Any 'finds' overseas?

[Exhibitman]

As a boxing collector I get cards from all over the world via mail order. I haven't been there but I love to show this pocket-sized Korean folding card of Hank Aaron:

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

As a boxing collector I get cards from all over the world via mail order. I haven't been there but I love to show this pocket-sized Korean folding card of Hank Aaron:

The English translation is: 'I never took performance enhancing drugs.'

[jbsports33]

No, but definitely Canada over the years!

[edjs]

From Argentina, Nobleza De Tabacos.

[Brian]

So my question for you guys that have picked up sports or non-sports cards overseas: did you get them at a fraction of the price you'd pay here? In other words, are pieces of cardboard/cards in general under-appreciated as a whole outside of the US?

What about Einstein cards--or cards of other "figures" with global importance, like Marilyn Monroe? I would bet they are more valued and are listed on eBay with those inflated BINs.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Adam, according to moviecard.com, which is an amazing resource, that Serie M.L.H. card was issued in either (of all places) Trinidad and Tobago or Algeria.

Also, the Swedish Candy card has been rethought apparently, now it is considered a 1968 Dutch unnumbered issue.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Adam, according to moviecard.com, which is an amazing resource, that Serie M.L.H. card was issued in either (of all places) Trinidad and Tobago or Algeria.

Also, the Swedish Candy card has been rethought apparently, now it is considered a 1968 Dutch unnumbered issue.

The MLH card has a designation of origin printed on the front. I don't buy the Algeria thing: wrong language. If there is a Caribbean connection, I think it more likely that the cards went through the Dutch islands rather than the British islands. FWIW, all of the ones I've seen for sale raw came through Europe.

As far as the Swedish one, I've seen that research too and I am still not sure that it wasn't a multi-country and/or multi-year issue. The box it was in is a 1968 Dutch TV series box but there were so many similar issues across nothern Europe that I don't think we have a definitive answer yet. Not that I am defending the TPGs; they usually have their heads up their butts when it comes to foreign boxing.

[seanofjapan]

Originally Posted by Brian

So my question for you guys that have picked up sports or non-sports cards overseas: did you get them at a fraction of the price you'd pay here? In other words, are pieces of cardboard/cards in general under-appreciated as a whole outside of the US?

What about Einstein cards--or cards of other "figures" with global importance, like Marilyn Monroe? I would bet they are more valued and are listed on eBay with those inflated BINs.

I live in Japan and basically just collect Japanese cards.

Prices used to be way cheaper here than in the US and to a certain extent that is still true, but there has been a lot of convergence in prices over the past few years.

With vintage stuff I think this is mainly the result of American buyers rather than Japanese ones. Various developments (translation software, proxy services, etc) have made Japanese online auctions way more accessible to US buyers than they were a decade ago, and prices on stuff has shot up accordingly as they've been able to bid on stuff.

One example would be the 1929 Shonen Club Babe Ruth. A few years ago I could find copies of that for 100-200$ here. Today its rare to find one and they always go for over $1,000. Demand from Japanese collectors hasn't increased at all in that time period (the existence of the card is barely known in Japanese collecting circles), its all been driven by American buyers scooping them up and driving the price up.

It creates a bit of tension here (just a bit, not much), some Japanese collectors do get annoyed by rising prices attributable to gaijin demand. Not many are after that Ruth card, but for Sadaharu Oh cards in particular (which they have a bit more interest in) the prices have shot through the roof.

[edjs]

Hard to say on the Argentine soccer card, this one is rough, and I really don’t track prices on them. I bought the one, I think it’s neat.

[UKCardGuy]

Originally Posted by Brian

So my question for you guys that have picked up sports or non-sports cards overseas: did you get them at a fraction of the price you'd pay here? In other words, are pieces of cardboard/cards in general under-appreciated as a whole outside of the US?

What about Einstein cards--or cards of other "figures" with global importance, like Marilyn Monroe? I would bet they are more valued and are listed on eBay with those inflated BINs.

Yes, they can be had for less money than in the US but you need to find them in the right place. I've managed to find Ruth Sanella cards, Ruth Bulgaria and Churchman cards on the UK and German ebay sites. I've also managed to get some good prices on the 1925 Turf Cigarettes George Sisler card.

If you're interested in soccer cigarette cards, they're a dime a dozen in the UK.

[Brian]

Gary, those are outstanding finds! Congratulations!