New Negro League memorabilia collector(s) in the market?

[Scocs]

I don’t have that much experience in collecting Negro League cards, but over the course of several years I have found that many transactions of important cards and memorabilia are often not done publicly and out of the limelight. Collector to collector. And this is a great place to meet those collectors....

At least I’ve found this to be true since the Hake’s auctions of 2012-2013 where a lot of big ticket items were sold.

[bcbgcbrcb]

You’re exactly right, Scott. However, it came to light afterwards that the vast majority of those Hakes items that you mentioned all wound up in one collection. This collection was subsequently sold at Christie’s in two separate installments over 2016 and 2017.

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

You’re exactly right, Scott. However, it came to light afterwards that the vast majority of those Hakes items that you mentioned all wound up in one collection. This collection was subsequently sold at Christie’s in two separate installments over 2016 and 2017.

I hope the seller at Christie's wasn't too disappointed. I felt like many of the listings were done extremely poorly. I was glad to pick up a couple of items (Perucho Cepeda contracts and Alejandro Oms signed passport) but felt like if I had been the consignor I would not have been thrilled.

[aljurgela]

Originally Posted by Topnotchsy

I hope the seller at Christie's wasn't too disappointed. I felt like many of the listings were done extremely poorly. I was glad to pick up a couple of items (Perucho Cepeda contracts and Alejandro Oms signed passport) but felt like if I had been the consignor I would not have been thrilled.

I ended up with a lot of the items that I missed the first time around. Most were at discounts to what they went for at Hake's!... which was great for me (and most others as well)... I think that the consignor took a bit of a bath, but given the league and $ involved, I doubt that it really "matters" too much to someone with those deep pockets to start that collection in the first place.

[bcbgcbrcb]

You got it, Al. Kinda takes the challenge out of collecting when you can just buy everything that you want, no matter what the cost.

Based on what I read in the news before the first Christie's auction, the items were owned and consigned by a not-for-profit museum. It wasn't mentioned, and I truly wonder, how much of those funds that were spent accumulating that collection were grants from Major League Baseball and the like. That would make it all the more troubling, especially for those bidders competing against the whale and always coming up on the short end of the stick.

[sphere and ash]

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

You got it, Al. Kinda takes the challenge out of collecting when you can just buy everything that you want, no matter what the cost.

Based on what I read in the news before the first Christie's auction, the items were owned and consigned by a not-for-profit museum. It wasn't mentioned, and I truly wonder, how much of those funds that were spent accumulating that collection were grants from Major League Baseball and the like. That would make it all the more troubling, especially for those bidders competing against the whale and always coming up on the short end of the stick.

The collector behind the sale is the son of George Roberts, the co-founder of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR). The father is worth over $5 billion. I doubt any outside funds were raised. Christie's relationship with George Roberts is the only reason it took the consignment.

[aljurgela]

Originally Posted by sphere and ash

The collector behind the sale is the son of George Roberts, the co-founder of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR). The father is worth over $5 billion. I doubt any outside funds were raised. Christie's relationship with George Roberts is the only reason it took the consignment.

Wow... that is some big time coin!!! No wonder why I lost most of the pieces that I wanted!

[Leon]

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

You’re exactly right, Scott. However, it came to light afterwards that the vast majority of those Hakes items that you mentioned all wound up in one collection. This collection was subsequently sold at Christie’s in two separate installments over 2016 and 2017.

It sounds like the buyer/seller would have been well advised to consign back to where he/they acquired the stuff. It sounds like Christie's didn't do the collection justice. And in this space I think it only takes a few collectors to rock the world with respect to prices.