T206 Plank status in the hobby

[investinrookies]

Curious where everyone would put this card in relation to other big key pre-war cards in the hobby. At one time the big three were wagner, plank and the goudey Lajoie, at least that's what Ive read. Id be interested to see some list of the top five/ten pre-war cards as they would rank today and where you guys think the plank currently sits.

[GasHouseGang]

Haven't you heard? Now it's the 1952 Topps Mantle, 2009 Trout rookie, and then the T206 Wagner bringing up the rear!

[vthobby]

Certainly top 5 still.

Mantle 1952 Topps / 1951 Bowman Rookie (sorry I tied 2 in one)

T206 Wagner

T206 Plank

1916 Sporting News Babe Ruth / 1914 Baltimore News Ruth (there I go again!)

Wagner still the king of cards but suffice to say, anyone that collects would take ANY of those listed above and feel they won the lottery!

Peace, Mike

[Rhotchkiss]

There are many threads about this already. But it’s always fun, so here goes my take; maybe order can change a bit. This list does not include pre 1900 cards, several of which could easily make this list

1. T206 Wagner
2. Baltimore News Ruth
3. T206 Doyle NY Natl
4. W600 Cobb
5. T210 Joe Jackson
6. 1916 Ruth
7. W600 Wagner, Type 1
8. 1914 Cracker Jack Mathewson
9. 1925 Gehrig
10. 1915 Red Sox PC (Ruth rookie)

Honorable mention -
T206 Plank
1914 CJ Joe Jackson
E107 Mathewson
E107 Wagner
W600 Mathewson
1933 Goudey Lajoie

[LincolnVT]

Pre-war cards have always been the most interesting to me. That said, if you are asking what the top 5 cards are value wise today, I would have to say that the list would include some post war and even modern cards...things seem to be trending that way...unfortunately.

[campyfan39]

Can someone give me a quick post on why the Plank is so valuable? I know all about Wagner etc. but I assume this is equally as rare but didn’t know if there was a story behind it? Thanks.

[robw1959]

From what I've read, the story is similar to that of Wagner in that they both didn't want to influence kids toward using tobacco, and thus prohibited the release of their images on tobacco cards. Now, I know that at least Honus used chewing tobacco because of the photo-picture on his '48 Leaf card. But there's nothing illogical or hypocritical about having a bad habit and not wanting to promote that habit among youngsters. The fact that both of these players did have their likenesses on caramel card issues validates the entire story for me, even though there are some doubters out there who think these two were holding out for more tobacco money or something of that sort.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by LincolnVT

Pre-war cards have always been the most interesting to me. That said, if you are asking what the top 5 cards are value wise today, I would have to say that the list would include some post war and even modern cards...things seem to be trending that way...unfortunately.

I would agree with this. My top 5 would be

t206 Wagner
Baltimore News Ruth
1952 Topps Mantle
1986 Fleer Michael Jordan
t206 Plank

for Prewar I would have the t206 Cobb/Cobb back and M 101-4/5 Ruth as the other two.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

There are many threads about this already. But it’s always fun, so here goes my take; maybe order can change a bit. This list does not include pre 1900 cards, several of which could easily make this list

1. T206 Wagner
2. Baltimore News Ruth
3. T206 Doyle NY Natl
4. W600 Cobb
5. T210 Joe Jackson
6. 1916 Ruth
7. W600 Wagner, Type 1
8. 1914 Cracker Jack Mathewson
9. 1925 Gehrig
10. 1915 Red Sox PC (Ruth rookie)

Honorable mention -
T206 Plank
1914 CJ Joe Jackson
E107 Mathewson
E107 Wagner
W600 Mathewson
1933 Goudey Lajoie

Not a bad list, but I would add the Old Judge Cap Anson in uniform. I don't think that one has sold in an auction in at least 15 years, so hard to value.

But I have to ask Ryan, did you forget the T206 Cobb back, or deliberately omit it?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Sean

Not a bad list, but I would add the Old Judge Cap Anson in uniform. I don't think that one has sold in an auction in at least 15 years, so hard to value.

But I have to ask Ryan, did you forget the T206 Cobb back, or deliberately omit it?

Cobb Cobb back should be on the list...

[CobbSpikedMe]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

There are many threads about this already. But it’s always fun, so here goes my take; maybe order can change a bit. This list does not include pre 1900 cards, several of which could easily make this list

1. T206 Wagner
2. Baltimore News Ruth
3. T206 Doyle NY Natl
4. W600 Cobb
5. T210 Joe Jackson
6. 1916 Ruth
7. W600 Wagner, Type 1
8. 1914 Cracker Jack Mathewson
9. 1925 Gehrig
10. 1915 Red Sox PC (Ruth rookie)

Honorable mention -
T206 Plank
1914 CJ Joe Jackson
E107 Mathewson
E107 Wagner
W600 Mathewson
1933 Goudey Lajoie

Interesting that the Plank and Lajoie didn't make your top 10 when they used to be numbers 2 and 3 years ago. Boy how times have changed.

[Jobu]

My question: Are we talking about the 5-10 most famous cards or the 5-10 most valuable cards?

If we are talking about famous, iconic cards, I think T206 Wagner, T206 Plank, 33 Lajoie, and 52 Topps Mantle should remain the most famous 4 because they are all major names, all have 70-110 years of being legendary cards, and strike the right balance between being available to more than a handful of people but rare enough to drive demand. They also hail from the three most-collected issues. All vintage card collectors know these cards, as do many (most?) modern card collectors.

If we are talking straight hammer price of the top examples of each, then all of those other cards enter the conversation. But I don't think they will attain the same status because (almost) nobody builds those sets and there are so few of each that not enough people are able to own one. Not all vintage card collectors are familiar with these and most modern card collectors have never heard of them.

I also think that the Plank belongs in the top 10 no matter which list is being considered. If a PSA 7 150 series Plank came to auction it would sell for as much as or more than a lot of stuff on that list. The last nice 150 Plank, a 3 at HA, sold for a quarter of a million dollars over two years ago, and we all know what has happened to the market since then.

[investinrookies]

Is there really that big of pop difference in the plank 150 vs the 350 back? To me its a rare iconic card and both are very valuable and sought after.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

There are many threads about this already. But it’s always fun, so here goes my take; maybe order can change a bit. This list does not include pre 1900 cards, several of which could easily make this list

1. T206 Wagner
2. Baltimore News Ruth
3. T206 Doyle NY Natl
4. W600 Cobb
5. T210 Joe Jackson
6. 1916 Ruth
7. W600 Wagner, Type 1
8. 1914 Cracker Jack Mathewson
9. 1925 Gehrig
10. 1915 Red Sox PC (Ruth rookie)

Honorable mention -
T206 Plank
1914 CJ Joe Jackson
E107 Mathewson
E107 Wagner
W600 Mathewson
1933 Goudey Lajoie

All the cards you listed, Ryan, have one thing in common: I don't have them!

[Pat R]

Here's the one Sweet Caporal factory 25 Plank

Plank SC150-25.jpg

Plank SC150-25 back.jpg

[sb1]

Mine is card #47 also a 150 Series Fact 25


Note the near identical back centering as the one above.