Large 1976 Topps Football Collection - Insight?
Mike0032
Posts: 6 ✭
Good Morning All,
My dad recently retired and is considering letting go of his football card collection in his effort to downsize. He's asked me to help him put out the feelers on value/buyers for his collection which lead me here.
Some of the highlights include:
170 Cello packs that have never been opened (2 of which have Walter Payton on top)
6 Cello display boxes (24 packs per box)
3 Full sets of Chicago Bears / 5 Walter Payton cards total
A little over 3100 open cards, all in very good to excellent condition.
I've spent a couple hours of reading and looking at other sets for sale and it seems that values are all over the place depending on the certified grade. Is it worth it to send the higher value cards to PSA to be graded, or should I let the next owner take that route? What's the best way to ship/insure them?
Thanks in advance!
Comments
Got any pictures? I imagine more than a few’s pants got a little tighter reading about 170 cello packs.
Google BBCE for the unopened stuff and I would PSA express the Payton single RCs.
I've got a few photos, I'll try and upload them later today.
I'll check them out. Thanks!
There's a lot of unopened collectors here, maybe try listing what you have and they might make offers/give advice. If you post good scans of the Payton rookies they can give you grading advice. Lots of good advice here. If you want a quick sale of the unopened maybe more luck if you google BBCE but like I said there are collectors here. Welcome and congrats to your dad on retiring!
You're looking at 6 figures here, and if you're not experienced with the material and handling that kind of sales volume, I'd strongly recommend consigning the whole thing. A good auction house can determine what is worth getting graded or certified and get that done for you before the auction.
I'd start with Heritage at ha.com. Others you can try are Robert Edward, Lelands, Memory Lane, Mile High Card Company, Goldin, and PWCC. The last two have some business practices some find objectionable, so do a little research first before you send them anything.
Yeah thats probably 120,000-150,000 (edit to add probably more like 250,000+) maybe more worth of stuff. Depending on condition and other stars showing.
Try and buy some empty display boxes as well and put some of the 170 loose packs back in boxes. Will also help the value.
Edit to add
Dang I might be way off now.
https://sports.ha.com/itm/football/1976-topps-football-cello-box-with-24-unopened-packs-payton-rookie-year-/a/50038-80226.s?ic4=GalleryView-Thumbnail-071515
A single cello box sold for 23,000.00
So double or more my guess.
😵holy smokes.
Winner! Great 1st post.
We like pictures 👍
I'd suggest saving at least one cello box for the group if we give you solid advice that you take. We love doing group breaks here !
Collecting:
post world war II HOF rookie
76 topps gem mint 10 commons 9 stars
Arenado purple refractors(Rockies) Red (Cardinals)
successful deals with Keevan, Grote15, 1954, mbogoman
Thanks for all the insight everyone, sounds like I have some more homework to do.
I'll report back when I've gotten a little further along and with some quality photos.
That's an amazing collection with a huge amount of value. I'd recommend reaching out to a major auction house to realize full value. Robert Edwards Auctions is a very reputable one. I know the acquisitions guy personally, so if you want his info, feel free to PM me.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
Jenny?
I'd be interested in some packs. Once you post the scans, I can make an offer.
Heh / this was my first thought too
Say what you want about Jenny but she/he sold me a 1973 pack that had Rose on one side and Clemente on the other. It was slabbed by BBCE.
This will be an amazing new to the hobby find. Looking forwards to seeing the pictures.
Kiss me twice.....let's party.
TTT looking forward to see pics of this collection.
Kiss me twice.....let's party.
Bueller...…Bueller...…Bueller
Looks like Jenny struck again
TTT.
Kiss me twice.....let's party.
Sorry, haven't been here in a while and haven't made much progress since life has been busy lately. Here are a few photos
$$$$$$ holy cow - you didn’t get a Payton from the one on top right? That’s still closed?
Wow, that's pretty amazing. Sitting on a gold mine there.
76 Football cellos are at the peak of my interest in the hobby- if you have any questions please feel free to reach out. I like to think I know quite a bit about them in particular.
PC Walter Payton - Bear Down!
Good luck wading through your DM’s with all the offers ;-)
Nope, haven't opened any of them. I believe there are two unopened packs with Payton on top.
Thanks Jake!
Dang sweet. I don't know anything but my only suggestion is to carefully get rid of those rubber bands I see on some open stacks in 1st pick. Good luck, man!
Beautiful and very valuable stuff he has there. Quickest route to getting money in your/his pocket is to sell here. Lots of unopened collectors here. Most profitable way would probably be to send this all to REA, memory lane or another large auction house. That Payton pack looks beautiful, I'd love to have it in my PC as would a lot of others on here I bet.
Jeff
Collecting:
post world war II HOF rookie
76 topps gem mint 10 commons 9 stars
Arenado purple refractors(Rockies) Red (Cardinals)
successful deals with Keevan, Grote15, 1954, mbogoman
Yeah those are .25 for each pack as they say It on all of them. I’ll give you .50 per pack if interested let me know.
That's fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's a beautiful array of cello boxes!
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
Bands removed!
Thanks for all the comments and insight everyone.
Get the boxes authenticated with Steve Hart at the Baseball Card Exchange ASAP. Do not ship them, but personally drive them to BBCE. Too easy to damage these boxes with any mail carrier.
Fine Ill double my offer
Those 76 Paytons are a sight to behold. Awesome. I recently sent an 86 Payton for grading and have been acquiring some raw Paytons from the early 80s and late 70s. He was a beast...At the end of his career, I remember when the Bears were upset at home by Washington in January 1988 and seeing Walter with his hands on his helmet on the sideline knowing it was all over. Good luck!
Agree 100%. Any sales you make will be significantly higher if they are verified and wrapped by BBCE. Any auction house would give favorable terms on a consignment - or if you want no fees do your research and list here on the board. The two boxes with a Payton will be hard to value and would definitely do well at an auction. The others you can probably establish a value to sell but you would get more favorable terms with the auction house if you list them all with them.
Those are very cool. Thanks for sharing.
Read the Auction in Delaware thread. This is why you should personally drive them to BBCE to be authenticated like GoDodgerFan said.
Awesome Cello Boxes/Payton's!!!
Heritage just sold a bbce wrapped 1976 fb cello box for $15k but that includes all the buyer premiums. Seller probably received $10-12k for it depending on what seller fees were given.
You will get the most money if you have the wrapped by BBCE and then list them on ebay yourself and slowly sell them.
You will also make more money if you just keep them. LOL. They are always going up in value every year.
I second the comment of getting them wrapped by BBCE, but drive them yourself. do not entrust those with USPS, Fed Ex or UPS. too much risk of loss or damage.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.