Best non prewar mainstream card to invest on

[Aaron Seefeldt]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

Since, in polls like this, people tend to vote for what they already own I maintain that the best investments are sheet music and pins since the fewest number own them. Since this is a hobby of lemmings, once a few more deep pocketed collectors get interested in them the prices will skyrocket.

+1
Pins & sheet music are also much scarcer than cards (on a whole)

[Chris-Counts]

I believe the values of pins will eventually surpass nearly everything because so many are extremely rare and attractive, and collectors are just beginning to realize this.

[BeanTown]

Originally Posted by Chris Counts

I believe the values of pins will eventually surpass nearly everything because so many are extremely rare and attractive, and collectors are just beginning to realize this.

Let’s not forget they are easy to store and display which Is a plus.

[BobC]

Question(s), in which of the four poll categories/choices offered should each of the following be included, or is it possible there should be more options, or at least a "None of the above" included in this poll?

Silks/Leathers (S74-1, S74-2, S81, S110, L1 Leathers, etc.)

Pennants (BF2, Cravats, etc.)

Felts/Blankets (BF18, B104, Ferguson Bakery Prize, etc.)

Stamps/Tattoos/Transfers (Red Sox Tatoos, Centennial of Baseball Stamps, German Baseball Stamps, German Baseball Transfers, Helmar Stamps, Piedmont Art Stamps, Postaco Stamps, Pritchard Publishing Giants/Yankees Stamps, Rinkydink Stamps, Sports Stamps-Various Newspapers, etc.)

Game Cards/Pieces (WG1/Allegheny Card Co., WG6/Tom Barker Game, WG2/3 Fan Craze, Inside Base Ball-Game Pieces, WG7/Walter Mails Game, 1921-20 Major League Die-Cuts, WG5/National Game, Parker Bros.-Tris Speaker, WG4/Polo Grounds Game, WG8 S&S Game, E.R. Williams Game, etc.)

Discs (Colgan's Chips, Colgan's Red Borders, Colgan's Tin Tops, Ju-Ju Drums, PX3 Double Header Coins/Discs, PX7 Domino Discs, etc.)

Flip Books/Movies (Goudey Thum Movies, Goudey Flip Movies, Wheaties Babe Ruth Flip Book, etc.)

Also, some of the aforementioned categories/choices aren't always so separate or exclusive. For example, you can find magazines with ads and comics for the Wheaties Babe Ruth Flip Books, so should the flip books and magazines be considered as somewhat the same or in the same category? Or, in regard to Jay's comment about sheet music and pins possibly being the two most likely choices for investment purposes, you can go for a copy of the "Babe Rith, Babe Ruth, We Know What He Can Do" sheet music AND also try to find the pin that was also put out in 1928 specifically publicizing that song and the sheet music.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by Aaron Seefeldt

+1
Pins & sheet music are also much scarcer than cards (on a whole)

Lots of things are scarce. That doesn’t make them desirable.

Photos of Babe Ruth with horses for example are very scarce. Don’t make them desirable or a good investment.

Sheet music is interesting and indeed scarce, but don’t plan to retire on it. One persons undervalued is another persons “prices have hardly moved in 20 years for a reason”.

[obcbobd]

Buy what pleases you. If it appreciates in value and you resell; good for you! I would not necessarily count on that happening though. I don't think there are many undervalued baseball collectibles out there, and someday, perhaps well into the future, the bubble may burst

[darwinbulldog]

Originally Posted by obcbobd

Buy what pleases you. If it appreciates in value and you resell; good for you! I would not necessarily count on that happening though. I don't think there are many undervalued baseball collectibles out there, and someday, perhaps well into the future, the bubble may burst

Good point. Certainly the current prices we see for these things are out of proportion to the popularity of baseball itself.

[TaxMechanick]

Yes, I believe pins and sheet music, for example, will have their day (again) at some point. The market is thin, and all it takes is a few serious collectors, either enjoying them for what they are or otherwise just believing there is good future value in acquiring them...
Personally, I like both areas, and, since I buy what I like (and enjoy what I collect), I'm happy to be the proud owner of some...

Using the Ty Cobb King of Clubs Sheet Music as an example, at one point I'll say 20+ years ago, whenever it came up for sale I recollect it was about a $3K-4K piece in reasonable condition. More recently, in say going back 2-10 years ago when it has come up for sale, it often went for under $1K. Over the last couple of years, I do not recollect seeing examples for sale (perhaps I remember 1 example in really rough shape), so I'm not sure what price it would fetch in post-covid times, with cards of Cobb, for example, skyrocketing? I suspect it could fetch some more, but certainly not proportunately so...

Regarding pins, P2s and other relatively common issues, from my view, I believe these issues have remained relatively firm with a solid collector base.

I'll use PM1s as an example... A number of years ago, Heritage had a small find in immaculate condition (I recollect perhaps 12 or so examples),that went for really strong proces relative to prior sales. However, there was a reason for that, as there were a couple or few really motivated buyers then. Since then, not so much... I haverecenly seen a few Cobb's offered for auction, none is so nice condition. Prices were not strong, as I expected. But, then again, Cobb is one of the more common (for the issue) players. Many other players, you rarely see example of, so I'm not sure...? Again, all it takes...

Another area I enjoy collecting are cigar labels (not so much so on the boxes with the labels on them as these are difficult to store and care for). Many of the labels are quite scarce or even rare or ultra rare with examples of 1 or just a few, and the beauty of the lithography just pops for me. These include ultra rare process proofs and scarce or rare salesman sample labels. I enjoy baseball and other sports (as football) more than others, but, I'm open to some other historical personalities and other americana-related subjects.

(To build on what Jay said) I suppose I'm a non-lemming, but, (as others have said) I buy what I like...

[brunswickreeves]

1909-13 M101-2 Sporting News Supplements, without a doubt. They're beautiful photographic larger than life images, and incredibly scarce. Value-wise, a PSA 1 Joe Jackson auctioned on 11/17/22 for $9.9K. HA just sold a PSA 1.5 on 5/11/23 for $16.2K. Additionally Honus Wagner's issue is getting it's due.

[The Detroit Collector]

My vote on what I actually think would rise, would be for Type 1 photographs. I have already seen a large attraction to them through AH's recently. More and more information is coming out on how to recognize type 1 photos and there seems to be a new thirst for them.

If I could pick which one I would personally like to rise, it would be supplements. They are the closet to cards out the options. The photos and artwork are beautiful. As Rhotchkiss mentioned buying one slabbed is already expensive.