Memory Lane Plank

[Matthew80]

Relative ignorant newbie question: Are all interested parties for cards like this (expensive, wildly popularized cards) a known quantity? In other words, do people ever come out of the woodwork to buy cards like these, or do sellers and auction houses know when there are buyers ready to throw down $100k+ on these gems?

Related questions, do buyers of similarly priced cards exist and participate on Net54? I probably wouldn't come forward about it fearing I'd be putting a target on my back. Just curious.

I agree it's a bad time to sell (and buy, obviously) given the ominous nature of politics right now.

[bbcard1]

Matthew, just my opinion, but I imagine you could count the serious players for a card like that on both hands, probably one. They all know it is out there. Occasionally a new person will come into the game. The Plank doesn't have the sex appeal of the Wagner, but it's the next step down, for sure.

I do think that the economy doesn't really affect one's ability to buy, but can really repress their mood.

I actually think this is a decent time to buy if you are spending money that is for an indulgence. One is doing well to get 1% on money in the bank and the stock market is an absolute crap shoot. A friend of mine used to say of rare baseball cards, "It will never be cheaper unless you decide to sell it for less."

I think T206s, rare backs are pretty solid investments and unlike some of the rare 19th century cards, the market is broader. But if I knew everything I'd be rich by now.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Matthew80

Relative ignorant newbie question: Our all interested parties for cards like this (expensive, wildly popularized cards) a known quantity? In other words, do people ever come out of the woodwork to buy cards like these, or do sellers and auction houses know when there are buyers ready to throw down $100k+ on these gems?

Related questions, do buyers of similarly priced cards exist and participate on Net54? I probably wouldn't come forward about it fearing I'd be putting a target on my back. Just curious.

I agree it's a bad time to sell (and buy, obviously) given the ominous nature of politics right now.

Both, but most people able and willing to buy something at the 100K level are known to the auction house. They also typically would get a personal heads up that the item will be coming up. From what I've heard that's standard with the really big auctions - Sothebys, Christies etc.
With larger stuff and bigger prices they might even get a guided preview, or at least a video of the item sent for free.

Probably. I'm at the other end of the spectrum. The ones who can afford a card like that can have as much or as little publicity as they want. Yes, it's a security concern, but something like the Plank would most likely be in a bank vault anyway.

Oddly, some collectibles do better in a questionable economy. (gold usually, but depending on how bad it looks other stuff does well too)

Steve B

[ctownboy]

Correct me if I am wrong but don't auction houses require prior approval for people to bid on large dollar items? If that is the case then wouldn't auction houses kind of know the size of the pool of available buyers for a card like the Plank?

I mean, there would be the people already known and approved by the auction house to bid and then there would be the new prospective buyers who had inquired on the card and who had to be approved to buy it.

David

[glchen]

Originally Posted by Matthew80

Related questions, do buyers of similarly priced cards exist and participate on Net54? I probably wouldn't come forward about it fearing I'd be putting a target on my back. Just curious.
...

There are a few people on the board who own Baltimore News Ruth (and I don't know who), and if you look at the total value of some people's collections on the board, you can easily say that they are in excess of 100K by a good deal. Therefore, if they wanted to "trade," they could easily do it. However, I would probably say that very few of those people have a 100K just lying around burning a hole in their pocket.

[Leon]

There are quite a few people who read this board that have the means to buy that card, and buy other cards of equal or more value regularly. At least 2 of our members have (2) Baltimore Ruths each, one of each color. I know both very, very well but would never out them. A few lurkers who have come up to me at the National and introduced themselves to me, have multi-million dollar collections...and they aren't registered members. I would venture to guess there are a minimum of 50 people who read this board who have card collections valued in excess of a million dollars.