Lionel Carter

[wolterse]

Curious how his name attached to his graded cards impacts their value? Does it add 10%+ in value or does it have no impact at all? Thanks for your expertise, as always. EJW

[Matt]

It depends on the card in question and I'm not sure it can be quantified by a percentage, but some collector's do attach a small premium to having a card from Carter's collection.

[wolterse]

Thanks, Matt. I know that Lionel represented and stood for everything against monetizing a collection, but had always wondered if his cards were collected at a premium in the hobby.

[FrankWakefield]

Definitely a premium, if you have a buyer who knows about Mr. Carter.

Some folks know not who he was, a few care not. But generally, his cards sell for a bit more. Some folks seek just one of his cards, so some potential buyers are gone once they have one of his cards.

I have one. I was more interested in getting a first one, than I would be a second one.

He and I corresponded a bit. I have a white border tobacco card he signed on the back. He was a very nice gentleman. An interesting fellow, who knew about more than old ballcards.

[MW1]

Lionel Carter was a contemporary of Jefferson Burdick and one of the early pioneers of this hobby. The demand for cards pedigreed from his collection is dependent upon two factors: 1. His name and 2. The quality and assurance that they are original and unaltered.

[Doug]

I used to have a T206 Home Run Baker from his collection. I thought the fact that I had a card that was once owned by a hobby legend made it that much cooler.

[HRBAKER]

I own a few cards with his pedigree. Did I pay more because of it? Not purposely but if the seller priced them higher bc of it, then I guess I did. If they were in a true auction would I bid more bc of it, no. Would I have paid the same amount for the same card in the same grade without the pedigree, likely. To each his own.

[terjung]

I have found that there are collectors who prize beaters not just because of their price, but because the cards show character and show that they were loved by somebody many moons ago. We have all heard the stories that the Mr. Carter's cards were his pride and joy. I suspect that there is a faction of people who (similar to beaters) attribute additional character to his cards because they know they were part of such a famously loved collection.

As for me, I do not own any of his pedigreed cards, but I certainly wouldn't mind owning one or more. To me, it has more to do with my suspicion that the cards were not doctored and are in as good of condition as they are because they were legitimately and meticulously cared for. Would I attach a premium to that? Probably not contiously, but it is certainly plausible that I might subcontiously be inclined to bid one increment higher than I normally would have. I suspect that there would be decreasing utility after the first purchase of one of his cards. With that in mind, any such premium would quickly deminish for subsequent purchases.

[Kawika]

Nicest two you ever saw made a bit nicer with the Carter notation.

[Jay Wolt]

As a Lionel Carter collector, I have paid premiums to purchase cards I need.
Have about 50 different issues.

[rc4157]

I have just one card from Lionel Carter's collection, but it is special to me because it was once owned by an individual who represented our hobby with class and dignity. Mine is graded "authentic" but that doesn't lessen it's value to me. I believe it finished off my T-206 Reds search, I have no idea if I paid a premium for it but it certainly wasn't off the charts.
RC

[terjung]

Why was that one graded authentic? Was it deemed to have been trimmed?