'52 Topps Mick SGC 4 Fireworks - Hits $54,900

[Jdoggs]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I agree. I see a truly dead centered PSA 5 these days as pushing up to the 75k barrier, since the 6s with such amazing eye appeal are locked in at 100k. If I am a buyer, I am looking at what a 50/50, tilt-free 6 with bold color will cost me (100k), and saying to myself, "Screw VCP, if I can pay 25k less for an equally gorgeous card, I'm doing it." Hence, a 75k "5." Again, talking only here about a specimen with rare, dead centering, equally rare zero tilt, and great color. In other words, a freak, LOL.

Fantastic 57 pictured above. Talk about eye appeal. Perhaps fewer than 1 in every 100 examples of the 57 are that well framed. With that card, between the tilt, the centering, and the various printing/image issues, finding a nice one is incredibly challenging.

I agree with you. A perfectly centered beautiful 52 topps mantle in PSA 5 could break the $75k barrier. An SGC 60 52 topps mantle equivalent could come close to that too.
Beautiful 52 topps mantle PSA 6's and SGC 80's are already breaking the $100k barrier most notably the recent goodwin PSA 6 sale of $133k.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by Jdoggs

I agree with you. A perfectly centered beautiful 52 topps mantle in PSA 5 could break the $75k barrier. An SGC 60 52 topps mantle equivalent could come close to that too.
Beautiful 52 topps mantle PSA 6's and SGC 80's are already breaking the $100k barrier most notably the recent goodwin PSA 6 sale of $133k.

theres starting to become a branch off of regular grades PSA and the SGC of the world versus centered grades..(when PSA starts to put a 2 digit number next to their grade then ill respect SGC more, you see SGC 88 and 8...but you never see PSA have to put an 88 next to their 8...or whatever number corresponds)

you will see centered 5s go for more than 6s....really should be a separate category of 'centered' cards versus the rest...

maybe there will be a new good qualifier to say CTR....which adds a point

[irv]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

In the last couple of years PSA is much stricter than SGC in my opinion, in terms of corners anyhow and centering which is where most cards above 3 get graded down. In general, there are always exceptions.

Originally Posted by begsu1013

this price just goes to show that collectors are finally using their brains again vs completely ignoring it and being blinded or constrained simply because of what a flip says...

find me a better centered 57...

Yep, I'd definitely say PSA is/are getting stricter than what they use to be.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1952-Topps-3...4AAOSwFMZWrkuj

[MattyC]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

theres starting to become a branch off of regular grades PSA and the SGC of the world versus centered grades..(when PSA starts to put a 2 digit number next to their grade then ill respect SGC more, you see SGC 88 and 8...but you never see PSA have to put an 88 next to their 8...or whatever number corresponds)

you will see centered 5s go for more than 6s....really should be a separate category of 'centered' cards versus the rest...

maybe there will be a new good qualifier to say CTR....which adds a point

I think Jake is right on the money here-- the market (which is basically us collectors) for the past few years or so, and definitely today and beyond, has essentially created two different price buckets: one for average cards and one for centered cards (provided said card doesn't have some serious eye appeal problem). It started with a data point here and there, but now it's the norm.

[Jdoggs]

Yes a 52 topps Mickey mantle SGC 80(6) recently sold for $105k.
Obviously centering brings a premium as the auctions have shown time and time again.

[Canofcorn]

Originally Posted by Jdoggs

Yes a 52 topps Mickey mantle SGC 80(6) recently sold for $105k.
Obviously centering brings a premium as the auctions have shown time and time again.

Does mine on the first page fit that bill?
Yes, No, Maybe?

I just want to make sure I don't sell myself short - or overvalue it...
(when the time comes)

Is it $20-$30 range or $30-$40+ range (based on last SGC 4)

Or hard to tell...you never now - plus prices fluctuate too much on this card..trending way up though

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by Canofcorn

Does mine on the first page fit that bill?
Yes, No, Maybe?

I just want to make sure I don't sell myself short - or overvalue it...
(when the time comes)

Is it $20-$30 range or $30-$40+ range (based on last SGC 4)

Or hard to tell...you never now - plus prices fluctuate too much on this card..trending way up though

its real nice....but you are right. you could be plus or minus 10k depending on the mood of the top bidders...

[Jdoggs]

Originally Posted by Canofcorn

Does mine on the first page fit that bill?
Yes, No, Maybe?

I just want to make sure I don't sell myself short - or overvalue it...
(when the time comes)

Is it $20-$30 range or $30-$40+ range (based on last SGC 4)

Or hard to tell...you never now - plus prices fluctuate too much on this card..trending way up though

Yours is very nice.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Canofcorn

Does mine on the first page fit that bill?
Yes, No, Maybe?

I just want to make sure I don't sell myself short - or overvalue it...
(when the time comes)

Is it $20-$30 range or $30-$40+ range (based on last SGC 4)

Or hard to tell...you never now - plus prices fluctuate too much on this card..trending way up though

Put it out on ebay at a crazy high number OBO and see what offers come in, maybe that would help you gauge the current value.

[Canofcorn]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Put it out on ebay at a crazy high number OBO and see what offers come in, maybe that would help you gauge the current value.

I did that. Didn't get more than a $20k offer. Somebody offered $1k (can't blame somebody for trying I guess) Then I see the same grade getting $54k on auction. But another comparible one via Goodwin got around $30k. I just can't gauge this market. I might have to wait it out. It seems as though the really nice 5/6s are headed to 6 figures...which might make a great eye appeal 4 the only you can get around 50k in a few years. I think the best thing to do is hold it for awhile. Part of me thinks now is time to strike...this card is hot...how much hotter can it get? But then again, my gut tells me if I sell now I will be kicking myself in a few years.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Canofcorn

I did that. Didn't get more than a $20k offer. Somebody offered $1k (can't blame somebody for trying I guess) Then I see the same grade getting $54k on auction. But another comparible one via Goodwin got around $30k. I just can't gauge this market. I might have to wait it out. It seems as though the really nice 5/6s are headed to 6 figures...which might make a great eye appeal 4 the only you can get around 50k in a few years. I think the best thing to do is hold it for awhile. Part of me thinks now is time to strike...this card is hot...how much hotter can it get? But then again, my gut tells me if I sell now I will be kicking myself in a few years.

Sell into strength, they say. Others will differ but I just can't see the growth trend accelerating too much beyond this n the midgrades that are relatively plentiful. I think 30-35 but just a guess, I don't follow it as closely as Matt.

[irv]

Originally Posted by Canofcorn

I did that. Didn't get more than a $20k offer. Somebody offered $1k (can't blame somebody for trying I guess) Then I see the same grade getting $54k on auction. But another comparible one via Goodwin got around $30k. I just can't gauge this market. I might have to wait it out. It seems as though the really nice 5/6s are headed to 6 figures...which might make a great eye appeal 4 the only you can get around 50k in a few years. I think the best thing to do is hold it for awhile. Part of me thinks now is time to strike...this card is hot...how much hotter can it get? But then again, my gut tells me if I sell now I will be kicking myself in a few years.

That is hard to believe considering the condition of the card, which, imo, looks much nicer than a 4, but with that low offer, it's clear, imo, that those bidding are looking at the slab and not the card.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by Canofcorn

I did that. Didn't get more than a $20k offer. Somebody offered $1k (can't blame somebody for trying I guess) Then I see the same grade getting $54k on auction. But another comparible one via Goodwin got around $30k. I just can't gauge this market. I might have to wait it out. It seems as though the really nice 5/6s are headed to 6 figures...which might make a great eye appeal 4 the only you can get around 50k in a few years. I think the best thing to do is hold it for awhile. Part of me thinks now is time to strike...this card is hot...how much hotter can it get? But then again, my gut tells me if I sell now I will be kicking myself in a few years.

its like a stock..there are ups and downs....you never going to time the absolute possible highest of the market , you will pull your hair wondering what if this or what if that....if you are are getting a nice profit i would sell it...rich rich people don't want low to mid grade cards...its a somewhat not as rich group in my speculation that are paying 30k and or big card lovers...once you get into the 50k+ land...i do think those middle class/upper middle card lovers look for other cards...and the rich rich people are still going for the psa 8 cobbs of the world and mantle 6+

[Canofcorn]

Well boys...1 year later and my '52T Mantle is ending tonight (also SGC 50/4, also at Goldin) and unfortunately there are NO fireworks. My centered beauty sitting at $22k. Either the Mantle market is softening, or this is what happens when you don't shill an auction. In either case, somebody is getting a heck of a deal. Didn't expect anything crazy but certainly $25-$30 was my hopes.

https://goldinauctions.com/mobile/lo..._card___sgc_50