Advice on High End Card purchase

[hcv123]

The Venezuelan cards are some of the most underappreciated in the hobby imho. Their availability in any condition is usually between 2% and 5% of what is available in regular topps issues. Collectors are at the beginnings of learning about and understanding these cards. Prices haven't yet truly begun to reflect the limited supply of these cards. I would stay with the key cards:

1959 Venezuelan Mantle
1960 Venezuelan Yaz rookie
1964 Venezuelan Rose
1964 Venezuelan Mantle
1967 Venezuelan Clemente
1968 Venezuelan Ryan rookie


Good luck finding most of them

[Bestdj777]

Originally Posted by hcv123

The Venezuelan cards are some of the most underappreciated in the hobby imho. Their availability in any condition is usually between 2% and 5% of what is available in regular topps issues. Collectors are at the beginnings of learning about and understanding these cards. Prices haven't yet truly begun to reflect the limited supply of these cards. I would stay with the key cards:

1959 Venezuelan Mantle
1960 Venezuelan Yaz rookie
1964 Venezuelan Rose
1964 Venezuelan Mantle
1967 Venezuelan Clemente
1968 Venezuelan Ryan rookie


Good luck finding most of them

I disagree. The Venezuelans are going to start tanking soon. I would avoid them at all costs, particularly the 59 Mantle. And, if you already have one with a cream back, I'd be willing to help you recoup some of your costs on it.

In all seriousness, as much I hate any additional competition, I think cards like the 68 Venezuelan Ryan Rookie, and others, are very undervalued right now given what they are and the significance to the hobby.

[pokerplyr80]

I personally think for what you're looking for, purely an investment, Venezuelans would be a risky choice. The supply is very limited, but there's a limited market as well. You could hit a home run, or you could take a hit.

Nothing is ever a sure thing, but personally I think you'd be better off with a big name HOF rookie card in the nicest condition you can afford.

Aside from what's already been mentioned I believe a 51 Bowman or 52 Topps Mays still has quite a bit of upside potential.

[autograf]

Like the 1952 Mays, 1952 Robinson, 1952 Campy mid-to-high grade cards. All under-appreciated.......

[Canofcorn]

Originally Posted by autograf

Like the 1952 Mays, 1952 Robinson, 1952 Campy mid-to-high grade cards. All under-appreciated.......

I actually have those 3! Mid grade with nice eye appeal. (despite picture quality)


[IMG][/IMG]

[autograf]

Great centering. Love that campy at a 3.5. What a beauty!

[Econteachert205]

I'd pick up some super high end raw 1970s sets.

[Canofcorn]

Originally Posted by autograf

Great centering. Love that campy at a 3.5. What a beauty!

Thanks! I had a thread on the Campy (which has much better pictures)...seeking advice on possible bump. Not going to try and bump for now is what I took from it...

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=208295

[rats60]

I would stay away from post ww2 cards except for Mantle. Those cards are too plentiful. I would look for rarer cards. 33 Goudey Ruth would be a good choice. I would also consider t206 hofers, Cobb, Johnson, Matty, Young or Speaker. I would also consider a t205 Cobb.

[Canofcorn]

Guys thank you!!! I have plenty of info at this point.
I will make sure to post my purchases in a few months on a seperate thread.

in the meantime, I might be selling some other cards on here!
Your recommendations are expensive!!

Best,
Mike

[David W]

I think OPC cards of the major rookies would be a good investment.

OPC from 60's and early 70's are just a small fraction of the amount
of Topps printed.

[hcv123]

The underlying factor to this questions is one of basic economic theory (of which I remember very little about, but will be happy to offer my opinion anyway). Price being the variable - if demand is greater than supply price is driven up. If supply is greater than demand - price is driven down. Time is another relevant factor in this conversation. Today baseball cards are widely collected - part of a sport that is our national pastime, etc, etc. An important question is - is the fan base for baseball growing or shrinking? A growing base would lend itself to a position that baseball card collecting isn't going anywhere and in fact is sustainable for the short to intermediate future. If the fan base is shrinking, it would definitely cause concern for the intermediate but perhaps not the short term.
I would prefer to take the risk with an item I know to be in short supply of the most collected player(s). While often times there is less demand for them, I usually only need 2-5 people interested to get some price appreciation (as in the case of the Venezuelans). Something like the Mantle rookie from a supply stand is much more risky over time- why is the market climbing - are there really that many more people willing to pay that much more for it? Is it being driven artificially in some way? Assuming all is legit - what happens to the price at the point where demand starts to fall and the supply is so plentiful? All of that said. Time will tell.

[clydepepper]

High-Grade base Mantle issues are what I just finished and I believe they are the closest to anything being a guarantee. I purchased 8's when I could afford it and 7's otherwise...I only have one of each, but would probably consider getting additional copies.

The '52 Topps is way out of my range - especially since I will not take in beaters even if they are graded. That card may not get much higher IMHO. The '51 Bowman is a better possibility for growth.
.
.
Ruth is also a great choice - but nothing compares to The Mick.
.
.

[1952boyntoncollector]

You also want to look at price points...there are lots of guys that make 100k a year that wont pay more than 2k for a card..

so a card that's 1600 now that's one of the cards mentioned on the thread..may have room of 400 to that 2k.....or better yet a card selling for 1200 now....it becomes trickier when buying a 5k card....yeah the more expensive the card the more chance for bigger profit....but the amount of buyers interested in 10k plus cards is a lot less than buyers in the 1-2k range...