What's Hot, What's Not, May/June 2015

[Big Ben]

Originally Posted by GregMitch34

So tell us what you are "contrary" about.....

It has been mentioned in this thread that 1930's cards aside from Ruth and Gehrig as well as the Playball issues are ice cold. I hope it stays like that for a while so I can add more of those cards to my collection. That is how I like to collect.

[sreader3]

I "sold in the cold" with a significant (for me) consignment of non-T206 prewar HOFers in the fall 2014 REA auction. I lost some $$$ (in the larger scheme of things no big deal). Definitely a learning experience. Scarcity seems to have been a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for a decent hammer price. For example, Burkett Koester's SGC 40 did well. But Faber Holsum Type 1 PSA 5 didn't.

I kept my medium grade (4, 5) Ruth, Gehrig and Wagner -- which is in synch with what has been said here. There is a definite price split going on. Cards of players whose fame transcends era (Ruth, Gehrig, Cy Young) are incresingly coveted, whereas cards of players who whose fame is trapped in an era are languishing -- even if they are HOFers. Additionally, as card knowledge increases, there is a slow but steady price divergence between truly scarcer cards -- which are rising -- and the more mundane -- which are falling. Finally, heavily collected sets, T206 comes to mind , are generally doing better than lightly collected sets (almost everything else).

Just my opinion.

Edited to add: So I guess what I am saying is you should pony-up if a T206 Young (Glove Shows) Brown Lenox comes to auction.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by sreader3

I "sold in the cold" with a significant (for me) consignment of non-T206 prewar HOFers in the fall 2014 REA auction. I lost some $$$ (in the larger scheme of things no big deal). Definitely a learning experience. Scarcity seems to have been a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for a decent hammer price. For example, Burkett Koester's SGC 40 did well. But Faber Holsum Type 1 PSA 5 didn't.

I kept my medium grade (4, 5) Ruth, Gehrig and Wagner -- which is in synch with what has been said here. There is a definite price split going on. Cards of players whose fame transcends era (Ruth, Gehrig, Cy Young) are incresingly coveted, whereas cards of players who whose fame is trapped in an era are languishing -- even if they are HOFers. Additionally, as card knowledge increases, there is a slow but steady price divergence between truly scarcer cards -- which are rising -- and the more mundane -- which are falling. Finally, heavily collected sets, T206 comes to mind , are generally doing better than lightly collected sets (almost everything else).

Just my opinion.

Edited to add: So I guess what I am saying is you should pony-up if a T206 Young (Glove Shows) Brown Lenox comes to auction.

Good summation, Scot. I might point out what I have said before, the demand side of the economic equation is more important than the supply side in our hobby. There can be 2 of something (in the entire universe ) but if only 1 person wants it, it's not going to be very valuable, relatively speaking. On the other hand, we all know of a thousand cards which aren't close to rare and bring big bucks.

ps...did anyone mention that a lot of the Bakery card series are still quite lukewarm, at best?

[GregMitch34]

How are Obaks doing--the different years (1909 etc.)?

Seems the "card" cards--Fan Craze, Polo Grounds, National Game, Tom Barker--need to be 9s or 10s to retain value....true?

[nolemmings]

Welcome to the land of m101-4/5s not named Ruth:

[Leon]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

Welcome to the land of m101-4/5s not named Ruth:

Some of the rare backs with key players seem to still bring some money. We need to find a way to tie them to T206.

[mrvster]

to say it - Hot - T206 rarities.....