Mantle cards as investments

[Volod]

One of my fondest collecting fantasies involves a demo crew in a NY suburb opening up an old warehouse padlocked for sixty years and finding hundreds of cases of pristine 1952 Topps high-numbered cards that had somehow escaped the stachybotris and mildew threats. I wonder what that might do to the investment potential of Mr. Mantle's card?

[glynparson]

The Rare Mantle Test Issues especially the dice game would sell for a fortune in a Heritage, REA, Goodwin Auction. Maybe not 1952 Topps 9-10 money but it would be a pretty penny.

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by glynparson

The Rare Mantle Test Issues especially the dice game would sell for a fortune in a Heritage, REA, Goodwin Auction. Maybe not 1952 Topps 9-10 money but it would be a pretty penny.

And I think Glyn would agree that those that have them, i.e., knowledgeable collectors, know full well what they have, treasure them, and are in no hurry to get rid of them. I would expect them to come out only in situations of financial distress (heaven forbid--been there) or in an estate auction.

Best wishes,

Larry

[Exhibitman]

Unfortunately, much of the attention (and money) of less 'focused' collectors goes into cards like the 1952 Mantle: great but not rare. Truly rare cards are all too often truly obscure cards as well. It may be a hell of a lot easier to find a 1952 Topps Mantle than a dice game, but it is also a hell of a lot easier to find willing buyers for it.

It also seems that once a card achieves a certain level of notoriety, its price is not determined the same as the rest of the cards out there, by basic collector demand and supply. It becomes iconic and takes on a life of its own as a pop culture icon. The line about guys displaying their Mantle cards next to their art is telling in that regard.

[ls7plus]

It has been my experience over several fields of collectibles that rare and significant (in this case, the significance derives from the fact that it is Mantle) wins out in the long run. In coins, see the six-figure values attached to colonials and territorial gold when 15 or less are known. That was definitely not the case in the early '90's. Same with cars: '71 Hemi Cuda convertible (about 12 made; worth seven figures, and not considered a very good combination at the time of its manufacture due to the awesomely heavy 426 hemi motor, coupled with the heavier weight of the convertible and less stiffness in that body style--cowl shake, anyone?); and '67 L-88 Corvette (with the very radical, race-only 427--just 20 made, and who knows how many survived? Not even known of by many Corvette enthusiasts of the time; now $3-$4 million dollars all day long).

Similarly, Shelby's Daytona Cobra Coups, an aerodynamic design by Pete Brock in the sixties, were obsolete race cars by the late '60's to early seventies, and someone bought all six for $12,000--Shelby was glad to get rid of them, Now? 22 million dollars apiece, per Automobile Magazine.

Thinking a little outside the box may get you miles ahead in the long run--it's your chance to take!

Best of luck in collecting,

Larry