Grading cards--setting the value

[Archive]

Posted By: David Smith

But Mr. Piccuito, what about this situation; I have 16 Star Player Candy cards from 1928 which I want to get graded. This represents 22% of the set. Three of the cards are Hall of Famers (Sewell, Speaker, Traynor) and one is unique and wasn't known until I came to this board and showed a scan of it (Buddy Myer). I paid $3 to $5 dollars a piece for these a little over 10 years ago.

Right now, they are in hard plastic top loaders in the safety deposit box. I would like to get them graded so they are protected better but also because if something were to happen to me, my Mother and Nephew (I am Single with no kids) would know what these are and it would be easier for them to sell if they had to.

Of the players I own, I have only seen the Speaker offered for sale. They wanted $900 for it and it was in VG'ish condition. The SCD big book said that card in VG was valued at $600. I have a $1,000 dollar standing offer for one of the commons from the set because a person collects this player and does not have a Star Player Candy card of him.

A couple of years ago, a Jesse Haines card sold on eBay for a little over $400 dollars. More recently, a George Kelly card graded PSA 3 sold on eBay for $869.99. Then there was an SGC 20 Hack Wilson which just sold in the last Mastro Auction for $763 (not including the juice). Three Hall of Fame players selling for more than book price. Then there is the Myer card.

One collector supposedly has 71 of the 73 cards in the set but does not have Myer (obviously since it is, so far, a unique card). What would he or some other person pay for it?? The Big Book lists it as a common but is it really a common??

I have puzzled over what to do about this situation for six months just because of the valuation question. If I don't value them high enough and they are lost, stolen or damaged in transit, then I wont get enough money back to replace them (I know, good luck trying). Then again, if I value them too high, then the cost of grading goes up.

Unlike most on this board, I do not have a lot of money (at least right now) and these cards are some of the centerpieces of my small Pre-War collection.

So, what do I value these cards at?? What I bought them for ($3 to $5 dollars each)?? SCD Big Book guide value?? Big Book for the commons and Big Book + 1/3 for the HOF'ers?? I don't know. So, they continue to sit in the bank.

David