Big Find - What Would You Do? Scenario 1

[Exhibitman]

I'd drive over to my LCS and buy about six boxes of Card Savers. I don't have anything like enough of them on hand. Once I got back, I'd sit down and put all of the cards into holders before I handled them any further. I would then do what we all do with new cards: look them over, evaluate what they are, and so on.

If the lot plus what I have add up to some form of set (short or with some mix of rare ones) I'd keep it. If not, hopefully, I could finish my T206 HOFers from the pile. That would be nice. I'd probably upgrade a few of my crappy ones too. That also would be nice.

I'd next call Al at LOTG and ask him to pick up the rest and sell them for me. I know Al would do a fantastic job of sorting the cards, getting the valuable ones slabbed, and marketing them with the personal care he always shows consignors. Maybe I would stagger the sales into different tax years to avoid bracket creep but that's a bit too granular of an answer for the call of the question.

In short, keep the ones I need, sell the rest. After all, it's just stuff and I cannot take it with me when I die. Though I definitely want to be buried in a card suit



Hopefully the cigar boxes are nice ones too. If so, I'd keep those for display.

[mrreality68]

Get them graded and then auction them and then search for a Ruth or Jackson with the proceeds

[Jeff_cvc]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

Get them graded and then auction them and then search for a Ruth or Jackson with the proceeds

Of course you would! Your Jackson collection is already awesome, I couldn't imagine what you would want to add to it?? T210 Jackson?

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by Jeff_cvc

Of course you would! Your Jackson collection is already awesome, I couldn't imagine what you would want to add to it?? T210 Jackson?

Thanks I appreciate the kind words on my collection.

However, there are so many Jackson’s out there I still need from my dream card the T210, the 1911 Pinkerton, the Boston Garter, the 1915 CJ, the Green Blanket, the Pennants (different colors), the 1920 Holsum Bread, the Texas Tommy, the Felix Mendelssohn ,just to name a few

[abothebear]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Maybe I would stagger the sales into different tax years to avoid bracket creep but that's a bit too granular of an answer for the call of the question... Hopefully, the cigar boxes are nice ones too. If so, I'd keep those for display.

Not too granular for the question at all. There is a lot to consider in such a situation.

I plan on something like this happening to me someday. If I ask it as a hypothetical now, I won't have to draw attention to myself when it really happens.

I think I'd call my photographer/video friend up and use the discovery (and some of the sales proceeds) as a springboard to make a documentary on T206s in general. Many of you would eventually be getting calls to be interviewed to add your particular angle of expertise to the big picture.

Oh, I should add that if anyone does find something like this, I'd still do the documentary if you want to bring me into the process.

Additionally, if anyone wants to be a producer (i.e. fund) my documentary anyway (without a new find to be the entry point), I can easily build it on some of the recent finds that have happened. Send me a PM if you are interested.

.

[Orioles1954]

Our auction house recently a handled a similar find. 2,000 Obaks, Collins-McCarthy, Zeenuts, Mono, Pacific Biscuits stuffed in a shoebox. Pulled out 3 Ruths, several Cobbs, a couple Joe Jacksons, Weaver, etc. All untouched. I usually handle “new to hobby” pre-war finds multiple times per year. They’re out there.

[Yoda]

I would take another hit from the opium pipe, drift off again and this time find an unopened factory set of 1915 Cracker Jacks.

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by Yoda

I would take another hit from the opium pipe, drift off again and this time find an unopened factory set of 1915 Cracker Jacks.

Yeah, brother! ^^^ THAT ^^^ is the answer, right there!

[JollyElm]

I'd trade them all for a carton of eggs. Of course, that wouldn't be enough. I'd have to add in a significant amount of cash on my end, too.

[G1911]

Catalog them in my spreadsheet, have a blast flipping through them all, mix them with the ones I already have and put duplicates with the same front/back combos up for trade for any I don't have.

If there was a Wagner, I'd have to sell it. Would love to keep it, but I'd rather retire young than have a single card.

[FrankWakefield]

Some bunch of ball card collectors you call yourselves... shame on you, focusing on selling them. If finding a bunch of cards like that leads to selling them all, then that might be the end of my collecting... I hope that doesn't happen.

Think about staying quiet, then, instead, stay silent.

Maybe then do a calm assessment of what you have there... and how it integrates and affects the focus your collection.