More interest in raw cards in 2024 - Observations

[Schlesinj]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

I think my card qualifies as a graded card. Then again, the fancy 'F' might instead mean I need to repeat the 'Raw Card Identification' class.

Attachment 611186

Brian

Board purchase. A few years ago.

image.jpg

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by Schlesinj

Board purchase. A few years ago.

Attachment 611435

Looks like the back of that Obak failed the Raw Card Identification course as well. What would F. Scott Fitzgerald think?

Brian

[StraightRaceCards]

Most of my favorite buys have been raw cards

Easy to appreciate them more when you can put your hands on them and get a feel for the card

That being said, I do love to grade for protection, authenticity, and to make it easier to pass along should something happen to me.

Bought my first Clemente raw last year and Kaline this year at the Dallas show. Thrilled to pick them up.

Bottom line, Any card is a great card!

[homerunhitter]

Raw cards are making a comeback!

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

Looks like the back of that Obak failed the Raw Card Identification course as well. What would F. Scott Fitzgerald think?

Brian

You need to ask "The Great Gatsby" if he collects raw or slabbed.

[conor912]

I refuse to let my collection consist of more plastic than cardboard.

[dougscats]

Aside from the aesthetics, cost, and many of the points James has made at length, there is an important practical factor that greatly favors collecting raw: viewing and reviewing one’s collection.

I can’t overstate what a pleasure it is to flip through my binder of T206’s whenever I want. I have about 850 in one book, probably weighs 5-10 pounds, and it’s portable; I can take it with me. How many pounds would 850 slabs weigh? And they’d fill up a trunk. How do you guys look at your collections? I have a few dozen slabs, including some of the most expensive ones. I don’t break them out anymore because of cost, but I hardly ever look at them.

And while cost is a primary practical factor for me, I like to be able to touch a card, to get a sense of that past.

One other point: It would seem to me that the pool of ungraded cards is ever decreasing; i.e., more of them are getting slabbed every day than are getting broken out. I would say it’s harder today to collect decent condition ungraded cards than when I started out. Food for thought here.

[ClementeFanOh]

I see the thread has been resurrected, which is cool. Someone above
stated that raw cards are making a comeback. Truthfully, they never left
the hobby. The vast majority of existing cards are raw. There are plenty of raw
even at shows where slabs tend to draw more eyes than normal. I really enjoy
picking up a desirable raw card as a "want" or a "need". It's all fun

Trent King

[jingram058]

The area where I live, Naples-Fort Myers-Cape Coral-Punta Gorda-Port Charlotte, everyone I trade with and associate with are raw cards people. There is a huge flea market here, Flea Masters, and there are a couple of snow birds who sell cards including vintage. They have some graded, but mainly raw. A couple of shops sell cards including some vintage, and they are all graded and in my view, wildly over-priced. Since the same cards are always there, I assume that to be the case. Finally, there is one consignment antique mall with 2 card sellers. One has an extensive collection of 1950s Topps and Bowman, but he wants mint price for beaters. The other has similar, but with realistic prices. I obtained a number of the 1962 Topps I needed for my low-grade complete set from him, including Rookie Parade Uecker, for something like $5. The only place that graded cards rule in my world is here on net54. I don't go to shows anymore; too far away. One of my friends here has an entire garage full of raw cards, climate controlled, professionally stored and inventoried.

[abmchenry]

Have been thinking about this as well. I'm starting to (slowly and cost-consciously) go after raw tobacco and candy cards almost exclusively. Main reason being, I've seen posts on net54 and on social media of binder-based collections where the cards can be viewed and handled, they were amazing, and I was envious. I'm buying raw cards with zero intent of ever putting them in slabs.

Really good point Doug...with all of the hype around grading pre-war cards for profit, I've also wondered if the supply of raw T206s, etc., is going to decrease noticeably. This must surely be happening, to what extent I don't know.

My only *minor* hesitation with buying raw T206 is that I don't have confidence in my own abilities to spot a convincing fake.

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by jingram058

The area where I live, Naples-Fort Myers-Cape Coral-Punta Gorda-Port Charlotte, everyone I trade with and associate with are raw cards people. There is a huge flea market here, Flea Masters, and there are a couple of snow birds who sell cards including vintage. They have some graded, but mainly raw. A couple of shops sell cards including some vintage, and they are all graded and in my view, wildly over-priced. Since the same cards are always there, I assume that to be the case. Finally, there is one consignment antique mall with 2 card sellers. One has an extensive collection of 1950s Topps and Bowman, but he wants mint price for beaters. The other has similar, but with realistic prices. I obtained a number of the 1962 Topps I needed for my low-grade complete set from him, including Rookie Parade Uecker, for something like $5. The only place that graded cards rule in my world is here on net54. I don't go to shows anymore; too far away. One of my friends here has an entire garage full of raw cards, climate controlled, professionally stored and inventoried.

Bumping this over to page 2...the state of cards in SW Fla. There's a lot of big money in these parts, and some of these "beautiful people" have cards. I've met them and traded with them on occasion.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by jingram058

The area where I live, Naples-Fort Myers-Cape Coral-Punta Gorda-Port Charlotte, everyone I trade with and associate with are raw cards people. There is a huge flea market here, Flea Masters, and there are a couple of snow birds who sell cards including vintage. They have some graded, but mainly raw. A couple of shops sell cards including some vintage, and they are all graded and in my view, wildly over-priced. Since the same cards are always there, I assume that to be the case. Finally, there is one consignment antique mall with 2 card sellers. One has an extensive collection of 1950s Topps and Bowman, but he wants mint price for beaters. The other has similar, but with realistic prices. I obtained a number of the 1962 Topps I needed for my low-grade complete set from him, including Rookie Parade Uecker, for something like $5. The only place that graded cards rule in my world is here on net54. I don't go to shows anymore; too far away. One of my friends here has an entire garage full of raw cards, climate controlled, professionally stored and inventoried.

$5 for a 1962 Topps Uecker Rookie Parade? Was that a recent purchase?

[homerunhitter]

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

I see the thread has been resurrected, which is cool. Someone above
stated that raw cards are making a comeback. Truthfully, they never left
the hobby. The vast majority of existing cards are raw. There are plenty of raw
even at shows where slabs tend to draw more eyes than normal. I really enjoy
picking up a desirable raw card as a "want" or a "need". It's all fun

Trent King

Hey Trent!
When I said raw cards are making a comeback, I meant raw card collectors are making a comeback! (You are right, raw cards never left, but it does seem like more people are going back to collecting raw cards vs graded cards) There will always be a market for graded cards in out hobby but I think more people are going back to collecting for the pure old school joy of collecting.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by dougscats

Aside from the aesthetics, cost, and many of the points James has made at length, there is an important practical factor that greatly favors collecting raw: viewing and reviewing one’s collection.
.

I probably have a smaller collection than most, but it’s definitely possible to enjoy slabbed cards.

[ASF123]

Wow! Is that to keep you motivated on the treadmill?

“Strange…those beautiful Mays cards don’t seem to be getting any closer. Maybe if I walk faster…”

[raulus]

Originally Posted by ASF123

Wow! Is that to keep you motivated on the treadmill?

“Strange…those beautiful Mays cards don’t seem to be getting any closer. Maybe if I walk faster…”

Not quite the same, but I do find that I need something to distract me from the monotony of the treadmill. Between the cardboard and a 75 in big screen, I can usually stay distracted.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by raulus

I probably have a smaller collection than most, but it’s definitely possible to enjoy slabbed cards.

Are those Canadian Post Cereal panels above the door? If so, which ones?

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Are those Canadian Post Cereal panels above the door? If so, which ones?

The middle one is Canadian. The rest aren’t foreign but were made right here in the good old US of A.

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by raulus

I probably have a smaller collection than most, but it’s definitely possible to enjoy slabbed cards.

All I see happening is this. Simply substitute your Willie Mays collectibles for the weights...

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by raulus

I probably have a smaller collection than most, but it’s definitely possible to enjoy slabbed cards.

That's a very aesthetically pleasing display. What lighting and/or specialized glass do you use to prevent (or at least minimize) fading?

I've contemplated displaying some cards in my home office. I don't want to damage them by doing this, though. The room has one small window and there's a curtain, so direct sunlight wouldn't be an issue. However, the overhead light is on for roughly half the day.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Eric72

That's a very aesthetically pleasing display. What lighting and/or specialized glass do you use to prevent (or at least minimize) fading?

I've contemplated displaying some cards in my home office. I don't want to damage them by doing this, though. The room has one small window and there's a curtain, so direct sunlight wouldn't be an issue. However, the overhead light is on for roughly half the day.

A few things:

I live in Oregon, just outside of Portland, where the sun doesn’t shine for most of the year.

The way this room and the windows are oriented relative to the direction the sun rises and sets, the direct sunlight can’t actually reach the cases.

This room doesn’t get a lot of use, so the overhead lights are not on much. Maybe 1 hour per day on average. I also use LEDs, which I hear are less damaging that way.

The windows all have shades, and I almost always have them closed.

I added UV blocking film to all of the windows in the room.

I added UV blocking film to the display case windows.

I actually added UV blocking film to the larger slabs that are outside of the cases. I guess I won’t be able to sell them on eBay now, as the AG program would probably reject them, but maybe I can disclose that they have film on them, and they’ll be okay.

I installed foam board coverings on each case to block the light. So every time I go for a workout, I spend 30 seconds to uncover them all, and then cover them back up when I’m done.

I figure between all of these methods, I should probably be pretty okay.