New Record Price for 1955 Bowman PSA 8 Common
mikeschmidt
Posts: 5,756 ✭✭✭
In keeping this board updated with the development and changes to 1955 Bowman baseball cards, this collector is proud (and scared!) to report that a new record price was realized on a 1955 Bowman PSA 8 NM/MT common/minor star card.
This card received a final bid of $582.00 in this Ebay auction.. The Konstanty card has a PSA 8 NM/MT population of 6 with a PSA 9 MINT population of 1. This card, although rare in PSA 8 NM/MT condition, has a somewhat higher population than the dozen or two cards with PSA 8 NM/MT populations fo 5 or under from the 1955 Bowman baseball set. Of particular note with this card, there were four active bidders involved in the bidding over the $400 range. (on that note -- can someone PM me with the identity of "icantbelievewhatijustsaw"; I'm 98% sure I know who it is -- just want to confirm).
This PSA 8 seems to be a particularly strong example for the high-number series. Three miniscule print dots seem to be the only major misalignments from the card, and it certainliy appears as if the edges on this card are much better than many other high grade examples available.
Also, closing tonight, the Billy Loes #240 card closed at $315.00, another huge price for a common PSA 8 NM/MT card. Auction is linked here
The Loes card has a PSA 8 NM/MT population of 9, with no known better examples. This is not one of the tougher high series cards.
Finally, it is no surprise that these two prices are particularly high because of the association with New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers. Yankees and Dodgers cards from this set have developed a very strong following. In fact, many of the truly low population cards from this set happen to be Yankees cards -- and they are exceedingly tough to find down in better than PSA 7 condition.
As a point of reference, the lone PSA 9 of the Konstanty card sold in July of 2001 via Ebay, also sold by Andy Madec. At the time, the card was won by Vorthian, as memory recalls, in a bidding war over an advanced graded set collector who has since divested his set. That PSA 9 sold for $505 -- with a third bidder in at the $175 or so level. At the time that PSA 9 sold, there were four PSA 8 NM/MT's graded.
Well that's all this time around from this 1955 Bowman baseball set follower. It appears that over the past twelve months especially, there has been an influx of advanced collectors who are trying to round out their 1955 Bowman baseball sets as they have completed their other 1950s era sets. What the future holds for this set, no one knows. But with approximately 16,000 cards from this set having been graded by PSA, it is increasingly apparent that there are some dogs from this set that will take much time and effort to drag down.
Also -- to the best of this collector's knowledge (98% sure), the 1955 Bowman baseball set is one of the few remaining 1950s major issue sets that has yet to have any collector, public or private, complete the set in all PSA 8 NM/MT condition or better.
MS
This card received a final bid of $582.00 in this Ebay auction.. The Konstanty card has a PSA 8 NM/MT population of 6 with a PSA 9 MINT population of 1. This card, although rare in PSA 8 NM/MT condition, has a somewhat higher population than the dozen or two cards with PSA 8 NM/MT populations fo 5 or under from the 1955 Bowman baseball set. Of particular note with this card, there were four active bidders involved in the bidding over the $400 range. (on that note -- can someone PM me with the identity of "icantbelievewhatijustsaw"; I'm 98% sure I know who it is -- just want to confirm).
This PSA 8 seems to be a particularly strong example for the high-number series. Three miniscule print dots seem to be the only major misalignments from the card, and it certainliy appears as if the edges on this card are much better than many other high grade examples available.
Also, closing tonight, the Billy Loes #240 card closed at $315.00, another huge price for a common PSA 8 NM/MT card. Auction is linked here
The Loes card has a PSA 8 NM/MT population of 9, with no known better examples. This is not one of the tougher high series cards.
Finally, it is no surprise that these two prices are particularly high because of the association with New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers. Yankees and Dodgers cards from this set have developed a very strong following. In fact, many of the truly low population cards from this set happen to be Yankees cards -- and they are exceedingly tough to find down in better than PSA 7 condition.
As a point of reference, the lone PSA 9 of the Konstanty card sold in July of 2001 via Ebay, also sold by Andy Madec. At the time, the card was won by Vorthian, as memory recalls, in a bidding war over an advanced graded set collector who has since divested his set. That PSA 9 sold for $505 -- with a third bidder in at the $175 or so level. At the time that PSA 9 sold, there were four PSA 8 NM/MT's graded.
Well that's all this time around from this 1955 Bowman baseball set follower. It appears that over the past twelve months especially, there has been an influx of advanced collectors who are trying to round out their 1955 Bowman baseball sets as they have completed their other 1950s era sets. What the future holds for this set, no one knows. But with approximately 16,000 cards from this set having been graded by PSA, it is increasingly apparent that there are some dogs from this set that will take much time and effort to drag down.
Also -- to the best of this collector's knowledge (98% sure), the 1955 Bowman baseball set is one of the few remaining 1950s major issue sets that has yet to have any collector, public or private, complete the set in all PSA 8 NM/MT condition or better.
MS
I am actively buying MIKE SCHMIDT gem mint baseball cards. Also looking for any 19th century cabinets of Philadephia Nationals. Please PM with additional details.
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Comments
Very nice (and informative) post...I'm guessing you now own the PSA 9......
John
MS - I see your bid was shy by over $500.00 - ouch!
Website: http://www.qualitycards.com
Always looking for 1957 Topps BB in PSA 9!
Is that really true that Branca and Louchios are building the set. If so best to stand aside(I am sure Ron will too) and let them go. Marc, it says great things about the value of your set if this is true.
I guess my 6.76 set rating will improve pretty slowly on this one.
Jim
I think it's Greg from BOTN.................
<< <i>Price reflects the heavy hitters [Branca and Louchios] going head to head for that card. >>
You are correct on one of the gentlemen....but not both.
John
Always looking for 1957 Topps BB in PSA 9!
<< <i>WOW!
MS - I see your bid was shy by over $500.00 - ouch!
Jay -- fortunately I was able to secure a high grade example of this card for my set a while back -- so this is not one of my "toughies". I must admit that my efforts have included paying $200 - $400 for some of the tougher PSA 8s -- not to mention many of the truly low pop PSA 8's that I picked up as part of package deals.
Jim - To the best of my knowledge, John Branca is not building this set. He has a few of the star cards in high grade, notably the Mantle in PSA 9, but I do not think he has any significant other holdings of 1955 Bowman. I also do not believe that Don Louchios has too too many cards from this set. In my extensive research over the past 4+ years on this set, the two biggest "X" factors to the best of my knowledge would be Charlie Merkel and Don Louchios (anyone surprised...?) Charlie did not have his set graded for a long time -- though I do not know its current status. I know that he has purchased quite a few PSA 9 commons over time -- but I do not know how many he may have himself. I cannot recall a time that Don Louchios was actively purchasing these cards in PSA 9 -- though it would not surprise me if he has quite a few.
I can probably account for close to 50% of the PSA 9's that exist and nearly all of the PSA 10s (save three). Many of the PSA 9's I no longer keep track of, save for scans, as there are some players that have multiple 9's floating around. (notably Rizutto and Al Kaline). To that end, a mere 28 cards of the 326 card master set represent 37+% of all PSA 9's outstanding -- so there are basically quite a few easy ones to find -- and then over 50% of the set still has never seen a PSA 9 graded.
P.S. Jim -- I'm always looking to help your set out. I have a handful of cards between here and Philly meant to make their way to your set sooner or later. Perhaps a dozen or so -- but every little bit counts.
MS
Thanks--need and appreciate your help on the set.
Jim