One that got away

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Posted By: Joe P.

jackgoodman:
"One that got away

There was a comment in another thread about someone picking up several hundred T206s at one time and that made me recall a time in 1987 when I was set up as a dealer at one of Bob Lee's local shows in Northern California.

An older lady came in with a box of about 200 T206's in probably ex/ex+ condition (based on a quick thumb thru). I think T206 commons were in the guide at about $12-15 each. I asked her how much she wanted and she said $12 per card.

With all of my "rightful" dealer indignation I said "you can't expect me to pay 100% of book!!!!!" She walked away.
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You've got the right year, right location, and it was a Bob Lee's show.
I may have written about this some time back.
It was during the time that I was working on the most loved by every T206 card collector set.
I flew out to that show from NYC. (I worked for United Airlines)
I liked multi hundreds tables shows, and Lee had them.
It was a case of flying out for the first day of the show, and possibly flying out that night to another city, or flying back home.
I was standing at a dealers table from Indiana (I wont mention his name.)looking at some T201's that I was interested in.
From the corner of my eye I noticed a young couple come to the table and start talking with the dealer.
I went on with my business, but I did notice that the couple had an old Hershey's cardboard chocolate box, from it I could see that the dealer was looking at some damn nice looking T206's.
They were talking, and the dealer writes something on one of his blue business flyers and the couple walks away.
Being that it was non of my business, I went on with my business.
Later on, as I was giving the show my last run through, I spot the young couple in front of me.
I politely introduced myself, and asked them if they still had the box of cards.
I was elated to hear that they did.
I asked them how much were they looking for.
They produced the dealers blue flyer with a number written on it.
The dealer had advised them to go around the show and if they still had them, to come back and they would talk.
Let me just say that the dealer and the seller were just $500.00 apart, and that the asking price was damn reasonable even for 1987.
At that point I suggested that we should go to the cafeteria.
We sat while I briefly looked at a sampling.
He also had a Beckett Guide with all the cards checked off that were in the box.
There were a little over 800 T cards.
A good representation of T206's - T205's and some other T's.
They were a charming couple in the process of getting married.
Agreeing to the price was not a problem.
They were happy.
I was happy, and the Hershey's chocolate box with the blue business flyer, had a new home.
Believe it, or not.
As I was exiting the show, I bumped into them again, and this time they had the parents of one of them with them. ... I greeted them, and they were also happy.
I had to get to the airport, and you can bet your last dollar, ... it was going to be homeward bound.
Couldn't wait to see what was in the rest of that box.
I'm happy to say that it was one that didn't get away.