The 1932 sanella margarine Ruth...

[yanksfan09]

It's kind of similar to what happened to the Tiger Woods Sports Illustrated for Kids "Rookie' card.

Early on it was his only real card from 1996 and was seen as being very scarce as many had been thrown out or wrecked by kids.

The value skyrocketed with a couple going for tens of thousands for high graded cards. Then slowly more and more found there way into the market as people heard of its "value" and people searched their piles of old magazines, which were previously looked at as worthless.

Then the value really dropped and is still very low compared to what it once was. I don't follow the sales prices that close, but I would think a slow gradual increase in price for that card could happen too as it still is a fairly scarce card of maybe the best golfer ever.

[Matthew H]

I think the fact that most of them are in mint condition also affects the value.

[brianp-beme]

Larger than normal card size
Plentiful supply
Low Demand
Not from a baseball-centric set
Not made in North America
Most found in top condition

The recipe for low prices...but it is Babe Ruth and an attractive image. So appreciate the fact that you can get it so cheaply, and enjoy the card for what it is, and not worry about its value.

Brian

[HRBAKER]

17 listed on ebay right now, avg. grade = 6.2
No perceived rarity or condition rarity, plentiful supply

Nice card but IMO not going anywhere value-wise anytime soon
If prices were to spike again, how many more would come out of the woodwork?

Look at the good side, you don't have to pay an arm/leg to get a legitimate prewar Ruth card

[ullmandds]

I used to own 1...I bought a complete sanella set from germany...and if you've held one in your hands...calling it a card is a stretch! They are paper thin and I believe were meant to be wet and stuck in an album almost like a stamp. Also they kinda look like watercolors...kinda wierd cartoony which I don't really like.

I know some, astra and certain back types, are considered scarce...but personally I don't like this "card" very much and it is very common and I agree that it will most likely never have value approaching most ruth cards.

For some reason I group this sanella with the shonen postcard...which I do still own...but I prefer the shonen for its colors and image. They're both seemingly common and inexpensive...and period...and from other countries!

[glchen]

I think much of it as what Brian has mentioned. Also, the image is not unique or particularly noteworthy. You can't really see Babe's face. The Goudey's are very popular and expensive because they are part of a very popular set (e.g. one of the Big "3" with T206 and 52 Topps). Therefore, if you're a set collector, you need these cards also. You only collect the Sanella's if you want a Ruth, but there are plenty of others with better images and that are rarer. Sanellas are still a good option if you want a nice affordable Ruth that you can get in good condition.

[mintacular]

There is a doode in Germany who owns a bucket load of these bad boys

[bcookie]

i can say that they are easy to find... i went to eBay Germany and picked up 4 complete books for under $250.. and that was only 3 months ago.

[GasHouseGang]

All I can say is they must eat a ton of margarine in Germany! If these were distributed one card per margarine purchase you wouldn't think there would be that many complete sets. Maybe you could send in for the entire set from the company and get the album to put them in.

[ullmandds]

I'd guess they were issued as complete sets with the book they were pasted into...

[aro13]

In VCBC issue #9 Dennis Purdy wrote about Alan Hager and in that article was mention of the Sanella Ruth card. Great article. The market was manipulated by Hager to believe there were very few Sanella cards available, even though there was plenty. Once the truth came out, prices really really dropped.