Complete run of SI's found in storage locker auction

[JollyElm]

Don't want to hijack this thread, but is there an effective way to remove mailing labels from old SI issues? Like the magazine equivalent of soaking a card?

I have the 1972 SI of Willie Mays returning to the Mets and I'd love to frame it up without having some random stranger's address permanently attached to it.

[Gary Dunaier]

Issue #1 was reprinted, with the card fold-outs, as part of a SI Gift Set a few years ago (it included the reprint, a hardcover book, and a coupon for a free subscription). So the demand for #1 may not be as big as it might have been, because those who just want to read the issue or see what it looked like can settle for the reprint.

[gregr2]

There are some frightening statements in this article about this guy.

"Alan, who once enjoyed gambling at casinos in Oklahoma, found a similar rush at storage auctions."

"Most of the money was supposed to cover the April rent on his family's Allen apartment."

"Whenever I want a unit," Alan said, "I don't stop until I get it."

""I was angry," said Jacqui, whose parents had loaned the young couple much of the $1,200 and had been encouraging them to give up auctions for a more traditional source of income."

I find it really sad that he was given money to pay his rent for himself and his family but spent it on a storage locker.

[Huysmans]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Don't want to hijack this thread, but is there an effective way to remove mailing labels from old SI issues? Like the magazine equivalent of soaking a card?

I have the 1972 SI of Willie Mays returning to the Mets and I'd love to frame it up without having some random stranger's address permanently attached to it.

Embrace it... Its part of the magazine's history and provenance.
After all, if it wasn't for that "random stranger", you wouldn't have the magazine to begin with.

[packs]

$100K? The first issue only sells for a few hundred dollars. I would think every issue after that drops dramatically. Am I wrong?

[T20Brew]

Originally Posted by Huysmans

Embrace it... Its part of the magazine's history and provenance.
After all, if it wasn't for that "random stranger", you wouldn't have the magazine to begin with.

It's been years, but my father had removed mailing labels from older magazines by opening up the first page and laying a thin cloth on the back of the first page. He then took an iron and put it on the cloth to heat up the glue that was holding the label on. Most were removed fairly easily after that. As I recall most of those magazines were pre-1970 though, with most from the 40's - mid-60's.

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by T20Brew

It's been years, but my father had removed mailing labels from older magazines by opening up the first page and laying a thin cloth on the back of the first page. He then took an iron and put it on the cloth to heat up the glue that was holding the label on. Most were removed fairly easily after that. As I recall most of those magazines were pre-1970 though, with most from the 40's - mid-60's.

Thanks for sharing this tip! I'm gonna have to give it a try one of these days.

[Duluth Eskimo]

Dave,
I apologize for barking back that strong as everyone can and generally does offer an opinion, but seriously $50,000 plus? If you have been in the game as long as I am assuming you have been, that number seems ridiculous. I looked at 6 pages of sold SI's and yes some did have some decent numbers, but 90% were unsold and many of those were newer "Mike Trout" 1st edition or something like that. It doesn't even mention if it's a complete run and only a few magazines were shown.

Add to that, try recovering some of these fees from CGC:

Economy On-time 25 business days $200 per book $28 per book
Standard On-time 15 business days $400 per book $37 per book
Express On-time 5 business days $800 per book $55 per book
WalkThru On-time Same day No limit $77 per book

Jeff, that's great that you have been buying and selling sports memorabilia and magazines for 20-30 years, me too. You're going to tell me that you would be willing to buy this run for $10,000 or more?

I am not trying to offend anyone and i'm sorry if i'm ruffling feathers for people, but I think Heritage might be expecting a lot.

[ibuysportsephemera]

Originally Posted by Duluth Eskimo

Dave,

Jeff, that's great that you have been buying and selling sports memorabilia and magazines for 20-30 years, me too. You're going to tell me that you would be willing to buy this run for $10,000 or more?

Nope. I never said that. I think at $300 that they got a hell of a deal. With hard work and the correct marketing of the better issues and rarities they can turn a nice profit.

I thought you were harsh with Dave who was offering his opinion. You made it personal and you don't even know him. I have met Dave in person (because of Net54) and know that he has a ton of knowledge and experience. I have followed his eBay auctions and have visited his website.

You say that you are experienced which I have no reason to doubt. Do you have a website or an eBay account showing the items that you have for sale?

Instead of attacking you, I supported him.

Jeff

[Duluth Eskimo]

"I think many here are under-estimating this collection. Maybe not 100 Grand, but I have to imagine Heritage knows what they are doing in regards to this grouping."

and

"Unfair to compare them to a typical mid-grade collection of these that several select issues might be cherry picked out of."

Both of these statements are making bold assumptions about people making comments on this story. I guess it's not ok to take an opposing view of some "long time" sellers opinion.

Also, thanks and yes I have been selling on eBay for 20 years and I do have a website that I don't really sell on anymore, but I don't really feel the need to prove anything to you or get in some type or who's more knowledgeable contest. If you're as knowledgeable as you're claiming you know the numbers being thrown around are ludicrous.

[Duluth Eskimo]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Don't want to hijack this thread, but is there an effective way to remove mailing labels from old SI issues? Like the magazine equivalent of soaking a card?

I have the 1972 SI of Willie Mays returning to the Mets and I'd love to frame it up without having some random stranger's address permanently attached to it.

The ones from that era are very difficult to remove. The glue they used stuck like superglue. You might be able to use some chemicals on the label, but you would still have the three lines from where it was stuck. Sometimes they dry out enough where you can kind of chip it away, but same results.

[Duluth Eskimo]

If anyone thinks that a run of sports illustrateds is worth 100k, please contact me for purchase. 60 years of SI's is about 3,000 magazines. I can't think of more than 100 or 200 I would be willing to pay strong money for and that is not going to be more than a couple thousand dollars. I invite you to try to sell the rest of them. Good luck.

[D. Bergin]

The magazines appear to be un-circulated with no mailing labels. There's also mention of early prototypes that I imagine hard core completists would be going after.

I think many here are under-estimating this collection. Maybe not 100 Grand, but I have to imagine Heritage knows what they are doing in regards to this grouping.

It also appears that the grading craze has caught up to Sports Illustrated collectors based on recent realized prices on Ebay, and I imagine some of these issues will bring surprising prices if they score high grades without mailing labels.

In particular: Anything from the first few years, first Cassius Clay, first Michael Jordan, first Larry Bird, first Magic Johnson, Prefontaine, first Lebron James, first Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, many of the swimsuit issues appear to be popular, etc., etc., etc....

Unfair to compare them to a typical mid-grade collection of these that several select issues might be cherry picked out of.

.......and I'm saying this as someone who really does not like handling Sports Illustrateds at all. I handle thousands of boxing publications and the boxing related Sports Illustrateds I have are all stacked in boxes in the far corner of my attic, and I won't even go near them, because nobody wants them unless they're 1st appearance Cassius Clay.

I won a huge publication collection from an auction house a few years ago, and I flew out to pick them up in a moving truck and drive them back home. I was so worn out from carrying boxes to the truck and I wasn't convinced I had enough space back home to store them, and I left most of the monster boxes full of SI's behind. A part of me wishes I had gone through them better to cherry pick them a bit, but looking back, I don't think I really had it in me at the time.

[packs]

How much would you estimate the collection to be worth? Even if you could get $100 to $200 for those first covers you'd have to have 500 of them to reach half the estimate given.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by packs

How much would you estimate the collection to be worth? Even if you could get $100 to $200 for those first covers you'd have to have 500 of them to reach half the estimate given.

I think about 50 Grand will be realistic, but they WILL spend some money on grading to get to that figure. If they are as high grade as they look, there will be several that go for $300 bucks or more apiece, with some much higher.

I think a high end Prefontaine or high end Cassius Clay will easily fall into the 500-1000 range.

This is not even taking into account the prototypes mentioned, that I imagine some will be eager to get into their collections.

Just filtering through Sold unsigned Sport Illustrated that ended on Ebay in the last 90 days, there's plenty of results that signify a trend, and most of the better issues have not even been traded in the last 90 days. Saw a couple of not so great looking Prefontaines that sold at between 60 and 80 bucks.

I see several CGC graded issues that I'd consider run of the mill but in great condition, that traded for 100 bucks and higher.

[D. Bergin]

............and like I said earlier. I hate Sports Illustrated's. They're heavy and they take up too much space.

[Duluth Eskimo]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

I think about 50 Grand will be realistic, but they WILL spend some money on grading to get to that figure. If they are as high grade as they look, there will be several that go for $300 bucks or more apiece, with some much higher.

I think a high end Prefontaine or high end Cassius Clay will easily fall into the 500-1000 range.

This is not even taking into account the prototypes mentioned, that I imagine some will be eager to get into their collections.

Just filtering through Sold unsigned Sport Illustrated that ended on Ebay in the last 90 days, there's plenty of results that signify a trend, and most of the better issues have not even been traded in the last 90 days. Saw a couple of not so great looking Prefontaines that sold at between 60 and 80 bucks.

I see several CGC graded issues that I'd consider run of the mill but in great condition, that traded for 100 bucks and higher.

Ok, you're up to $1000, only $49-99,000 to go. The "prototype" issues are the dummy issues I'm sure and they are not that rare. Maybe a couple hundred each. I like how you assume people here are "underestimating" the value when you yourself say you cannot sell a boxing issue unless in the 1st Clay issue and you left boxes behind when you bought a large collection.

Heritage can put whatever value on them they want to entice some rube to auction his find thru them. Maybe they do get a little more by paying some idiot to "grade" them. Giving them the benifit of the doubt, you're up to $10,000 including a hell of a lot of grading fees.

Bottom line, it sounds like a great buying opportunity for you. With all your knowledge of SI's there surely is a lot of meat left on the bone to flip to all these buyers you found. I will just have to be satisfied with my "mid grade" magazine collection that I will continue to try to sell.