Vintage collection finds

[Tabe]

Thanks for the stories, guys. I love reading about great finds.

Anybody got more details on the 1952 Topps find? I know Alan Rosen was involved but I've heard wildly varying descriptions of the quantities involved and exactly how they were stored, whether they were unopened, etc.

Tabe

[FUBAR]

Originally Posted by Tabe

Thanks for the stories, guys. I love reading about great finds.

Anybody got more details on the 1952 Topps find? I know Alan Rosen was involved but I've heard wildly varying descriptions of the quantities involved and exactly how they were stored, whether they were unopened, etc.

Tabe

The story i read is they were opened and sorted and it contained 71 Mantle cards..... 40 with good centering and 31 off center. All in pristine condition! and it involved two buyers because the first guy couldn't afford to buy all the cards, but they were bought for a song and a dance , graded and resold for huge profits.

[Matthew H]

Originally Posted by FUBAR

The story i read is they were opened and sorted and it contained 71 Mantle cards..... 40 with good centering and 31 off center. All in pristine condition! and it involved two buyers because the first guy couldn't afford to buy all the cards, but they were bought for a song and a dance , graded and resold for huge profits.

That find was not in packs. He did find a huge sum of unopened material from the 50's but I think that stuff was sold unopened.

Here he speaks openly of highway robbery:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjckQ...eature=related

[tbob]

I've never seen such unanimity in the comments under a You Tube Video, ever. Everyone who commented hates him and thinks he is a sleaze.

[FUBAR]

Originally Posted by Matthew H

That find was not in packs. He did find a huge sum of unopened material from the 50's but I think that stuff was sold unopened.

Here he speaks openly of highway robbery:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjckQ...eature=related

I meant they were opened by the owner before they were bought, not the buyer opening them.. two ways to interpret my wording.. .my bad

[Matthew H]

Originally Posted by FUBAR

I meant they were opened by the owner before they were bought, not the buyer opening them.. two ways to interpret my wording.. .my bad

I get it.

He also "found" 500 unopened boxes of Topps and Bowman. I think they were from 1954-55.

Unfortunately there are probably still a handful of people who haven't heard of catalog auctions or the internet and still call the guy.

[FUBAR]

can you imagine buying 90 mint mantles... what does each one got for nowadays 75k?? 100k?

at 100k... that's 9 million $$ plus they other cards.... this had to be a 15 million dollar + find at today's card values.. crazy!

I would feel guilty taking a guy who doesnt know better for one card let alone over 15,000 cards!

[steve B]

What year was the 52 find? I recall hearing about it, but not the year.

Before I get to my thoughts on the find a couple things
First time I've seen Mr Mint in anything other than a suit, I didn't recognise him at first.
Also the first time I've heard him speak where he didn't sound obnoxious.
Quincy? Framingham? Is he a boston guy? I always figured him as a New York City guy.

If it was mid 80's the deal might not have been such a ripoff. One thing to remember is that when large collections turn up there usually aren't that many people who can come up with enough money. He says he borrowed 25K, and still only was in for 10% of the deal. Even assuming he put none of his own cash into it That's 250K someone had to pay and then wait till the cards sold. And that couldn't be done quickly without temporarily lowering the price.

So sure, The stuff was probably worth way more, but how many dealers or collectores could have paid that without having a quick return available.

A