What is the current state of prices??

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by frankrizzo29

are prices stabilizing now, are they heating up again, or are they still falling?

Yes.

There are so many factors at work and so many facets of collecting that it is futile to try and generalize. Signed vintage, for example, is doing really well; mainstream lower grade not so much. PSA 10 1986 Jordan, really, really not so much.

[ullmandds]

based on REA results last night I'd say 1921 ruth exhibits are def down!

[oldjudge]

The 1921 Ruth exhibit is his most common exhibit by far. Secondly, REA having three very similar copies in the same auction certainly doesn’t help the realizations.
I think Old Judges did fairly solidly in REA. The Behel, truly a scarce card, went cheap, but otherwise there were some impressive/head scratching realizations.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

The 1921 Ruth exhibit is his most common exhibit by far. Secondly, REA having three very similar copies in the same auction certainly doesn’t help the realizations.
I think Old Judges did fairly solidly in REA. The Behel, truly a scarce card, went cheap, but otherwise there were some impressive/head scratching realizations.

i would not have been happy had i consigned a 21 exhibit ruth to rea!

[oldjudge]

At one time auction houses would not run more than one copy of a card. Those days are long gone. Also, it’s possible that Ruth exhibits are weakening. The 1922 in LOTG’s last auction didn’t do particularly well either.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

At one time auction houses would not run more than one copy of a card. Those days are long gone. Also, it’s possible that Ruth exhibits are weakening. The 1922 in LOTG’s last auction didn’t do particularly well either.

I remember seeing a nice one for the first time at the National a few years ago. Is really a very stunning card in hand.

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

i would not have been happy had i consigned a 21 exhibit ruth to rea!

REA used to have an unwritten policy not to replicate like that in the not so distant past. I hope they are at least disclosing to consignors, at some point, that there will be similar cards in the auction. I understand from their perspective to take everything they can because if they don't they essentially hand the consignment over to a competitor. I would have to think having 3 of any card favors the buyers and not the sellers.

[puckpaul]

Better than 8 red Cobbs I guess…?

[oldjudge]

I think REA was the first to break that policy when they auctioned off the five (?) Cobbs with Cobb backs in the same sale. REA is still a great auction but in my mind it is not like it used to be. Years ago I was excited to get the catalog because of all the rarities it would contain, real rarities not condition scarcities. Now my reaction is to do some stretching so I don’t pull a muscle trying to lift the catalog off my doorstep. LOL, age could have something to do with that too.

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

I think REA was the first to break that policy when they auctioned off the five (?) Cobbs with Cobb backs in the same sale. REA is still a great auction but in my mind it is not like it used to be. Years ago I was excited to get the catalog because of all the rarities it would contain, real rarities not condition scarcities. Now my reaction is to do some stretching so I don’t pull a muscle trying to lift the catalog off my doorstep. LOL, age could have something to do with that too.

REA has a lot more competition than they used to have which might explain the lack or true rarities and as I posted above, I can see it both ways on the heavy replication of material.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

age could have something to do with that too.

"You're only as old as the woman you feel"--Groucho

[anchorednw]

Originally Posted by Lorewalker

REA used to have an unwritten policy not to replicate like that in the not so distant past. I hope they are at least disclosing to consignors, at some point, that there will be similar cards in the auction. I understand from their perspective to take everything they can because if they don't they essentially hand the consignment over to a competitor. I would have to think having 3 of any card favors the buyers and not the sellers.

The short answer to this is no, they do not disclose when other copies of same card being auctioned. One major reason I would be very leery of ever consigning anything to REA, unless a true rare or scarce piece. They simply will not disclose and will load an auction with same cards all the time now.

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by anchorednw

The short answer to this is no, they do not disclose when other copies of same card being auctioned. One major reason I would be very leery of ever consigning anything to REA, unless a true rare or scarce piece. They simply will not disclose and will load an auction with same cards all the time now.

Wow that is disappointing. Sounds like you have had a first hand experience with that and duly noted. Appreciate your sharing. So might many other people who read this.

[MVSNYC]

T206 rare backs are (still) very strong. Was watching/bidding on dozens of rare backs and got blown out on almost everything...An extreme example, but the Cobb Bat Off Cycle 460 went for $76,000! That's incredible. Many of of the common Uzits went in the 4-5k range, and depending on grades/pops, even higher.

[marcmandel]

I have seen AH sales with multiple examples of same or similar cards for years and generally I think the answer to the question of whether this is a good practice depends on where your card stands relative to the other listings. Much like a home sale of real estate, if you're not the high-priced "comp" then you stand to improve your position if the high-priced examples scores and does well in the sale. You know, a high tide raises all boats.

If you're the high priced guy on the other hand, the lower priced examples could impose a little financial gravitational pull on your gains and lower your upside in the deal.

In general, statistically, all markets tend to seek out a natural middlepoint. Some down from the top, others up from the bottom.

[RhodeyRhode]

Originally Posted by anchorednw

The short answer to this is no, they do not disclose when other copies of same card being auctioned. One major reason I would be very leery of ever consigning anything to REA, unless a true rare or scarce piece. They simply will not disclose and will load an auction with same cards all the time now.

This has happened to me twice for cards in the 5k-20k range. For me, I would not consign with them again. I know others like tea a lot but it was horrible communication and then held the cards skipping multiple auctions only to put them in a group with 3-4 others of the same.