How Important Is Provenance To You?

[kkkkandp]

There might be a certain novelty to being able to say that a hobby pioneer owned the cards before me (I have a couple of Old Judges with Buck Barker's chicken-scratch notes on the back), but that can work to the detriment of the value of the card as well (for those people who care about those things). In addition to writing on the card it was not uncommon for some of those guys to trim them to fit into "standard" holders, so the purists of today might even shun those items.

[birdman42]

To me, provenance is like curb appeal on a card. It might not make me want to pay any more for the item, but it might lead me to choose the one with provenance over one without. (Assuming that there's more than one of the item to begin with.)

If you're talking about a "name" collection, such as Carter or Barker, then the provenance will stick with the item. But, to use the Johnnyharmonica example, the provenance can disappear pretty quickly. What's Toby's buyer of those '34 Goudeys going to say? I bought this from a guy who bought it from a guy who bought it from a guy... Right.

When I was in the coin business in the early '80s, Bowers & Ruddy brought the Garrett collection to market. There was a huge to-do, including a pair of books using the collection to trace the history of US coins. There have been many other named collections of either coins or stamps. While much gets made of the high dollar value realized at auction, lots of that value comes from what it is, and not very much comes from the provenance.

Yes, I know our Howe McCormick collector is willing to pay a little extra to get those cards. And, as some others have said, provenance might give you a little comfort when it comes to authenticity--for which you may be willing to pay a premium. Still, in the end, provenance is a good conversation starter, but you can't really take it to the bank.

Bill

[drc]

For many non-card items, provenance is very important. For example, if a game used jersey has documented provenance it came from the team, that helps prove authenticity and raises the price.

[barrysloate]

I viewed the Garrett Collection in person and held one of the Brasher Dubloons...and I have a first edition of David Bowers book about the collection.

[ullmandds]

Provenance with most mainstream cards is slightly appealing to me. As a historian...I love to research things...and owning cards once owned/collected by the founding fathers of this great hobby certainly has appeal to me. Similarly...I love seeing and holding cards that are fresh to the hobby. With autographs this is of paramount importance...but I don't pay for autographs!

I may pay a premium for cards slabbed w/Buck Barker or others' names...certainly not Mr. X though! I much prefer raw cards to slabs anyway...and without the slab...the provenance disappears!

[Orioles1954]

Anyone is invited to view the illustrious "Feagin" collection anytime they're in Central Maryland. Will only take 2-3 minutes of your time

[HRBAKER]

Nice to have a card that is associated with a hobby pioneer, but like a few others stated who owned a card before means nothing to me.

........and James, I am proud to own a few former members of "The Feagin Collection."