Introduction and question

[NHbaseballcards]

Hello fellow collectors!

My name is Jonathan and I’m originally from upstate NY (please don’t hold that against me) but currently live in the great state of New Hampshire. I’ve been collecting since I was 10 with some gaps where I sold my collections a few times but have been rebuilding the last 6 years or so. I came across this site while waiting for my first PSA submission and looking at wait times. After reading numerous threads and responses, I found the questions good but the responses were all very well thought out and respectful, which I enjoyed. Although I am not new to collecting, I am new to the online forums and hope to be an active member here.

I wanted to inquire if anyone had any thoughts on pricing one of the cards that was newly graded. It’s a t206 Tolstoi Jake Stahl Glove Shows PSA 6. Turns out it’s a Pop 1 with none higher. I have received many differing thoughts on how to accurately price this as I am debating putting it up for auction. I know it’s a scarce back but there’s few comps to compare it to. I was hoping to get some guidance from this very knowable group. I believe I have attached my scans.

Any thoughts or information would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[SyrNy1960]

Originally Posted by NHbaseballcards

Hello fellow collectors!

My name is Jonathan and I’m originally from upstate NY (please don’t hold that against me)

I take offense to that, as I’m from Syracuse, NY 🤬😀

[NHbaseballcards]

No offense intended. Go Yankees!

[SyrNy1960]

Originally Posted by nhbaseballcards

no offense intended. Go yankees!

👍🏻⚾️

[jsfriedm]

If you're putting it up for auction, you don't need to worry about pricing it. The market will price it for you.

[meganjeo0]

Originally Posted by NHbaseballcards

Hello fellow collectors!



My name is Jonathan and I’m originally from upstate NY (please don’t hold that against me) but currently live in the great state of New Hampshire. I’ve been collecting since I was 10 with some gaps where I sold my collections a few times but have been rebuilding the last 6 years or so. I came across this site while waiting for my first PSA submission and looking at wait times. After reading numerous threads and responses, I found the questions good but the responses were all very well thought out and respectful, which I enjoyed. Although I am not new to collecting, I am new to the online forums and hope to be an active member here.



I wanted to inquire if anyone had any thoughts on pricing one of the cards that was newly graded. It’s a t206 Tolstoi Jake Stahl Glove Shows PSA 6. Turns out it’s a Pop 1 with none higher. I have received many differing thoughts on how to accurately price this as I am debating putting it up for auction. I know it’s a scarce back but there’s few comps to compare it to. I was hoping to get some guidance from this very knowable group. I believe I have attached my scans.



Any thoughts or information would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

You should check the auction sales list you should be able to get a price there.

[philliesfan]

Not sure as to the value / pricing but........Welcome to Net54! A great site with a lot of knowledgeable members.
Bob

[raulus]

Originally Posted by meganjeo0

You should check the auction sales list you should be able to get a price there.

If it's 1 of 1, none higher, at least for this back, it seems like that would be a challenge.

Certainly you could look at sales for lower graded examples, and then attempt to estimate a premium for the higher grade.

You could also look at other similarly rare backs to see how they've sold at similar grades. Or you could look at other players from this set with similar levels of popularity in Tolstoi backs to see what they usually command at this grade, although it would be best if they were also PSA 6, 1 of 1, none higher. However, the odds are good that you will find that there's not a ton of recent data to go on, assuming you can even find any analogous examples.

So you might be stuck having to interpolate and guess. Certainly if you put it up for auction, you never know what might happen, particularly given the rarity of this grade for this back for this player. It could go nuts if you get a couple of motivated bidders with deep pockets who have to have it. Or it could end up getting lost in the shuffle and might sell for a lot less than you were hoping. That's the fun of an auction - you never know what a high graded T206 rareback for a commonish player will bring on any given day.

[gonefishin]

I always make my starting bid a price I can live with if it sells. Welcome and good luck.

[NHbaseballcards]

Originally Posted by philliesfan

Not sure as to the value / pricing but........Welcome to Net54! A great site with a lot of knowledgeable members.
Bob

Thank you Gonefishin!

[NHbaseballcards]

Originally Posted by philliesfan

Not sure as to the value / pricing but........Welcome to Net54! A great site with a lot of knowledgeable members.
Bob

Thank you

[NHbaseballcards]

Originally Posted by raulus

If it's 1 of 1, none higher, at least for this back, it seems like that would be a challenge.

Certainly you could look at sales for lower graded examples, and then attempt to estimate a premium for the higher grade.

You could also look at other similarly rare backs to see how they've sold at similar grades. Or you could look at other players from this set with similar levels of popularity in Tolstoi backs to see what they usually command at this grade, although it would be best if they were also PSA 6, 1 of 1, none higher. However, the odds are good that you will find that there's not a ton of recent data to go on, assuming you can even find any analogous examples.

So you might be stuck having to interpolate and guess. Certainly if you put it up for auction, you never know what might happen, particularly given the rarity of this grade for this back for this player. It could go nuts if you get a couple of motivated bidders with deep pockets who have to have it. Or it could end up getting lost in the shuffle and might sell for a lot less than you were hoping. That's the fun of an auction - you never know what a high graded T206 rareback for a commonish player will bring on any given day.

Yes, it’s been difficult. Thanks for your insight though.

[Vintagedeputy]

Not my intention to disparage your card at all, but I can't see how a card with a diamond cut and poor registration can get a 6.

[CardPadre]

Originally Posted by Vintagedeputy

Not my intention to disparage your card at all, but I can't see how a card with a diamond cut and poor registration can get a 6.

I don't mean to disparage your post, but that's not the issue being discussed here.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by NHbaseballcards

No offense intended. Go Yankees!

[Vintagedeputy]

Originally Posted by CardPadre

I don't mean to disparage your post, but that's not the issue being discussed here.

Actually, that is exactly the issue being discussed here. The OP wants opinions on value. Are we to value the card at what a PSA 6 should be valued at and overlook the diamond cut and poor registration or do we value the card based on the card itself and not the grade? Buy the card and not the holder, right?

A PSA 6 is defined as:

A PSA 6 card may have visible surface wear or a printing defect which does not detract from its overall appeal. A very light scratch may be detected only upon close inspection. Corners may have slightly graduated fraying. Picture focus may be slightly out-of-register. Card may show some loss of original gloss, may have minor wax stain on reverse, may exhibit very slight notching on edges and may also show some off-whiteness on borders. Centering must be 80/20 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.

We can debate what "slightly" out of register means in comparison to this card, but combined with the odd cut, I personally would not value the card as a PSA 6. Your mileage may vary.

[CardPadre]

Originally Posted by Vintagedeputy

Actually, that is exactly the issue being discussed here. The OP wants opinions on value. Are we to value the card at what a PSA 6 should be valued at and overlook the diamond cut and poor registration or do we value the card based on the card itself and not the grade? Buy the card and not the holder, right?

A PSA 6 is defined as:

A PSA 6 card may have visible surface wear or a printing defect which does not detract from its overall appeal. A very light scratch may be detected only upon close inspection. Corners may have slightly graduated fraying. Picture focus may be slightly out-of-register. Card may show some loss of original gloss, may have minor wax stain on reverse, may exhibit very slight notching on edges and may also show some off-whiteness on borders. Centering must be 80/20 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.

We can debate what "slightly" out of register means in comparison to this card, but combined with the odd cut, I personally would not value the card as a PSA 6. Your mileage may vary.

The discussion is about valuing a 6 that has no peers or superiors. It’s not about valuing what quality of 6 it is. This is literally only asking about valuing the holder, not the card.

[FrankWakefield]

Jonathan, welcome.

I have some graded cards. I don't like them. I used to break them all out, when I was buying a card that I wanted; and I'd throw the slips away. Then I got to where I'd break out the cards but keep the slips. I have a few cards not broken out.

My personal logic about this has been that I want to be able to hold a card, I don't want a card I'm afraid to touch. But I know I won't live forever. Unless I sell them, then I figure my kids will sell them. Either way, they'll sell for more if slabbed.

All of the preceding is so you'll understand my bias. I read the haggling above, and think they're 'discussing' different issues. So, what's the card worth; and then what is the slabbed card worth to you. A slabbed card may well have a slightly larger set of potential buyers. And will sell for more. NONE of the cards I've bought that are still slabbed were slabbed because I wanted a graded card. I wanted the card. And impatient me didn't want to wait for it.

So how much... I think it'd sell for between $950 and $1100. I feel compelled to mention positives and shortcomings: Great color on the front. The centering is attractive, the whop-sided cut is slightly distracting. The skewed registration is annoying. The back has a tinge to it, looks like the card may have been in a scrapbook for a long time, not one contemporary to the card's issue timeframe, but 25 years later, in a book that would have had pages that retained acidity from the papermaking process, hence the tannish / brownish tinge. Nice corners.

I'm from the 20th century, so I may have conservative dollar values up there, that Stahl might sell for a few hundred more. A buyer of a 4 figure will want that particular card, or that particular back; point being that those factors narrow down you pool of potential buyers.

Again, welcome. If you do sell it, please return to this thread and update it with the sales results. Thanks, Frank W.

[NHbaseballcards]

Originally Posted by FrankWakefield

Jonathan, welcome.

I have some graded cards. I don't like them. I used to break them all out, when I was buying a card that I wanted; and I'd throw the slips away. Then I got to where I'd break out the cards but keep the slips. I have a few cards not broken out.

My personal logic about this has been that I want to be able to hold a card, I don't want a card I'm afraid to touch. But I know I won't live forever. Unless I sell them, then I figure my kids will sell them. Either way, they'll sell for more if slabbed.

All of the preceding is so you'll understand my bias. I read the haggling above, and think they're 'discussing' different issues. So, what's the card worth; and then what is the slabbed card worth to you. A slabbed card may well have a slightly larger set of potential buyers. And will sell for more. NONE of the cards I've bought that are still slabbed were slabbed because I wanted a graded card. I wanted the card. And impatient me didn't want to wait for it.

So how much... I think it'd sell for between $950 and $1100. I feel compelled to mention positives and shortcomings: Great color on the front. The centering is attractive, the whop-sided cut is slightly distracting. The skewed registration is annoying. The back has a tinge to it, looks like the card may have been in a scrapbook for a long time, not one contemporary to the card's issue timeframe, but 25 years later, in a book that would have had pages that retained acidity from the papermaking process, hence the tannish / brownish tinge. Nice corners.

I'm from the 20th century, so I may have conservative dollar values up there, that Stahl might sell for a few hundred more. A buyer of a 4 figure will want that particular card, or that particular back; point being that those factors narrow down you pool of potential buyers.

Again, welcome. If you do sell it, please return to this thread and update it with the sales results. Thanks, Frank W.

Thank you for that information. I’m getting quite the education here.

[Vintagedeputy]

Originally Posted by CardPadre

The discussion is about valuing a 6 that has no peers or superiors. It’s not about valuing what quality of 6 it is. This is literally only asking about valuing the holder, not the card.

I disagree, but sure lets discuss the value of a 6 and not the card itself.

[inceptus]

Welcome aboard!

I am by no means an expert on this card, but I like an $850-$950 estimate, all things considered.

The PSA/SGC combined pop for this card is 17, so it's tough but not ultra-rare combo. A nice PSA 5 sold for $516 back in 2023; another PSA 5 had sold for $630 at the height of covid in 2020.

As noted, this PSA 6 is the highest pop for this card currently, and there might be a bump built into that to help overcome some of the eye-appeal concerns that have been raised above.

Anyway, very nice card and good luck!

[raulus]

Kudos to those willing to actually name numbers. Somewhat oddly, the numbers quoted so far aren’t too far off from the official PSA estimate. And those estimates are often wildly wrong, in my experience.

Although they do admit to only having moderate confidence in their estimate.

[Kutcher55]

Love the Stahl glove-shows card. It almost looks as if he is praying. I have a PSA 2.5 American Beauty no-frame version of this card and I quite like it.

Your card probably would do well in a high profile auction given that it is a tough find. You want to reach as many collectors as possible for a card like that. In addition to high grade PSA registry types, you also have people who might be looking for that specific back, plus there are a lot of people like myself who collect Red Sox cards.

[NHbaseballcards]

Originally Posted by inceptus

Welcome aboard!

I am by no means an expert on this card, but I like an $850-$950 estimate, all things considered.

The PSA/SGC combined pop for this card is 17, so it's tough but not ultra-rare combo. A nice PSA 5 sold for $516 back in 2023; another PSA 5 had sold for $630 at the height of covid in 2020.

As noted, this PSA 6 is the highest pop for this card currently, and there might be a bump built into that to help overcome some of the eye-appeal concerns that have been raised above.

Anyway, very nice card and good luck!

Thank you. I appreciate your insight.

[NHbaseballcards]

Originally Posted by raulus

Kudos to those willing to actually name numbers. Somewhat oddly, the numbers quoted so far aren’t too far off from the official PSA estimate. And those estimates are often wildly wrong, in my experience.

Although they do admit to only having moderate confidence in their estimate.

Thank you. I saw that but didn’t know how to interrupt the confidence level part of the estimate. Just looking at my graded cards, the PSA estimate is generally well below what cards sell for on eBay, which either good or bad, has been a large part of my research.

[edhans]

Welcome aboard. Great card despite the flaws identified above. Understand that it may not be a one-of-one, or even the highest graded. PSA did not identify the backs for quite a while. Someone else may know the exact year they started tracking them. There may be a higher graded Tolstoi Stahl That isn't identified on the flip or cataloged in the data base.

[doug.goodman]

Welcome to net54.

I have no knowledge of t206 cards, but I certainly have an opinion on the opinion sellers. Insert smiley face here.