What card type is ultra rare but not desirable?

[Exhibitman]

I don't think "ultra rare" and "not desirable" overlap, specifically because an ultra-rare card does not transact enough to make a factual assessment of desirability. If a card or set has enough of a sale history to be labeled as not desirable, it isn't ultra rare.

Beyond semantics, so much of collecting outside of the mainstream depends on having a feel for the value rather than hard data and acting on it. As for value and demand, frankly, it is largely dependent on how well you can hype the rare item when you want to resell it. I'd venture to guess that many collectors simply do not know what an R94 is, let alone that there are two Babe Ruth cards in the set, so the only way they get to perceive it as desirable is to see and hear about it.



The only thing I know for sure is that whatever I think of an item's desirability, it is more likely than not that I will be surprised when it finally sells. I was floored by the price of a lower grade 1962 Pittsburgh Exhibit Sandy Koufax in the last REA. No idea it was at that level of demand, but it is a very tough card with no recent history.

[brian1961]

Adam has offered a real cogent response, as usual. Last year, a prime example occurred in a Heritage Auction. They were offering an essentially unheard of 1954 Stahl-Meyer Franks Mickey Mantle in PSA 8 NM/MT. Extremely few high-grade Stahl-Meyer Mantles have auctioned this century. The lame PSA Price Guide had pegged the card at about $50,000 to $60,000.

Heritage even did a preview on YOUTUBE about this beauty. The 58-second video may still be found on YOUTUBE if you're curious (simply type 1954 Stahl-Meyer Franks Mickey Mantle). Well, the card sold for $210,000, including the buyer's premium. Opportunity rarely knocks for this one, so when it did.....

Earlier this month, Huggins & Scott concluded their auction. Amongst their items were a 1 of 1 1962 JELL-O Willie Mays unfolded box. Some collectors like this sort of unreal rarity. Trust me, it's legitimate, hailing from a find in the early 1980s, and sold in SCD by a prominent New York dealer. Well, opportunity knocked, and the 62 Mays unfolded box garnered 59 bids, and sold for $34,800.

As I recall, the same Huggins & Scott auction offered a similar 1 of 1 1962 JELL-O Roberto Clemente unfolded box, but I could not find what that baby sold for. Anyone know--please???

Certain issues may not have a huge following, as the mainstream cards always do, but the non-mainstream collectors are frequently ultra-driven, and will pay accordingly, if they are able. Such prized acquisitions are considered centerpieces of their collections.

I wish you happy hunting. --- Brian Powell

[raulus]

Originally Posted by brian1961

Earlier this month, Huggins & Scott concluded their auction. Amongst their items were a 1 of 1 1962 JELL-O Willie Mays unfolded box. Some collectors like this sort of unreal rarity. Trust me, it's legitimate, hailing from a find in the early 1980s, and sold in SCD by a prominent New York dealer. Well, opportunity knocked, and the 62 Mays unfolded box garnered 59 bids, and sold for $34,800.

As I recall, the same Huggins & Scott auctioned offered a similar 1 of 1 1962 JELL-O Roberto Clemente unfolded box, but I could not find what that baby sold for. Anyone know--please???

--- Brian Powell

I picked up the 1962 Jello complete boxes of Mays and Aaron at the Huggins auction last month. The Aaron went for just under $9.3k.

In terms of the Clemente, it sold at Heritage for $18.6k (including the juice). One of my good friends, a fellow net54 member, and hardcore Clemente collector picked it up.

https://sports.ha.com/itm/baseball-c...umbnail-071515

[brian1961]

Many thanks, Nicolo, for the auction results info.

I extend to you heartiest congratulations upon winning the Willie Mays and Hank Aaron 1962 JELL-O unfolded boxes. Wow, what prize catches; way da go, bro!!!!

The prices for the Clemente and Aaron were relatively low, for what they are, though by no means chump change. I recall seeing a scan of the Clemente unfolded box, and it was a marvelous beauty! Really, all of them looked great, and have been well cared for since that fabulous find of 40 years ago.

I can relate to your joy. Way back in fall, 1988, at the massive Philadelphia show, on the opening night, reserved for members only of the local Philly collectors club, I was able to buy a pair of those 1 of 1 unfolded 1962 JELL-O boxes, one from Mr. Mint Alan Rosen, and one from his minion, Brian Morris. That pair of hobby stalwarts did not deal in undesirable merchandize. I was absolutely thrilled to find and buy them. My point is simply, your new pair of beautiful boxes, I'm rather certain, has put you on a "cardboard cloud 9", from which you will stay aloft for quite awhile. Again, I am so happy for you. Thanks again for sharing your joy with us.

I suppose the mainstream gum card rookie collectors would not understand our fascination and devotion to the non-mainstream regional / food items, but in the end, they are less competition for US, and we're less competition for THEM.

Continued happy hunting, my fellow collecting warrior. --- Brian Powell

[raulus]

Originally Posted by brian1961

Many thanks, Nicolo, for the auction results info.

I extend to you heartiest congratulations upon winning the Willie Mays and Hank Aaron 1962 JELL-O unfolded boxes. Wow, what prize catches; way da go, bro!!!!

The prices for the Clemente and Aaron were relatively low, for what they are, though by no means chump change. I recall seeing a scan of the Clemente unfolded box, and it was a marvelous beauty! Really, all of them looked great, and have been well cared for since that fabulous find of 40 years ago.

I can relate to your joy. Way back in fall, 1988, at the massive Philadelphia show, on the opening night, reserved for members only of the local Philly collectors club, I was able to buy a pair of those 1 of 1 unfolded 1962 JELL-O boxes, one from Mr. Mint Alan Rosen, and one from his minion, Brian Morris. That pair of hobby stalwarts did not deal in undesirable merchandize. I was absolutely thrilled to find and buy them. My point is simply, your new pair of beautiful boxes, I'm rather certain, has put you on a "cardboard cloud 9", from which you will stay aloft for quite awhile. Again, I am so happy for you. Thanks again for sharing your joy with us.

I suppose the mainstream gum card rookie collectors would not understand our fascination and devotion to the non-mainstream regional / food items, but in the end, they are less competition for US, and we're less competition for THEM.

Continued happy hunting, my fellow collecting warrior. --- Brian Powell

Thanks Brian. These definitely fit into the White Whale category for serious player collectors. At the same time, these pieces obviously don't fit into the "value" part of this thread, even if they are exceptionally rare.

Although I have it on good authority that they were once relatively inexpensive. Attached is a copy of the price sheet for these boxes back when they were marketed in 1985 by Lew Lipset, provided to me courtesy of another hobby friend, Fred McKie. As I remarked to Fred, it probably would have been cheaper for me to build a time machine to acquire my collection...

[IMAXMAX]

How about these?
https://www.net54baseball.com/showth...light=schapira

[jethrod3]

Scorecards. There are some very rare scorecards out there. Hank Aaron's first home run. Player debuts. Some with remarkable provenance. But compared to tickets, they are as rare or rarer, but seemingly not as desirable when you look at auction prices. Perhaps one day...if a grading company chooses to authenticate and grade them.