Thoughts on best auction house for vintage memorabilia (Jackie etc)

[rand1com]

Jonathan appears to be referring only to your football autograph page which has been signed by another player in addition to Jackie and is comparing it to the single signed page from the Hunt auction that had only Jackie's inscription/signature from a value standpoint.

I'm sure he will clarify his post but this was the way I interpreted it.

Having seen all 4 autographs and the pages involved, I would repair the binding and leave the book intact. The individual cuts will not be that attractive as most would be irregular cuts unless you just leave the individual pages intact and the other inscriptions/signatures detract from Robinson if you do that. The track signature has poor contrast on his last name and would not bring a premium IMO.

It is a piece of history as it is with the other signatures an important part of it.

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by rand1com

Jonathan appears to be referring only to your football autograph page which has been signed by another player in addition to Jackie and is comparing it to the single signed page from the Hunt auction that had only Jackie's inscription/signature from a value standpoint.

I'm sure he will clarify his post but this was the way I interpreted it.

Having seen all 4 autographs and the pages involved, I would repair the binding and leave the book intact. The individual cuts will not be that attractive as most would be irregular cuts unless you just leave the individual pages intact and the other inscriptions/signatures detract from Robinson if you do that. The track signature has poor contrast on his last name and would not bring a premium IMO.

It is a piece of history as it is with the other signatures an important part of it.

Randy,

I appreciate that clarification. Once you mention it, I definitely see that that was what Jonathan intended, and I'm sure there is truth to that.

I do think on this one that there is something to the fact that Jackie famously lettered in 4 sports, and this has him signing all 4, so that's an argument for keeping them together.

Agreed on the track autograph as well. It might show a bit better in person, but it's definitely not the best.

Thanks!

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Topnotchsy

I do think on this one that there is something to the fact that Jackie famously lettered in 4 sports, and this has him signing all 4, so that's an argument for keeping them together.

I hadn't thought about that, but the problem is that once you put it into an auction, you've lost control over it and that history might not matter to the winner. The market will determine which is more valuable, keeping it together or splitting it up, so it seems that any restoration work on your part is a gamble. Might as well just put it in as is and let what will be, be. At any rate, the big auction guys will give you the best advice you're going to get, including from here.

[Jewish-collector]

There are collectors who want signed custom cards, so another option would be to cut each autograph/picture up as a custom card and have PSA/DNA slab each. Not sure I would do that, but it is a possibility.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by Topnotchsy

I do think on this one that there is something to the fact that Jackie famously lettered in 4 sports, and this has him signing all 4, so that's an argument for keeping them together.



Thanks!

Not an autograph guy, but I think you're right in that they should all be auctioned together at the same time for the reason you state. However, maybe you maximize by having 4 separate pages, 4 separate lots, so if someone wants all 4, they'll have to win each.

[theshleps]

I sold a Jr college yearbook with 3 autographs and one of his brother. Didn't do as well as expected. This was a few years ago. I hate people cutting something like this up (I have a few great autograph albums I wont sell as do not want them cut up) but cutting up would give you the best price

[bigfanNY]

Thank you for posting all four signatures. My opinion is that they will sell for more as four seperate pages and four seperate lots. Each of the Four display nicely. But The Football and the Baseball are both very nice. I understand that extra signatures detract from value and they might not sell as well as the Hunt photo. But I do belive the 4 lots would far surpass the number you would get for the book. Just one mans opinion and based on $$ alone. I would be interested in AH opinion on weather the Baseball page from your book would surpass the football page from hunt. I think it is the best of the four.

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by theshleps

I sold a Jr college yearbook with 3 autographs and one of his brother. Didn't do as well as expected. This was a few years ago. I hate people cutting something like this up (I have a few great autograph albums I wont sell as do not want them cut up) but cutting up would give you the best price

Prices have definitely jumped recently. It seems like this is true of other Jackie items pre-Integration. I believe hi UCLA football tickets are selling for a lot more than they were a couple of years back as well.

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

Thank you for posting all four signatures. My opinion is that they will sell for more as four seperate pages and four seperate lots. Each of the Four display nicely. But The Football and the Baseball are both very nice. I understand that extra signatures detract from value and they might not sell as well as the Hunt photo. But I do belive the 4 lots would far surpass the number you would get for the book. Just one mans opinion and based on $$ alone. I would be interested in AH opinion on weather the Baseball page from your book would surpass the football page from hunt. I think it is the best of the four.

I had not realized that that listing was simply for 1 page. That is honestly a shocking sale, as I was assuming that the entire yearbook with the 4 signed photos would be in that range.

[bigfanNY]

First although I do collect autographs most of my collection is made up of Memorabilia ( signs Scorecards and programs) and cards. When I do venture into Autographed items the most important factor is authenticity. The photos in your yearbook match favorably to known exemplars. The fact that they exist in a yearbook from a year Jackie attended add to the provenance. So the fact that your four signatures are at the top of the authenticity pile means alot.
So automatically there is a very large market for each of the signatures. Couple that with how nice each page displays with early Photos of Jackie and the demand side of the equation increases.
Conversely if they stay inside the book they become harder to display and you only get one sale vs four.
I own and actively collect signed programs. One because they are among the best / most likely authentic examples and second they tend to be more affordable. My personal preference is for a signed period photo. But they tend to be the highest priced examples of desired signatures.
So your four examples seperated from the book offer the best of both worlds. Great provenance and great display. That is my reasoning if it even matters.
Best of luck with sale
Jonathan