December Pick ups

[jchcollins]

Say Hey!! Always loved the '55 Bowmans. But how many people really had "color" TV's back then?

[ALR-bishop]

Bowman in a last ditch effort tried to tie it's product to new technology. Color TV sets began selling in 1954. But the marketing ploy was ahead of it's time. Very few had color TVs in 1955. I think that even by 1957 the numbers were still below 200,000

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Bowman in a last ditch effort tried to tie it's product to new technology. Color TV sets began selling in 1954. But the marketing ploy was ahead of it's time. Very few had color TVs in 1955. I think that even by 1957 the numbers were still below 200,000

If I recall the history, color sets were available in the mid-50's, but it was a good decade if not later before most shows began to be broadcast that way (Andy Griffith was late '60s before it was shot in color).

It may have been a last ditch effort for Bowman, but I've always loved these cards and the theme. Also you can get most stars and HOFers at a bargain in comparison to other 1950's sets. Anyone want to guess what a '55 Topps Mantle would go for if they had made one? A lower-grade '55 Bowman Mantle can still be had for a couple hundred bucks in most cases. And what's better than a 24 year-old Willie Mays fresh off of his first MVP season and "the catch" the previous October? I was thrilled to be able to pick this one-up. Facing facts anymore that if I want to wait to spend the type of money required for really "nice" cards that I want from this era (PSA 6 or above) that it's just really going to take a long time. That being said, I'm happy to pickup lower grade cards from more affordable sets for bargains. '58 Topps is another. No love for '58s in comparison to '55 - '57 Topps. But they are colorful cards and the set is packed full of stars.

I digress...let's hear it for the '55 Bowman TV sets!

[Kurri17]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Say Hey!! Always loved the '55 Bowmans. But how many people really had "color" TV's back then?

A nice pickup of a great card. This one has grown on me, and my LCS has a PSA 5 that has been calling my name. As you noted lated in this thread, hard to beat mid-grade like this one. Congrats.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Kurri17

A nice pickup of a great card. This one has grown on me, and my LCS has a PSA 5 that has been calling my name. As you noted lated in this thread, hard to beat mid-grade like this one. Congrats.

Thank you. I don't have a local card shop anymore. In some cases that's good, as my frequency of impulse purchases is way down without that "instant gratification" factor...but I do miss the experience of walking in, seeing the eye candy all in one place, smelling the nostalgia literally through thousands of old cards that were stockpiled in the back - and being able to work out a deal for a piece of history with the owner right then and there.

Again I do think that on the whole, the '55 Bowmans are under appreciated and great bargains (the Mays being a prime example) to add HOFers at a decent price. A '57 Topps or even a '59 Topps Mays in similar condition would have cost me probably $50 more, I'm willing to bet.