anyone remember the Charlie Conlon 75 mini sale?
craig44
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I wasnt on the forums back in 08 when Charlie died and his 75 mini horde was auctioned off. I was reading some old threads about it and wondered if anyone here still remembers either him, his horde or the sale? It seems Charlie was a bit eccentric, at least when it came to doing deals. I read about his theatrics when making sales/buys etc.
does anyone know how many 75 mini cases he originally purchased? I know when he died he had 26 cases remaining. did anyone win one? was the quality of the cards good? It seems he must have been somewhat wealthy to be able to purchase so many quality cards over the years, including tobacco cards. I wonder what he did for a living?
I love stories from our collecting elders.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
Comments
I remember it and might even still have the catalog. They sold in multiple case groups if I remember like 2 to 5 cases per lot.
Found it
REA’s Spring 2009 auction
2 lots of 7 cases each sold in the $85000 range
3 lots of 3 cases each in the $35000 range
2 single case lots sold in the $14000 range
It’ is amazing how one horde changed the hobby dynamics. Growing up, minis were always 1.5 regular 75s. They are still rarer with smaller print runs. Releasing so many into a modern hobby (from pack to sleeve) brought the prices way down even though the minis have atrocious centering.
I bought one of those single case lots. I sent the case to gai and kept the nicest box and sold off the rest.
I love the 1975 mini's as the slabs take up less space...
Was trying for a Yogi-ism there, did I succeed?
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
I remember that REA auction well! Still have a couple boxes I bought from those case breaks at $850 per box. Now they go for 10x that amount. Wish I had bought more.
In addition to the wax cases, he had 3+ mini cello cases. I have a number of those packs since graded by PSA. A dealer in NJ bought that lot.
He also had a grand total of just 3 1975 mini racks. I have one of those. Mini racks are by far the toughest form of 1975 mini unopened to find and arguably as tough as any rack from the 1970s, including 1970-1972.
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.
I ripped a bunch that trickled right out into the market. Was cost effective at the time and I don’t recall hitting any Conlon boxes with horrendous centering like we were hitting frequently before the stash came to market.
Bosox1976
so it sounds like cases were between about $12k-$14k at that time. I wonder what a case would sell for now? interesting to hear that it seems like overall quality/centering was very good for these cases.
It is cool to see that some guys here purchased some at the original auction. I wonder how many cases he had to begin with? probably well over 100.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
Did anyone here ever deal with Charlie in person?
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
It also became evident at some point among the avid 75 mini collectors and rippers that centered mini cards corresponded with specific case codes on the outside of the case so that you could tell even before cracking the case whether the packs within would be typically OC or well centered.
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.
hey grote...
could you Please post up your 75 Mini Rack...
Thank you brother...
Here is one I got wrapped by BBCE.
And one of my favorites also since wrapped by BBCE (mini racks were packaged using same packaging for regular sized 75 racks).
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.
https://robertedwardauctions.com/archives/2009/Spring/909/seven-1975-topps-mini-wax-cases-112-boxes
https://robertedwardauctions.com/archives/2009/Spring/901/two-1975-topps-mini-cello-cases-plus-10-extra-boxes-and-34-extra-packs
Peekaboo…I see a Brett RC!
those are FANTASTIC racks. i dont think i have ever seen a mini rack before. i had no idea they used the same packaging as for the regular sized cards. I am not an unopened collector, but i now consider myself an unopened "appreciator!" thank you for sharing.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
that is some good "insider" information. must have been fun times being able to buy vintage stuff like this and have it be financially feasible to rip some. I wasnt around here during the conlon sale, but I well remember how exciting it was when bbce group buys were happening with some regularity.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
I recall buying packs from Steve for ~ $90 for a year or 2. Likely around 2004. Also ripped a box (paid $1500) and landed a psa 8 Brett.
Good times.
Thanks, guys, I appreciate the kind words. I've always had a passion for 1975 minis though I realize for some they are an acquired taste vs their regular sized counterparts.
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.
Cool hearing about all the recollections from that sale. From a 2010 BBCE invoice:
hey ya @Porkins and the rest here on the forum...
In all of my years paying the Exchange; I never seen an invoice before from them, this is the 1st time that I ever seen a BBCE invoice...
On my 13th birthday my Grandma bought me a wax box of the '75 mini's. I didn't even know there were regular size cards issued. Grew up in a small town in Northeast Oregon.
What town in northeast Oregon ? La grande ?
Didnt Jim (mini duff) win a bunch?
One of the wax case lots, yes.
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.