major auction houses a lesson to be learned

[Orioles1954]

As a collector and a writer in the industry, I get ALL of the auction catalogs. I will keep personal opinions to myself on this one, but when I see a description longer than a couple of paragraphs I will automatically skip over it.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by Orioles1954

As a collector and a writer in the industry, I get ALL of the auction catalogs. I will keep personal opinions to myself on this one, but when I see a description longer than a couple of paragraphs I will automatically skip over it.

I skip over all auction descriptions unless it is something I'm interested in or bidding on. I really don't mind the descriptions at all...I can get past the flowery BS to find the facts. Usually though I am only interested in memorabilia and often times there is a story behind it that needs to be told....when it comes to cards just describe the condition, the issue and move along...I really don't need a Honus Wagner biography with every card depicting him offered.

[Orioles1954]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

I skip over all auction descriptions unless it is something I'm interested in or bidding on. I really don't mind the descriptions at all...I can get past the flowery BS to find the facts. Usually though I am only interested in memorabilia and often times there is a story behind it that needs to be told....when it comes to cards just describe the condition, the issue and move along...I really don't need a Honus Wagner biography with every card depicting him offered.

That is 100% how we feel.

[barrysloate]

Jeff- my favorite real estate quote is "this property is waiting for your loving touch."

That usually means the foundation is cracked and not all the walls are present.

[barrysloate]

I'm with Leon on the term "pop report." Cataloguers who depend on the population report have no feel for the cards they are selling, and the pop reports can be and often are so misleading. My favorites are "one of only eight graded at this level, with only six higher." Those make me laugh.

[Orioles1954]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

I'm with Leon on the term "pop report." Cataloguers who depend on the population report have no feel for the cards they are selling, and the pop reports can be and often are so misleading. My favorites are "one of only eight graded at this level, with only six higher." Those make me laugh.

Not much you can say about a 1963 Topps Jim Coates PSA 10....other than give his life story?

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

I skip over all auction descriptions unless it is something I'm interested in or bidding on.

Comeon, Dan, are you telling me that some nice flowery language describing the 1962 Topps Homerun Kings card in PSA 8 wouldn't get you to bid 30x more than what the card sold for the previous (and subsequent) 21 times?

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by calvindog

Comeon, Dan, are you telling me that some nice flowery language describing the 1962 Topps Homerun Kings card in PSA 8 wouldn't get you to bid 30x more than what the card sold for the previous (and subsequent) 21 times?

That's exactly why I don't read them...I'm afraid I'll be hypnotized into spending 30x more than the card is worth.

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

That's exactly why I don't read them...I'm afraid I'll be hypnotized into spending 30x more than the card is worth.

Kind of like staring into the sun but instead of going blind your pockets go empty.

[Peter_Spaeth]

You guys suggesting this might have been over the top? NOT.

In the year of the '34 Goudey issue, Dizzy Dean led his "Gashouse Gang" of rough and tough (and dirty) Cardinals to a World Series victory over the Detroit Tigers. Despite a probable concussion suffered in Game 4, he returned to pitch in Games 5 and 7, buoying the hopes of untold fans in all parts of the depression-ravaged country. For his efforts that season (30-7 with a 2.66 ERA), Dean won the MVP award in addition to his World Series ring, hence the popularity of the offered 1934 Goudey card, but the effect he had on fans was infinitely more significant than we could ever imagine today. At the time, the St. Louis club was the southernmost and westernmost club in the major leagues and quickly attracted the adoration of fans from across the plains and down both seaboards. In the midst of the Great Depression, untold numbers of fans identified with the spirit of the team. They weren't always the best, but they hustled and they worked hard; they persevered through the tough times, took pay cuts, and rarely washed their uniforms. They were the antithesis of the slick and rich NY Giants. They were "America's Team," and Diz' their ice-cool ace. His swagger and bravado was second to none. "It ain't braggin' if ya can back it up" was one of his favorite lines, and boy did he mean it... Like the time he bet he could strike out Vince DiMaggio four times in one game. After three strike-outs, DiMaggio hit a pop foul to the catcher, who let it drop on orders from Dean, who gassed the next pitch past an embarrassed DiMaggio and won the bet. Such stories about the famous "Gashouse Gang" abound in MLB lore, but as the generations pass, so, too, does our collective appreciation for players like Dizzy Dean. Of course, a strong bid on the offered Goudey Gum card relic from Dean's MVP season can help to revitalize that appreciation, but don't base your decision strictly on sentimentality. The offered 1934 Goudey example of Dizzy Dean is among the finest we've ever offered. MINT corners at all points but the marginally NM/MT bottom right join sensationally MINT or better edges around a strong MINT obverse with no prominent print imperfections whatsoever to merit just the fourth grade of NM/MT 8 by SGC from 75 submissions. Truly stunning!

[Kehfee]

Have to admit the post war sets I work on saw some insane prices in this auction. Good for the consignors I suppose.

[Leon]

As an auctioneer I like the long drawn out descriptions- not. I mean does it really take 3 paragraphs to describe a T206 Red Cobby in vg condition?

The auctions I like most are the ones that give big, clear, front and back scans of cards. Most of us, especially on this board, have a darn good idea of what we are looking at most of the times. And every time I hear the term "pop report" I just cringe. But I am not a pop report kind of collector (not that there is anything wrong with that, all collectors are good in my book).....I would rather hear how many are truly known about in existence. That number, such as an example (this might not be accurate but is for example only) of a PSA 7 Red Cobb.....maybe it has a pop of 8, or something. That is wonderful. The known population is probably 350 but only 8 have been graded a 7. And some of these might not even be trimmed.....

Memorabilia is another story and a nice description is needed for provenance, dating etc.....

[Orioles1954]

Originally Posted by Leon

As an auctioneer I like the long drawn out descriptions- not. I mean does it really take 3 paragraphs to describe a T206 Red Cobby in vg condition?

The auctions I like most are the ones that give big, clear, front and back scans of cards. Most of us, especially on this board, have a darn good idea of what we are looking at most of the times. And every time I hear the term "pop report" I just cringe. But I am not a pop report kind of collector (not that there is anything wrong with that, all collectors are good in my book).....I would rather hear how many are truly known about in existence. That number, such as an example (this might not be accurate but is for example only) of a PSA 7 Red Cobb.....maybe it has a pop of 8, or something. That is wonderful. The known population is probably 350 but only 8 have been graded a 7. And some of these might not even be trimmed.....

Memorabilia is another story and a nice description is needed for provenance, dating etc.....

With type cards I tend to give pop reports as it often paints a picture, and bidders usually appreciate that kind of information. It's a somewhat tangible tidbit of information for certain lots. As far as needlessly long descriptions with flowery language, I envision a kid just out of college who is trying to regurgitate everything they googled in order to fulfill a word count. Not impressive.