Cards as an inflation hedge ?

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

more business owners receiving money that they didn't need.

Speaking as one of them...When the pandemic hit I had no idea what would happen to my clients and by extension to my business. The money made available under the PPP and other programs required that you move like hell to get in before the money ran out. I actually was unable to secure a loan the first go-round but got it the second. So it was all uncertain. Once I had the loan secured and was able to apply for the loan forgiveness it provided a cushion. I did not spend it on cards, I held it for an uncertain future. I finally decided it was Ok to spend it, hence a 952 Topps Mantle.

[parkplace33]

Having a few higher end cards in your portfolio is fine, but I don’t recommend investing heavily in vintage cards. Put money in a 401k or IRA and you will be fine.

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Having a few higher end cards in your portfolio is fine, but I don’t recommend investing heavily in vintage cards. Put money in a 401k or IRA and you will be fine.

Exactly ! It seems many are emotionally attached to their cards, investments and emotions don’t mix!

[trambo]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

Exactly ! It seems many are emotionally attached to their cards, investments and emotions don’t mix!

Not that you said it was but I don't look at any of these as absolutes. If cards are something you see as an investment, it's an asset class just like 401k, savings, IRA, real estate or what have you. You allocate your resources in those buckets as you see prudent.

Personally I view my PC as both a hobby and investment with a hobby lean and I'd guess I'm not alone. The difference between cards and "savings" to me is that I can hold a t206 Green Cobb but the more traditional investments are more of a number on a computer screen or statement. Neither are wrong but man it's way more fun holding the Cobb than the monthly statement....haha!!

[Republicaninmass]

Originally Posted by trambo

Neither are wrong but man it's way more fun holding the Cobb than the monthly statement....haha!!

I totally agree, and if it goes up in value, you got to own it, enjoy it, AND made a few bucks!

It IS hard, for me at least, staring at a box in the bank and thinking "this could be an (insert asset here) with the recent insane multiples.

[3-2-count]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Having a few higher end cards in your portfolio is fine, but I don’t recommend investing heavily in vintage cards. Put money in a 401k or IRA and you will be fine.

I personally diversify into all 3 sectors that you mention - Vintage cards, 401K and an IRA.

Theres no right or wrong answer here. To each their own!

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by 3-2-count

I personally diversify into all 3 sectors that you mention - Vintage cards, 401K and an IRA.

Theres no right or wrong answer here. To each their own!

+1 or more agree

Vintage cards is another form of diverting on my asset portfolio

Like my stocks and 401k

However, for me it is primarily a hobby that I love that had long term growth potential and something I can pull out and show and share with family and friends and enjoy along the way.

The key like anything else is to not over invest/ spend in any one area with your funds and keep an eye on your investments and adjust strategically as necessary

And in the end enjoy your collection, your flipping, your purchases from your cards, your family.

[Republicaninmass]

I see an auction like Goldin and go through 500 lots of "modern " autos/patch cards etc. I fell the demand for people adding these types to their PC is minimal. They are quick flippers, or buying and holding hoping for it to go up. Much like the stock market, the greed steps in when prices fo down, and now your flip is already losing ground and this is when people panic sell. It causes a market crash.

I see lelands auction, and frankly I dont think I've seen anything more ridiculous. It appears these 25 "lots" are all "consignments " from the collectable app, try to find a greater fool. Aside from the t3 set, and its ridiculous estimate, I see very little upside on anything listed. I'd wager another "app" or fractional ownership company will be "winning " these lots with a spectacle being made of "sales" prices.


For vintage, I think there are a good mix of people who enjoy the cards, as well as enough people actively pursuing cards to flip. This keeps the market in balance. However, when people stockpile cards like 52 mantle, etc. I think it does inflate the price somewhat.

I dont ever remember seeing 3 or 4 vg 1952 May's listed in a major auction house until the last few years. It kind of silly, and my bet would be they are all from the same consignor. As a consignor, I'd be a little miffed if I sent a card, and there was already a few example in the same auction. There is only so much the market can bear.


Buy what you like, and ca afford, and you will never go wrong. If you end in the black, you held an amazing asset, and made a few bucks as well. After all, it's just cardboard

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

I see an auction like Goldin and go through 500 lots of "modern " autos/patch cards etc. I fell the demand for people adding these types to their PC is minimal. They are quick flippers, or buying and holding hoping for it to go up. Much like the stock market, the greed steps in when prices fo down, and now your flip is already losing ground and this is when people panic sell. It causes a market crash.

I see lelands auction, and frankly I dont think I've seen anything more ridiculous. It appears these 25 "lots" are all "consignments " from the collectable app, try to find a greater fool. Aside from the t3 set, and its ridiculous estimate, I see very little upside on anything listed. I'd wager another "app" or fractional ownership company will be "winning " these lots with a spectacle being made of "sales" prices.


For vintage, I think there are a good mix of people who enjoy the cards, as well as enough people actively pursuing cards to flip. This keeps the market in balance. However, when people stockpile cards like 52 mantle, etc. I think it does inflate the price somewhat.

I dont ever remember seeing 3 or 4 vg 1952 May's listed in a major auction house until the last few years. It kind of silly, and my bet would be they are all from the same consignor. As a consignor, I'd be a little miffed if I sent a card, and there was already a few example in the same auction. There is only so much the market can bear.


Buy what you like, and ca afford, and you will never go wrong. If you end in the black, you held an amazing asset, and made a few bucks as well. After all, it's just cardboard

Did you see in the Lealands auctions the 51 Bowman Mantle PSA 8 ? That was just in Memory Lane last July Selling for $498,000.
These cards can’t be purchased by collectors usually collectors keep them more than four months it’s like musical chairs with these so called investment pieces. They pushed it too high in the short term and they don’t have the balls to sit on it in the long term because they know they overinflated it.

[Republicaninmass]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

Did you see in the Lealands auctions the 51 Bowman Mantle PSA 8 ? That was just in Memory Lane last July Selling for $498,000.
These cards can’t be purchased by collectors usually collectors keep them more than four months it’s like musical chairs with these so called investment pieces. They pushed it too high in the short term and they don’t have the balls to sit on it in the long term because they know they overinflated it.

Thanks Johnny, I didnt see that sale, but it's very telling, and not surprising. It wont surprise me with a "new record" sale. As the reddit crew says "stonks go up" .

Maybe someone can make a better quote "fractional ownership is great, if you are selling to the fractional buyer"

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

Thanks Johnny, I didnt see that sale, but it's very telling, and not surprising. It wont surprise me with a "new record" sale. As the reddit crew says "stonks go up" .

Maybe someone can make a better quote "fractional ownership is great, if you are selling to the fractional buyer"

LOL that’s funny.

They know they pushed it too far too quickly certain cards and they can’t stomach the pain to hold onto it that’s not a good sign.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

Thanks Johnny, I didnt see that sale, but it's very telling, and not surprising. It wont surprise me with a "new record" sale. As the reddit crew says "stonks go up" .

Maybe someone can make a better quote "fractional ownership is great, if you are selling to the fractional buyer"

I have long believed many auction sales prices are just for show, and since there's no transparency there's really no good way to know other than common sense.

[darkhorse9]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Once I had the loan secured and was able to apply for the loan forgiveness it provided a cushion. I did not spend it on cards, I held it for an uncertain future. I finally decided it was Ok to spend it, hence a 952 Topps Mantle.

Not to get too political here, but did you really spend taxpayer money designed to cover paychecks to keep workers from being furloughed on a 1952 Topps Mantle card?

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by darkhorse9

Not to get too political here, but did you really spend taxpayer money designed to cover paychecks to keep workers from being furloughed on a 1952 Topps Mantle card?

No, I paid payroll with it in the mandated time frame, exactly as the rules required. My point was that no one running a business had any idea whether their business would collapse at the time. When I had two great years instead of a collapsed business, my savings skyrocketed because I worked my ass off while going nowhere and doing nothing. FWIW, I also sold a lot of cards into the surging market and banked the proceeds just in case things did go to shit. After two years I had enough saved up to feel like I could afford a big card purchase again while leaving a nice cushion in my savings.

Now, as far as the investment debate, I've been collecting cards on a serious (e.g., setting up at shows, etc.) basis since the 1970s. In that 45 years of watching the card market, there has been an overall gain in value better than the stock market. I think fifty years is proof of concept. These are an asset class regardless of what we may wish in terms of expanding our PCs on the cheap. My wife asked me recently why I hadn't purchased a few of these mega-cards back in the day. I told her if I'd come home and announced that I put the years' IRA contribution into a Babe Ruth RC she'd have divorced me right then and there, and she knows it.

There are times when prices have pulled back (the early 1980s Reagan-Volcker recession, 1994 baseball strike, 2000 dot com bubble, 2007-2008 Great Recession, 2016 price manipulation) but it has always remained attractive as an asset provided you make the right calls on what to purchase. Now we have serious money stepping into the hobby in all respects: auctions, TPGs, even card production. That means others share that view. I am optimistic about the overall potential for the hobby and especially for prewar and interwar cards. There will be short-term pullbacks (has already happened on many sectors of the hobby, like Jordan cards) but if the pattern of the last 50 years holds, it will come back. It is no smarter, dumber or weirder than art, rare books, coins, etc. I have been a strict 'eat when you kill' collector for a decade now: i only buy cards when the proceeds of sales allow for it. Last two years were so good in that regard that I was able to stop panic-saving every cent and buy some cards.