How Rare is the 1933 Goudey Napoleon Lajoie?

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by Rollingstone206

Just my opinion, I don't think its THAT impressive of a rarity compared to other '33 Goudeys just about 13 times harder to find than a #92 Gehrig and price roughly reflects that to the same proportion.

yet for some reason...they just don't come up for sale very often?!

[Spike]

I vaguely recall seeing the original photo for Goudey's Lajoie, probably linked in a prior Net54 thread. Anyone else remember that photo? (I believe it was a portrait that Goudey added "shirt and arms" to after-the-fact.)

[Rollingstone206]

...

[tedzan]

The final 24-card sheet in this GOUDEY set was printed and issued circa November 1933. The bios on the backs of these cards reflect the 1933 World Series.
I do not have a scan of this sheet, so here is my diagram of it which clearly shows 15 lower # cards included on it along with the final 9 cards of this set.

It certainly was a clever marketing trick by the Goudey Co. to issue these lower # cards at the end of the season, as it kept collectors** in the Spring of '33
buying Goudey packs looking for these cards. And at the same time, a mean trick to collectors of Goudey cards.


..



**....This fact was confirmed in 1981 by an older collector who remembered as a kid in the Spring/Summer of 1933 spending all his allowance searching for
cards #106 - 114, and 121 - 129.


TED Z
.

[philliesphan]

Originally Posted by Rollingstone206

PSA shows 82 graded #106 Napoleon Lajoie

Rather interesting looking at this longitudinally. (Since I am the aforementioned "Archive" in response #2 on this thread).

In 2003, there were 54 (PSA) and 7 (SGC) Lajoie cards graded. Today there are 82 (PSA) and 31 (SGC)

In twelve years, the population of this card graded has less than doubled, and that is not including any crack-outs or regrades.

Perhaps it goes to show that a good chunk of the Lajoie cards were professionally graded (largely by PSA) a very long time ago. Also interesting to note that over the last 12 years, SGC has graded almost as many Lajoies as PSA.

m

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by philliesphan

Perhaps it goes to show that a good chunk of the Lajoie cards were professionally graded (largely by PSA) a very long time ago. Also interesting to note that over the last 12 years, SGC has graded almost as many Lajoies as PSA.

Interesting thought, and it jives with another I had when I watched the Mastro Auctions video of the Lionel Carter collection. All his cards were graded through SGC, and he notes in the video that for this card, those who wrote in to Goudey to complain about the card missing were rewarded with "10", count'em 10 Lajoie's. He also mentions Jefferson Burdick got 10. May be common knowledge for those who have collected vintage longer than I, but I didn't see it referenced in this thread.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by swarmee

Interesting thought, and it jives with another I had when I watched the Mastro Auctions video of the Lionel Carter collection. All his cards were graded through SGC, and he notes in the video that for this card, those who wrote in to Goudey to complain about the card missing were rewarded with "10", count'em 10 Lajoie's. He also mentions Jefferson Burdick got 10. May be common knowledge for those who have collected vintage longer than I, but I didn't see it referenced in this thread.

I watched the video years ago...and remember the story that burdick had multiples of the lajoie and gave carter one...BUT...I had never heard that "everyone" that wrote in to Goudey received 10 Lajoies...is there any evidence to support this?

[toppcat]

Legendary auctioned the Durocher in July 2000. Here is the description:

"This unique 1933 Leo Durocher Goudey card has #106 on the reverse, which is the well known number of the famous and rare 1933 Napoleon Lajoie card in that set. This one-of-a-kind #106 Durocher card is otherwise identical in all respects to the actual #147 Durocher card in the 1933 Goudey set. This card originates from the collection of hobby pioneer Woody Gelman, who probably obtained it personally from a contact at Goudey. The card was most likely part of a proof run, with the card numbers later changed before being printed in production quantities. The apparent hand cut (as opposed to machine cut) of the card makes this theory all the more likely. Whatever the explanation, this card is certainly one of the most interesting and unique of all 1930's baseball cards. Ex-Halper Collection. Very Good condition."

Hammered at $13,112. No scan available.

[wolf441]

It's on page 339 of the Sotheby's Barry Halper Auction Catalog (The Early Years). Here's a scan...