Worst REA ever

[slidekellyslide]

Barry, do you think it has anything to do with consignors switching from Mastro/Legendary to REA? Also it's much easier to photograph, describe, store and ship cards than it is memorabilia.

[mjkm90]

I doubt Rob would turn down quality memorabilia for a once a year auction. The shipping charges are covered by the buyers. I'll bet he simply didn't receive many offers from memorabilia collectors to consign.

[slidekellyslide]

I know for a fact he turned down at least a couple of items...it could be that memorabilia is far more unpredictable in value and he got a lot of cards offered early which allowed him to turn some of the memorabilia down. As disappointed as you are with this auction, the card guys are drooling.

[Orioles1954]

He turned down my 1956 Brooks Robinson San Antonio Missions gamer.

[barrysloate]

Dan- there is one consignor who contributed much of the great 19th century memorabilia who is no longer consigning. Plus, a lot of what you get is hit or miss.

[barrysloate]

And by the way, this auction has a fine selection of rare books, a terrific scorecard collection, many nice color prints, and some good photography. I think it's very well balanced. It all depends on what you collect.

[slidekellyslide]

Plus it has the Merkle game ball. I didn't immediately think it was a bad memorabilia auction, but from Mike's perspective as a Pennant, and figural guy there's nothing in there that is particularly outstanding.

Originally Posted by mjkm90

I doubt Rob would turn down quality memorabilia for a once a year auction. The shipping charges are covered by the buyers. I'll bet he simply didn't receive many offers from memorabilia collectors to consign.

I was told they were not interested in my 1951 Kansas City Blues book with the pre rookie mantle sig and several other HOF'ers. All of which played for KC prior to the Yankees and was signed while in the minors. Also 8 Negro leaguers in the back from a later date and had a JSA cert for all sigs.

[GrayGhost]

Well Ive seen your Mantle book on here a few times, and I think its great. I guess they couldnt take everything, and as many have said, is heavy on cards. Ive seen some nice non card stuff scanning the online catalog so far.

[perezfan]

I think they have some nice memorabilia offerings this time around... some bordering on incredible (i.e. the Babe Ruth Fro Joy piece and the set of D&M Ad Signs). There is some great early equipment too (Bats and game-used Jerseys) albeit not as much as they have had in the past.

I think we got a false sense of what was really out there, based on the REA auctions of 3 - 5 years ago. Their "major consignor" is no longer consigning, and collectors are now holding on to their prized pieces (Rob Lifson's words to me). Memorabilia collectors are much less likely to flip their sacred one of a kind possessions than card colletors (who know they will again see numerous other examples).

When I spoke with Rob about 4 months ago, he said he was actively seeking quality memorabilia, and also made an incredibly generous offer for some nice consigments (the type that Mike was referring to in the original post). I just think REA is at the whim of the consignors, and what is currently available. There was no conscious decision to shun the memorabilia side... it's simply supply and demand.

[CarltonHendricks]

This is just a quick post that I just today got the REA catalog and I think it's pretty good over all for the display intensive stuff ...there's a lack of figurals but the quality of display pieces there is very good and there's a fair amount of it. I'm a little surprised Rob didn't break down some doors to acquire at least a few good figural items since he has an entire year. Nevertheless I think it's a pretty good auction. True, not his best but still good...there were more than a couple items that raised my eyebrows. My initial perception was about like Mike's who started this thread...but as I've often found to be the case...reviewing the hard copy catalog is much easier to find "your stuff" than doing it on line...using the search feature and squinting thru the results.

[perezfan]

Regarding "breaking down some doors to acquire a few good figural items"...

I can assure you there were some very attractive offers made. I just think the available supply is extremely short right now, as stated earlier. If REA could run two auctions a year instead of one, it would help. I know there are potential consignors who don't want to wait that long to be compensated for their consignments (despite the higher prices realized).

That said, it amazes me that only 2 Pennants made the auction this year... both being Red Sox. In past years, they have had as many as 20 - 25. I collect items similar to Mike H (who started this thread) and am actually kind of releived that I can now do a few home repairs, and more comfortably pay my property taxes this year!