter point of view of a West Coaster who's annoyed that the Nationals won't set up out West anymore.

Here's a hint to the people who run Nationals ... if you just set up in the same three cities ... you're just going to have the same darn show year after year. If you rotate North South East and West, you attract different dealers (who have different stuff) and different buyers (in addition to the loyal ones). You expand the hobby with a rotation. You kill the hobby with a 3 city loop.

The Nationals is in the early stages of dying ... because it's being managed poorly.

Cheers,
Patrick Prickett (Leon will probably make me put my name on this anyways! ; -)

[RTK]

I think it may be slightly smaller than the last one in Chicago...not sure, but it had a curtain across the far end of the hall. It seemed the last time the entire room was used.

[kmac32]

Relatively successful day today. Bumped off 1 card from my list in a trade. Got my Evers T205 AB back stabbed. Found some cool boxer cards with Boston Terriers on them. Made some contacts to consign my W572 cards to major auction houses. Life is good.

[LuckyLarry]

(Copied from OBC report)
Doug DeJong arrived bright and early this AM from his drive in from NC and joined Spike, Taylor, and me as we enjoyed the free breakfast at our hotel. Off to the show!
As soon as I entered I went right to the line for the free autograph Rico Petrocelli and only had to wait fifteen minutes.
Then I hustled back to Net54 member Taxmechanick (Glenn) table. Yesterday I bought a slabbed 1887 Gold Coin N284 card of Bushong. Today I bought a slabbed 1888 Scrapps tobacco card of Bushong so excited to get these cards.
I spent most of the day shopping for bargains. My new dealer friend in the back of the room said any Donruss Odd Rod I wanted for $3, so I bought 2 hits to one of the later issues I needed, then 16 duplicates of the tough to find originals from 1969.
Time to get serious with my 1960 Leaf baseball. Way on the other side of the show floor, picked up 14 high numbers most were $7 some were a bit more.
Picked up some random non sports hits, then back to the autograph area and got Steve Trachsel free no line. Forgot about his wife swapping scandal until Spike just reminded me. That might have been an interesting personalization lol!
Bought seven hits 1966 Topps Superman cards the ones that only have the copyright line on the back.
I found a stack of Bond Bread baseball cards eleven different paid $20 I'm like 90% sure these are legit plus the dealer told me they were lol!
Back to my new dealer friend in the corner I picked up a 1985 Topps WWF set of 66 cards 22 stickers I looked on eBay and I think $40 was an ok price Weird I know.
Next got Gary Beaman free autograph he beat out OJ for the Heisman Trophy in 1967. We shut off the lights as we left the show.
We attended the Net 54 dinner thank you very much Leon! Enjoyed the food and I enjoyed one bottled water and a Diet Coke as I am the designated driver cause I don't drink lol!
The speakers were all really great Brian Drent from Mile High told some good stories on acquiring all that unopened wax.
Al Crisafulli educated me on what Lina Blackburn has done for baseball.
Finally thanks to the last speaker Brian who investigates fraud in the collectibles market he is an FBI Special Agent.
I still have cash and a PayPal balance I'm ready for Saturday!
Larry





Sent from my iPhone


Sent from my iPhone

[clydepepper]

I hope everyone has a grand ole' time at National. Perhaps I can attend someday and meet all the guys with whom I've been corresponding.

-Raymond

[canjond]

Hoping for a little luck here... I had heard that a dealer has a Napoleon Little Cigars box at the national that's not for sale, and propped up behind the table (it's supposed to be near Levi's table). I've never come across one before and wanted to see it and possibly photograph it for my cigarette website, but after a day of searching yesterday, I couldn't find the sucker. Any chance someone saw it and knows where it is?!

[Leon]

Originally Posted by canjond

Hoping for a little luck here... I had heard that a dealer has a Napoleon Little Cigars box at the national that's not for sale, and propped up behind the table (it's supposed to be near Levi's table). I've never come across one before and wanted to see it and possibly photograph it for my cigarette website, but after a day of searching yesterday, I couldn't find the sucker. Any chance someone saw it and knows where it is?!

I saw it Jon; I might be able to find it again today and if I can I will take a few pics for ya....He had some Napolean T207s too...