I don't understand this (modern Bonds auto card)

onegaucho

2 auctions.
Virtually the same exact card (except for condition obviously)

One is BGS 10 and is already at $965 and hasn't even ended yet:
1999 SP Sig. Bonds BGS 10

Another is the exact same card ungraded:
Only $143 with a few hours left

1. I never understood why these "certified" autograph cards needed to be graded. They're obviously authentic. Is the purpose of getting autographed cards for the autograph, not for the condition of the card necessarily? I can't imagine these retaining any value over the course of time (or am I being short-sighted here?)

2. Why did the autograph only get a 9? I guess that would be like asking why modern cards that come straight out of a pack get a 9 vs a 10. The auto looks clean enough to me...

I'm not really complaning, just curious to see what others think. These can't hold their value over time, right?

Since I open a new pack every so often, it's always cool to send in a nice star card and have it come back a 10. You can get a lot more mileage out of it and basically get more than it's actually 'worth' by selling it on eBay.

AlanAllen

You don't understand why a BGS 10 is selling for more than a raw card?

helionaut

I can't understand BGS's autograph grades, either. It's nothing to do with penmanship. A tiny little scuzzle of ink that we are supposed to believe is Michael Vick's signature might get a 10, but a full, beautiful "Nomar Garciaparra" can get an 8. I think it has something to do with the "quality" of the ink on the card, whether some has dried up and left gaps, and it might have something to do with running over the edge of the card (like the Bonds) or outside where the autograph is supposed to go. For cards that have cutouts in one layer to show the auto on a lower layer, placement within the frame seems to count.

But a BGS 10 is a very good, tough grade to get, and I'd be surprised if the price for that card didn't double by the end. The premium being paid is for the condition of the card, not the auto.

40ozman

while I wouldn't spend a grand on the graded card, I have no problem understanding why someone would. Is it outragous, a little. Probably someone who collects Bonds, and would like to add this VERY high grade auto to his collection.

onegaucho

But for close to a thousand dollars?!

I know BGS 10 is the holy grail for condition ratings, but it just seems kinda crazy to pay that much for a card that's only worth $150 or so. I know, I know... what some people will do...

koby

Same could be said for raw vintage cards versus gem mint graded vintage cards.

highend

it is a super high end item but ,as painful as it may seem, i would predict; since bonds pulled out of the MLBPA licensing we may see a spike in autographs, bat, and jersey type cards.merely speculation on my part , out of principle i wouldn't pay a nickel for a bonds card.