Negro League Baseball Collectibles Update

[bcbgcbrcb]

If collectors stopped buying the guide each year due to all of the info being stagnant, that might get things to move thanks to new research and updated price info. Otherwise, it's obviously easier and cheaper to just reprint the same thing year after year.

I can tell you that I've stopped buying several years ago after seeing very little change over 3 or 4 years.

[Kenny Cole]

Maybe I'm missing it, but I don't see too many really desirable negro league items selling any more. Every so often, but not nearly so much as they used to. The Merkin stuff is pretty well done, and the rest is kind of catch as catch can. I think that people who already have those items, who by this point are probably best characterized as core (or HOF) collectors, are holding onto them. I know that I am. I would also suspect that there are a ton of private sales that aren't reported simply because they are among the core collectors. That probably doesn't explain it all, but I certainly think that's a large part of it.

[Shoeless Moe]

These 2 both recently sold on Ebay for a nice price:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Orig-Photo-N...vip=true&rt=nc


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-c1908-C...vip=true&rt=nc

[bcbgcbrcb]

Well done, Paul, good recent examples of very strong prices.

I have some "doubts" about the Breakers photo. I noticed it immediately the first time it was listed on e-bay with a $100.00 minimum bid and no reserve. I e-mailed the seller with a question and did not receive a response during the entire time of the listing so decided not to bother bidding. After six plus days on e-bay and only a few hours until the listing was scheduled to end, the photo had zero bids and the seller pulled it down and immediately relisted it with the same $100.00 minimum bid. The second time around it sells for $1,500+, something doesn't seem quite right to me.........

As far as the Cuban Giants postcard, looks legitimate and a very nice piece. In my opinion, the final price was very high given the lack of "star power". I realize these things are all rare and maybe 1-of-a-kind but still........As long as the winning bidder is happy with their purchase, that's all that counts, right?

[bcbgcbrcb]

I agree, Kenny. My only question is, with that core group of collectors that you mention, won't you think that the group would provide spirited bidding on those very infrequent occasions that a top-notch item comes up for sale/auction? Since they are so few and far between, you would think these items would be "must haves" for those collectors who might only have a couple of opportunities over the course of an entire year, no?

[Kenny Cole]

Phil,

I did receive a response from the seller of the Royal Poinciana photo after he pulled it down the first time. I don't want to put words in his mouth, but my belief at the time was that he'd been made an offer for it off-line and was considering whether or not to sell it. I told him that I had set a pretty healthy snipe and he relisted it soon after, even before responding to me.

In any event, I guess I'll have a better idea whether its the real deal or not in fairly short order since I won it and its on the way.

Kenny

[bcbgcbrcb]

Glad you got it, Kenny. I don't think you will have any issue with it being real or not, I'm quite sure it is. My concern was the circumstances surrounding the sale, not the item itself.

[Scocs]

I agree with Kenny. 2012-2013 saw a lot of the Merkin Collection sell at very strong prices in Hake's Auctions.

I am sure many of the recent acquisitions since then have been the result of private sales...which won't get any public attention.

Still, the fact remains that a 1924-1925 Aguilitas Biz Mackey SGC 30 card sells for over $15,000 (within the past five years) and the stupid price guide still lists it in Excellent condition at $3750.....which is the same price dating back to what, 1925?!