Autographed vintage rookie cards?

[bk400]

Some observations and questions:

1) It seems that autographed vintage HOF rookie cards have become more accepted by the hobby. I recall when I was a kid, the experienced dealers would tell me that getting rookie cards autographed was a massive no-no. So even though certain vintage HOF players were prolific autograph signers -- Brooks Robinson, Stan Musial, Bob Feller, Babe Ruth - all come to mind, it seems like the supply of autographed vintage rookies is still relatively rare.

2) A graded vintage star's rookie card with a graded autograph seems to be valued at 3-5x that of an equivalent, non-auto version. It depends on the specifics, of course, but I think that premium generally holds for say, Hall of Famers from the 1950s. It's probably even more for autographed cards from earlier vintages.

3) So using rough guides, this means that a 1954 Hank Aaron PSA 3 Auto 10 sells for roughly the same amount as a 1954 Hank Aaron PSA 6 or possibly a 7. Does this make sense?

4) Do you think this is a lasting trend? Is the old school thinking about autographs being a form of defacement on a rookie card dying out as old school collectors ride off into the sunset?

[Belfast1933]

I’ve noticed this trend too… and it’s killing me slowly because I kind of like it! Trying to keep my focus and budget discipline and this doesn’t help.

As a HOF collector (one for each player, playing day issue) I find it cool to have the auto, especially for the newer HOFers like Ichiro - makes adding the newer, shiny cards a bit more interesting to me.

I don’t see myself spending up for big guys like Aaron, etc… but a Fisk, Blyleven, Simmons signature on a great looking card is a fun change of pace for me/my collection.

[Johnny630]

I think it's the new thing to Hype/Pump Up...now in my view is to sell not to buy prices are to inflated.

Also I believe a lot depends on the placement and quality of the autograph. Such as horizontal vs up and down sigs or ball point vs sharpie along with skipping or uneven streaks all this place a factor just like centering on vintage non signed cards...Idk it's wild.

[OhioLawyerF5]

I also grew up when it was taboo. But I personally don't think it's going away. The taboo is gone forever.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

I think it's the new thing to Hype/Pump Up...now in my view is to sell not to buy prices are to inflated.

Also I believe a lot depends on the placement and quality of the autograph. Such as horizontal vs up and down sigs or ball point vs sharpie along with skipping or uneven streaks all this place a factor just like centering on vintage non signed cards...Idk it's wild.

It is a boom for the forgers.

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by bk400

Some observations and questions:

1) It seems that autographed vintage HOF rookie cards have become more accepted by the hobby. I recall when I was a kid, the experienced dealers would tell me that getting rookie cards autographed was a massive no-no. So even though certain vintage HOF players were prolific autograph signers -- Brooks Robinson, Stan Musial, Bob Feller, Babe Ruth - all come to mind, it seems like the supply of autographed vintage rookies is still relatively rare.

2) A graded vintage star's rookie card with a graded autograph seems to be valued at 3-5x that of an equivalent, non-graded version. It depends on the specifics, of course, but I think that premium generally holds for say, Hall of Famers from the 1950s. It's probably even more for autographed cards from earlier vintages.

3) So using rough guides, this means that a 1954 Hank Aaron PSA 3 Auto 10 sells for roughly the same amount as a 1954 Hank Aaron PSA 6 or possibly a 7. Does this make sense?

4) Do you think this is a lasting trend? Is the old school thinking about autographs being a form of defacement on a rookie card dying out as old school collectors ride off into the sunset?

For 3, I don't like making that comparison because autograph cards are a niche of the overall card hobby. You can get into white elephant syndrome.

[T206Collector]

From the Jeff Morey Collection. Jeff was WAY ahead of his time, having tobacco cards autographed by the players starting in the mid-1950s.



Don "Barefoot" Post used to send T206 cards glued to a 5x7 index card. Love how Wheat signed this one...

[bk400]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

From the Jeff Morey Collection. Jeff was WAY ahead of his time, having tobacco cards autographed by the players starting in the mid-1950s.



Don "Barefoot" Post used to send T206 cards glued to a 5x7 index card. Love how Wheat signed this one...

Very cool -- I don't think if I've ever seen another autographed T206.

[gonefishin]

A few years back I sold my Koufax autographed rookie for around $700 or so. I've regretted it ever since. Since then, I have kept the ones I've run across. I think it's pretty cool, especially if it's a Hall of Famer's Rookie.

However, it is definitely not for everyone. Here are a couple I have.

[JollyElm]

There has definitely been a sea change regarding the 'acceptance' of autographs on (rookie) cards, going from collectors once screaming, "My God, it's ruined!!!" to now offering, "My stars, that player has beautiful handwriting."

Luckily, I picked up these long ago and never considered them anything but awesome...

HOFrookiesAutographedPSA01.jpgHOFrookiesAutographedPSA02.jpg

[calvindog]

Here's an autographed rookie card -- 1/1.

[4815162342]

Originally Posted by bk400

Very cool -- I don't think if I've ever seen another autographed T206.

You should go back and read old threads from the member you quoted. Legendary.

Edited to add: And of course, his website.

[Exhibitman]

In the late 1980s I went to a show and had Feller and Musial sign 1953 Bowman cards, and Feller kept asking if I was sure I wanted to have the card signed because he knew it was a valuable one.

[Exhibitman]

Signed cards in other sports and subjects are still within reach, even of the GOATs. NASCAR fans think this is the King's RC:



I go with the postcard issued a decade earlier:



Got it covered either way...

[bk400]

Wow. These are some amazing cards. I'm scared to ask how much some of these would go for in a broad auction process.

An unadorned 52T Mantle is beyond the scope of my budget, but I was checking on the pricing for autographed 52T Mantles. That's not even in the same ballpark.

I wonder how much a complete autographed T206 set (even without the Wagner) or a completed 52 Topps autographed set would go for, if it were even possible to compile.

And per one of the above posts, if Bob Feller was loathe to sign his own rookie cards, then that's saying something. I was under the impression that he was signing everything at one point.

[DW03]

If you pc someone you absolutely want signed cards, but overall these will continue to be desired more and more as time goes on especially of players that passed away pre 80s. I pc a guy no one really knows, Earl Whitehill, who died in 1954 and I just acquired a signed 1929 kashin. Any signed cards by him are my holy grails. Still trying to get a signed goudey wish me luck I think there's only a couple.

[Jewish-collector]

The signed cards really increase in value once the player is no longer vertical.

[hammertime]

I don't have a lot of pre-war but I do have about 40 post-war signed HOF rookie cards.

[Republicaninmass]

Although i sold these off, I still think there is a lot of upside for signed cards

[bk400]

Originally Posted by republicaninmass

although i sold these off, i still think there is a lot of upside for signed cards

omg

[bnorth]

Since these are over 40 years old I am calling them vintage. I bought these awesome rookie era autographed cards from a fellow member.

[Snowman]

Signed vintage is going to continue to grow in demand. Most collectors that become interested in vintage cards migrated over from the ultra modern side of the hobby where on-card autos are a huge chase. All the top cards on that side of the fence are signed. When they transition over to vintage, they bring that love of signed cards with them. The percentage of the hobby made up by boomer collectors who think that autographs deface cards (some of whom even think it should result in an "altered" grade) is getting smaller every year.

Signed vintage will absolutely outpace unsigned vintage over the next 20+ years. Perhaps even by a wide margin.

[MVSNYC]

Cool thread. As many have mentioned above, getting cards signed (especially rookie cards) years ago, was definitely taboo. But, as also mentioned above, the taboo is gone, for sure. Genuine, bold signed cards are highly coveted today.

Here's two I own...I think the Mantle would sell for 25-30x versus an unsigned PSA 1.5...and the Griffey 10x+ versus an unsigned PSA 8.

Let's see more examples!

[bk400]

Here's my card contribution. I sprung for this one because (i) he was actually my favorite player as a child and (ii) I've actually gotten an autograph from him in person at the ballpark as a child. (The signature on the baseball he flipped over the rail to me over 40 years ago is identical to the one on the card!)