Thoughts on state of memorabilia market?

[Snapolit1]

Wonder what people's experience has been so far this year in selling/buying memorabilia. I don't purchase memorabilia for flipping or investment purposes, but the price action this year on stuff has left my head spinning. One minute something is a $10,000 item; next minute it's $2,000. Clearly the investing "asset" vault crowd is much more into cards. Is this the time to get a nice deal on that piece you've been watching for a few years?

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Is this the time to get a nice deal on that piece you've been watching for a few years?

Sure, if the price is right. Hasn't that always been the case?

[ksfarmboy]

To me it seems that just like anything else quality items are going higher than ever. If I want it it’s going to go even higher. Bats, jerseys, advertising items, pins and photos seem to be doing just fine.

[Topnotchsy]

My areas of focus are somewhat particular:

- Integration - Jackie items have largely gone up, though not evenly. Cards (which I don't collect) seem to have blown up. Some pre-rookie items (especially UCLA tickets) have gone up dramatically, some have gone up nicely, but not dramatically (signed yearbooks) and some (UCLA programs) have seemingly not moved at all. It has been hard to find much in the way of rare items for other players from then, but the 1946 Puerto Rico contract for Larry Doby I bought sold for 4x what it sold for a number of years back

- Lineup cards - It seems like MLB selling lineup cards has brought a bit more attention to the niche, but it is definitely extremely niche, and the range of sale prices is enormous and random, based on who happens to come across it and find it interesting. The uniqueness of the items makes it different to really offer an firm market vaue.

- WWII baseball - There has definitely been some degree of uptick on these, but it is also quite niche, and so some items definitely slip through the cracks.

- Negro Leagues - It seems like almost nothing good is coming available outside of the items listed at Hakes (I believe still from the Merkin collection, though that may have wrapped up by now.)


For the most part, the limited market for the kinds of items I collect means that they aren't nearly as impacted by the changes in the market, since new collectors or investors are not targeting super-niche areas that require a more extensive knowledge of the history to really appreciate. (The exception is some of the Jackie items I have, but even there, cards have gone up far, far more than say, a 1946 Montreal Royals team signed baseball).

[perezfan]

Memorabilia prices are all over the board. Some things seem to be going under the radar and others are a bloodbath at auction. There seems to be little rhyme or reason, and very random prices realized.

The Ad Signs in the recent SCP are no exception. A few steals and some high prices. It's impossible to compare Memorabilia to Cards, simply because the best memorabilia can be "once a decade" finds or even one of a kind pieces.

Cards on the other hand, no matter how desirable (52 Mantle, T206 Wagner, Goudey Ruth) are always sure to turn up again and again down the road.

[murphusa]

$6900 for a PF Flyers sign is nuts but nice if you own one or two