With all of this banter about how much people are paying for memorabilia, I thought..

[scmavl]

Originally Posted by thekingofclout

I had to sell my entire wax pack collection along with most of my HOF autographs including Cobb, Foxx, Hornsby, Mantle, Jackie, Greenberg, Ott, Collins, Cochrane, and LaJoie to raise the $8100 needed to buy this one. No regrets here.

I've seen that before and always thought it was one of the nicest autos I've ever, ever seen. I didn't know it was yours and now that I know you, I see why you would've given anything for it! Perfect, Jimmy.

[Copa7]

thekingofclout - thanks. I am enjoying the luxury of getting in at the ground floor of soccer collecting in America. The same cannot be said in Europe and South America where prices have been skyrocketing for memorabilia.

Jarrod.Perkins - I have this 1964 Topps Giant autographed by Harmon Killebrew.

[steve B]

I collect a pretty wide range of stuff. But with all of it I'm on the lower end of things.

What's fun is finding a great item going overlooked at a low price.
The few things I've spent real money on have been pretty special but still somewhat inexpensive.

Racing bike - 1200 for a 1987-88 7-11 team time trail bike. All original which is very uncommon for racing bikes.

stamp - 330 for a 90cent treasury dept with specimen overprint from 1875. Only 72 were sold, making it more rare than the upside down airplane stamp that goes for about as much as a Wagner. There were 100 of those.

Card- I think around 280 for an SGC 80 polar bear Bill Graham. Really incredibly nice for a Polar Bear, and the best of that player and brand by a few grades.

All my other collectible hobbies I don't think I've spent much at all Nearly everything else has been well under 100, usually less than 20. And a lot of it is still really cool.

Steve B

[Frozen in Time]

With your permission Jimmy, here is something on the opposite end of the spectrum. Found along with a 1960 Post cereal Frank Gifford that were used as backing in a frame my brother picked up at a local flea market and gave me. The accompanying photo is not the one I have but mine is cut large, with even borders, sharp corners no creases, paper wrinkles or any other surface flaws. The accompanying "bios" for both were in between the "cards".

Who would have known!!!

[thisisradioclash]

I paid about $500 for a '53 Topps Satchel Paige in very nice shape. Almost the same for a Koufax rookie, also in Very Good-ish, maybe a little better shape.

I picked up a beater '49 Bowman Paige for a song, and I'd like to round out the Satchel Paige collection with a '48 Leaf Paige, too, but that'll probably cost me a bit more than $500

[scmavl]

Copa - Very nice! I have the same card framed and sitting 4 feet behind me in my office right now. Although your signature looks better, mine is rushed and in purple, making it hard to read against his black sleeve.

I've showed it here multiple times before but I think it's still my most expensive piece. 1960 original handpainted Topps Flexichrome of Killebrew & Colavito ('59 home run leaders) for a card that was never produced because Rocky was traded. The colors look absolutely amazing in person. I really don't remember what I paid for it though...



I also pulled a Yount rookie from a '75 rack pack last year. I got it graded and it received a PSA 9. Flipped it.

[Wymers Auction]

Originally Posted by thisisradioclash

I paid about $500 for a '53 Topps Satchel Paige in very nice shape. Almost the same for a Koufax rookie, also in Very Good-ish, maybe a little better shape.

I picked up a beater '49 Bowman Paige for a song, and I'd like to round out the Satchel Paige collection with a '48 Leaf Paige, too, but that'll probably cost me a bit more than $500

If you ever find a 48 Paige for $500 I am going shopping with you!!!LOL!!!

[thekingofclout]

Originally Posted by scmavl

I've seen that before and always thought it was one of the nicest autos I've ever, ever seen. I didn't know it was yours and now that I know you, I see why you would've given anything for it! Perfect, Jimmy.

Thanks Jarrod. Especially for not thinking I'm nuts for giving up what I did for it. Also, good story on pulling a Mint 75 Yount!

Originally Posted by Frozen in Time

With your permission Jimmy, here is something on the opposite end of the spectrum. Found along with a 1960 Post cereal Frank Gifford that were used as backing in a frame my brother picked up at a local flea market and gave me. The accompanying photo is not the one I have but mine is cut large, with even borders, sharp corners no creases, paper wrinkles or any other surface flaws. The accompanying "bios" for both were in between the "cards".

Who would have known!!!

And Craig. Forgive me for my ignorance but I'm not familiar with that Mantle piece. However, your enthusiasm tells me it's something special. So what is it and what's it's worth?

[Frozen in Time]

Originally Posted by thekingofclout

Thanks Jarrod. Especially for not thinking I'm nuts for giving up what I did for it. Also, good story on pulling a Mint 75 Yount!



And Craig. Forgive me for my ignorance but I'm not familiar with that Mantle piece. However, your enthusiasm tells me it's something special. So what is it and what's it's worth?

Jimmy,

This is a 1960 Post Cereal Mantle “card”, the key card from one of the most substantial and rarest sets of the 1960s. The debut of Post “Grape-Nuts Flakes” in 1960 was the means for the introduction of Post's glorious "Sports Stars" series. Each box featured a spectacular card covering a 7" x 8-3/4" area of the back panel. It is widely regarded as one of Mickey's toughest issues and without a doubt one of his hardest to find. These over-sized cards were never issued in packs, but were the back panels of Post Cereal Grape-Nut boxes. Kids would often cut the panels from the cereal box and then pin or tape them to the wall, which is why so many of the 1960 Post panels come in low grades with pin holes and tape residue.

Mantle is the key card from the set and 1960 Post Cereals have always been the "king" of all Post Cereal cards. They are large, beautiful, and rare not just because they were issued only one card per box; they are just rare, and this was the first year of issue for Post Cereal baseball cards. In the "old days" of the organized hobby, 1960 Post were always known for their mythic rarity, and were among the most valuable cards of the era. 1960 Post cards were the first, and by far the rarest, of the Post Cereal issues of the early 1960s. For the reasons stated above, this an extremely condition-sensitive card. 10-15 years ago mine would have fetched around $2,200.

In todays market, with the unattached “Bio” it is probably worth around $1,500 and the Gifford around $350. Not bad for backing in an old picture frame!

[Runscott]

This thread really helped me put my own collecting habits in perspective. I look at most items as liquid assets, so as long as I have market knowledge, disposable income and it's a bargain, WTF - why not?

I've spent a lot for large card lots, but for single items, not so much:

card - T206 Magie in poor condition
photo - cabinet of 1906 Pirates