$50,000 investment

[benchod]

My balance is heavily weighted in cards but I am an addict and don't recommend it.[/QUOTE]

agreed. I know the feeling well

[martyogelvie]

I would buy a T206 Cobb/Cobb that you guys been bitching about the past week!

[jb217676]

I would buy 23 PSA 10 Pete Maravich cards!

[mark evans]

I don't see how the past performance of any card, type of card, or set of cards necessarily indicates future performance. I would buy cards I like at fair market value (presumably based upon recent auctions) as a hobby. If their values increase over time, so much the better.

Mark

[jimthorpe]

If I was given $50K to invest, I would not change much in what I am doing now. Except when a good opportunity came around I would pounce on it.

I do agree with several of the collectors who have stated that cards are for collecting not investing. If you truly buy items while looking at it as a total investment, you probably will not last long in the hobby. Copeland comes to mind. If I can remember correctly he amassed his collection within 5 years or so. Prior to the Halper sale that was the biggie as auctions go.

Sets, cards, eras etc all fall in and out of favor with collectors and prices fluctuate accordingly especially with the rare stuff. So buy what you like and don't worry about what is going on around you. When it is all said and done, if you were a good steward with your money you will come out ahead. You might lose on one thing but will do great on another but overall you will come out ahead and have a great ride doing it.

If you are constantly looking at it as an investment, you probably have too much money tied up in your hobby.

[drdduet]

I'd buy silver bullion.

[ChiefBenderForever]

If strictly for an investment you would have to be insane to invest in cards. To pick a sure winner is impossible, you might as well go bet 25g's on red and cross your fingers. I don't see any huge spikes coming anytime soon, except for the occaisional surprise here and there. If buying off ebay or auction house you are already paying a premium so to make significant gains is not likely. Take the Gretzky cards you are talking about selling, unless you got them for a steal and had them graded yourself you will be lucky to break even, if you wait they could go up or they could continue to slide. Jordan RC's are low but could keep sliding as well. The Mantle Bowman RC's are nice but no promise they will climb in price at all, many buyers are just retired who grew up watching him and paying good money but as they fade so could his prices. It's just a hobby with fringe benifits of having value, but anything more than that and you could be asking for a major letdown and serious cash loss.

[Leon]

To all,
This question, as written, was about INVESTING 50k in the hobby. It was not IF it should be invested. The "if" part is certainly debatable but that wasn't the question.

My answer stands as it is from above......I think a small portion of any portfolio could be in antiquities and "the right" cards are as good any. Just my opinion...

[Robextend]

I think it is pretty tough to predict what might gain value in the future. I would most likely invest in "sure things".

IMO there will always be a market for:

-Mickey Mantle 52 Topps, and high grade Mantle issues
-Presentable T206 Cards
-Any good example of a historic figure (Goudey Ruth, E90-1 Jackson, etc..)

I think there is a good bet that those cards would at least not decrease, and most likely increase in value...but who the heck knows!

[mark evans]

I would amend my above response to note that if an investor could accurately predict the future Hall of Fame induction of an old-timer who appears on only a handful of cards, those could offer a fertile ground for collection. The one card I own that has increased substantially in value is the Dreyfuss Tip-Top for that very reason.

[tbob]

Originally Posted by Leon

To all,
This question, as written, was about INVESTING 50k in the hobby. It was not IF it should be invested. The "if" part is certainly debatable but that wasn't the question.

My answer stands as it is from above......I think a small portion of any portfolio could be in antiquities and "the right" cards are as good any. Just my opinion...

Leon, you beat me to the punch. The question was which cards would you buy, not should you buy cards. Obviously I agree with the poster who echoed my feelings, that if the cards became worthless tomorrow would you still love 'em? I would. If I had a $50,000 windfall today, though, I would be buying gold mining stock.