1866 Baseball Cards

Kudbegud · #1 05-15-2011, 06:10 PM

Thanks Joe

oldjudge · #2 05-15-2011, 06:22 PM

Wonderful group. I concur with some of the prior comments that, unless the museum guarantees that the CdVs will be displayed, I would sell them and possibly make a donation to the museum. I would think that if you consigned these to a major action house (REA, Goodwin, Legendary) that you would do quite a bit better than $4000.

Jay

slidekellyslide · #3 05-15-2011, 06:37 PM

That cdv of the trophy balls is awesome! Thanks for sharing these...I agree with everyone in this thread that they should not be donated. Museums sell stuff all the time. Sell them to someone who will keep them together.

prewarsports · #4 05-15-2011, 06:38 PM

I really love those images. I have owned/sold several CDV's and those are some of the best I have seen and the fact that each player is identified is a HUGE plus. I also think the photo with the Trophy Balls is fantastic. It is hard to place a value on something like that, but I agree with Jay and think these would probably do VERY well at a major auction as a group with the history behind it. Cool stuff and thanks for sharing.

Rhys

Kudbegud · #5 05-15-2011, 07:16 PM

oldjudge:
I'm getting it. Rather than an Auction House, which I know nothing about, what do you think about the Buy-Sell-Trade forum here?

slidekellyslide:
Your right, they sell off stuff all the time for more acquisitions and opperating expenses.

Rhys:
Yeah, but which one? And how or who would determine if these were important or major? My head is spinning! I'm going to photograph the back of the rest and post them on Photobucket.

ChiefBenderForever:
I know a collector would appreciate them more. The great unwashed public would remain unaware of the history or that these cards even existed unless they stumbled in to the museum and saw them, if they were displayed for any length of time if at all.

kllrbee:
The Rock Island Line from the Johnny Cash song!! Roll RIL Rocket!! What were you thinking? The Baseball Hall Of Fame maybe? I can't think of any bigger.

egbeachley · #6 05-15-2011, 07:22 PM

I guess I will add to the chorus....if a museum gets them, nobody will ever enjoy them.

Kudbegud · #7 05-15-2011, 07:33 PM

autograf:
Yeah, it looks unanimous. But now, which way to go? Auction House? B-S-T? Private offer sale? Sheesh! I came in with what I thought was a simple plan and it looks like a bad plan

Kawika:
Aloha! Another great idea. I am so impressed by the knowledge, helpfulness and expertise of this forum. I have to thank forum member Whitehse for suggesting I post here after I posted on the Collectors Universe forum.
"Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono." This forum is also perpetuated in righteousness, isn't it.

Kudbegud · #8 05-15-2011, 07:37 PM

egbeachley:
Welcome to the majority opinion. It's gotta be right, right?

barrysloate · #9 05-15-2011, 07:42 PM

You can put them on BST, and it's free, but you have to be comfortable pricing them. Or you can auction them on this site too. While not every collector will see them enough already have that you won't have to be too concerned about leaving money on the table. Since you've had them since the 1960's, I wouldn't be too hasty with your decision.

slidekellyslide · #10 05-15-2011, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kudbegud

And how or who would determine if these were important or major? My head is spinning! I'm going to photograph the back of the rest and post them on Photobucket.

Kudbe, these ARE important and major.

ChiefBenderForever · #11 05-15-2011, 08:06 PM

You have a lot of options to sell, you could take offers and see what you get. Also any auction house would love to get these. Leon and Scott have a auction coming up sometime soon and I'm sure they would love to highlight these in their auction and you wouldn't have any worries at all going that route. I would think the best thing to do is keep them all in a group so whoever gets them can keep them together since they are such a historical piece of Americana history to our national pastime.

19cbb · #12 05-15-2011, 08:11 PM

Beautiful cartes!
Thanks for sharing...

I would go with an auction house.

Jay Wolt · #13 05-15-2011, 08:19 PM

Kudbegud instead of donating them, why not just keep them?
They are fantastic momentos from your grandfather and you & your family & friends
can enjoy them daily.

bbcard1 · #14 05-15-2011, 08:44 PM

FWIW, I think they are pretty important and could go for a lot of money...it's not in my collecting interest, but for what it's worth:

Very nice copies / enlargements that could be displayed could serve the museum as well as the originals...This could probably be accomplished for less than $100.

If you have even minimal website skills (or wanted to slog your way though a few tutorials), you could do a nice website that would allow your holdings to be shared with everyone who might be interested.

Then you would be liberated to put them with an auction house which would probably yield a good bonus which you could use on something nice for your family. If you have kids or grandkids, I suggest blowing it on a Disney cruise. Did it once with a found 5 grand and never regretted it a bit. Perfect memories may family will have forever.

spec · #15 05-15-2011, 09:45 PM

Kudbegud, you have received a lot of expert and, I believe, well-meaning advice from this board. Overlooked, or at least downplayed, is the historical value of your CDVs, something I gather you grasped at the outset based on your instinct to donate them to the local historical society. These cards are an irreplaceable glimpse at a moment in the history of your family and your region. Whatever you choose to do with the collection, you ought to begin by visiting that historical society to assess their reaction. If they recognize the CDVs' significance, they might offer a variety of options ranging from buying them from you (likely with another donor's contribution), accepting them on loan or donation with strings attached or just photographing or scanning the cards for their permanent collection. That way your ancestor's treasured collection would be available to your community for generations. Further, I would suggest you contact the Society for American Baseball Research to locate a historian (perhaps someone local who could trace the players' backgrounds and eventual fates) who could use this collection as a stepping-off point in researching this team. The CDVs would make an excellent SABR journal article or monograph that would ensure your ancestor's place in baseball history. Baseball historian extraordinaire John Thorn is a frequent visitor to this board and might respond, or you could start by visiting with the SABR website, SABR.org. All of this can be done without surrendering the CDVs. If you do choose to sell the collection on the open market, they undoubtedly will pass into the hands of someone who will treasure them, but they also likely will be as inaccessible to public viewing as if they were in a museum basement.
Bob Richardson, longtime SABR member

Kudbegud · #16 05-15-2011, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

Kudbe, these ARE important and major.

Wow Dan, I knew these were unusual. And that they were earlier than others I've seen mention before. I'm surprised and delighted at the reception they have received. Important and major, amazing!

wonkaticket · #17 05-15-2011, 10:34 PM

Amazing items, if you decide to sell seek a top tier auction house such as REA or any of the other fine auction houses.

To auction off via our BST would be a mistake IMO. While our community is a fun place and there are plenty of wonderful and advanced collectors here too assume that Net54 is reaching even half of the collective collecting community is a bit na�ve.

With an item as such as this I think you will find most auction houses will work with you so that %'s are none or very attractive.

Thanks for sharing and good luck which ever direction you decide to take.

Cheers,

John

oldjudge · #18 05-15-2011, 10:45 PM

Bob-All great points. The ideal outcome is that the historical society appreciates these items for what they are and prominently displays them. For me the second best solution is that they stay in your family. However, if you choose to sell them do not use the BST thread. That involves you guessing what they will sell for and my sense is that you will be way low. The auction process is the only way to let the market determine their value. If you are concerned that you may do worse than the numbers thrown out here in auction be assured that I will bid at least $5000. That being said, follow Bob's advice and go to the historical society first. Good luck!

Jay

Kudbegud · #19 05-15-2011, 11:18 PM

ChiefBenderForever:
Thanks for the suggestion. I will be contacting them for sure. As well as the Historical Society, Hall of Fame and others. I'm going to be busy for a while...not a bad thing.

19cbb:
I just might, thanks.

Jay Wolt:
I don't really have family that might appreciate them. It's just time to do something with them or they could end up the way I wouldn't like, as if I would know.

Old Hoss:
I will be contacting them, if only to donate high quality photos and any research data I have. Who would be around to enforce any restriction I may put on them? I can only hope they stay together as a set.

bbcard1:
I was never after the money. I could always use some more, but I'm OK with out it. I'd rather they are enjoyed by the many instead of the few. So this will play a large part in my decision. Enlargements, that's a good idea I will relay when I contact the museums. I'm posting in Photobucket, anybody can look. That's about all the web building savvy I can muster. Unless your volunteering?

spec
I wrote them down on my list. Its very intriguing to think that a research paper could evolve. Neat! May I reference your name as referring me?

M's_Fan:
Ah, taxes rear their ugly head. I hadn't really considered any thing more than a charitable donation deduction. But I haven't been able to take advantage of itemizing the past couple of years. So, I may not get that but it's not a factor in my decision.

ChiefBenderForever · #20 05-15-2011, 06:39 PM

I would sell them. They won't be appreciated by anyone in the public like they will be by a collector. Also a good chance they will end up stolen or sold anyways and another chance the society will close due to lack of funds and get sold off or again taken by someone in the society/museaum. The American thing to do would be to capitalize on your good fortune and take the cash, no one is going to do you any favors or give a second thought to your act of kindness so take the money and have some fun.

kllrbee · #21 05-15-2011, 06:50 PM

Those are fantastic!

Being from Illinois and a railroader for the last 16 years, I know a little about your area. Not familiar with the museum, but I do know that the area is a signifigant stomping ground for rail nuts.

It wouldnt surprise me if you donated those that the museum would turn around and sell them in order to obtain more railroad memoribilia cuz that is the draw of the area.

Of course, they are yours and you should do what makes you happy, but I personally would not donate to the museum. If you were set on donating, maybe there is somewhere that would be more appropriate for baseball history than the local museum.

Good luck in whatever u decide!!

Kawika · #22 05-15-2011, 07:13 PM

Howzit Kudbegud-
I don't have a strong opinion either way what the RI Hist Society might or might not do with your CDVs. There is the risk they could stick them in the basement or sell them; they also might be delighted to have them and would lament the lost opportunity of community exposure were you to sell them. Why not loan them? Perhaps they could put together a temporary exhibit.

In case you are not aware, your inquiry to this Board was met by some of the hobby's heavy hitters (myself definitely not one of them) so you are getting some very knowledgeable advice. Good luck with whatever you choose to do. Your intent is noble. Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono.

David McDonald
=kawika o ka pakipika=

autograf · #23 05-15-2011, 07:02 PM

Seems like it's a near unanimous stand......high quality photos of the photos would be fine for the museum too......I'm with Jay that I think the value would be north of $5k. I think with the completeness a nice premium would be added. And there are many collectors of such photos. The large auction houses mentioned would do great justice to selling them on your behalf.......fantastic stuff. I like the CDV of the balls the best. It's a much more interesting item.......thanks for sharing them....

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Paying good money for these 1970's Topps Baseball Cards	vintagetoppsguy	1950 to 1959 Baseball cards- B/S/T	1	11-06-2009 04:42 PM
1866 E.S. Sterry & Co. First Known Baseball Cards SGC - $250,000.00	Archive	Net54baseball Sports (Primarily) Vintage Memorabilia Forum incl. Game Used	8	11-30-2008 11:08 PM
1951 and 1952 Bowman Baseball Cards on eBay	Archive	Ebay, Auction and other Venues Announcement- B/S/T	0	10-05-2007 11:11 AM
Are the 1904 WG2 Fan Craze cards considered true Baseball cards?	Archive	Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions	20	06-17-2006 06:57 AM
Suitcase Full...OLD baseball cards	Archive	Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions	10	12-04-2004 01:15 PM