Robert Edward Auction..this bothers me

Mantlefan

This lot is a complete set of altered 1957 Topps Baseball...my favorite set. While they're clear on its origin in this auction, might not these "Mint" cards soon wind up on EBAY with no explanation? Will some unsuspecting soul pay top bucks for them on EBAY or will they turn up as PRO 10's?

Altered 1957 Topps BB "Mint" set

mikeschmidt

Frank:

It is a problem - the question is, what's the solution? It is a beautiful set of cards - and I would be happy to own it. To destroy the cards would be seemingly tragic. I think problems like this are a bit thorny. At the end of the day, I believe it is up to both dealers and collectors to educate themselves about this hobby - the plusses and the minuses. It is tragic that these cards were altered over a decade or two ago - but I think it is an inexpensive way to own a vintage set with great eye-appeal. I applaud Edwards for the full disclosure - something we don't see always in contemporaneous auction houses....

Mantlefan

Good points Mike. Stamp the back "ALTERED"??

spacktrack

When I read altered in your first post I was expecting to see a set similar to my 1957 Topps set up for auction. Mine is entirely trimmed--every card is missing the white border and a hair more all around. They are interesting cards and I enjoy them considering all factored out, the Mantle cost me $.90.

I did not however expect to see something as remarkable as this. The restoration/alteration is amazing. Imagine being the guy who stands to lose $10-13K on this deal from 1992.

What is the deal with all auctions being closed? It states they are open from 3-31 to 5-10. Anyone know?

qualitycards

<< <i> Imagine being the guy who stands to lose $10-13K >>


SPACE - When all is said & done, the consignor may indeed lose some money, but hardly all the $10+K it cost him. I would imagine that this set would go for a few thousand dollars, and perhaps close to 5 figures. My concern, like Frank is that it could end up in the wrong hands ...jay

onegaucho

I echo the recent comments... I saw the same for a lot of Goudey cards that are "altered"... I can only imagine what someone from the PRO side of things would do with a lot like that...

Stamping them 'altered' would be a great idea in my mind- though I doubt the consignor would ever agree to that since it would probably decrease the number of potential bidders.

mikeschmidt

Again - I applaud Edwards in this instance - as I often see other auction houses take pre-war cards (often caramel ones) and sell them in groups where all of the cards seem to fall in at the bottom end of the sizing range...

qualitycards

MS - I applaud Robert Edwards description too! But can you imagine the ramifications if they didn't do it?
And say someone plunked down $25+K w/ the intent to get them graded and EVERY card comes back as altered.
That would be horrible publicity and destroy their credibility...jay

Vargha

I wouldn't mind owning that set.

Tabe

<< <i>I wouldn't mind owning that set. >>


Same here. It's all about the eye-appeal for me...

Tabe
www.tabe.nu

CON40

It's commendable that REA states this is an altered set... but I have the same fears that many have posted (from wrong hands to wrong slabs to big bucks)... so why doesn't REA realize this too? They have a helluva lot more at stake in the health of this hobby than any of us.

I suggest they apply a small permanent hologram on the back of each card to signify its altered state. And with the way so many collectors fo ga-ga for hologram authentication, this might actually be a good marketing ploy for REA as well!

I bet they'd realize more money on the auction!

RG58

RG58

I am somewhat surprised that Robert Edward Auctions would sell an "altered" set like this 1957 Topps. It really leaves a sour taste in mouths of collectors who trust that the auction houses can distinguish authentic from scam. I applaud the owner of the set who will lose out 10,000$ on the scam. Many would have sold these cards raw or in PRO holders at some point to redeem some money back.

The Billy Crystal incident with the Mantle glove last year was quite disturbing but this is the true iceing on the cake!

There is no question in my mind that these altered 1957s will end up on the market and sold under false pretenses at some point- possibly raw, possibly holdered by GAI/PSA/SGC. At some point cards like this will slip through. Do the grading companies pass every card under a "special" light?

I trust PSA and believe they can distinguish most of the altered/trimmed cards from the authentic ones. However, AUTOGRAPHS are a whole new ball game. The effort to doctor baseball cards like this 1957 Topps set takes tremendous expertise and technology. Faking an autograph and getting it authenticated is probably like doing first-grade math compared to doctoring a 1957 Topps card at this level which is like doing nuclear physics at MIT. For this reason, I will stick to cards, and stay far from the autograph collection hobby. Its just seems too easy to fake an autograph compared to doctoring a card.

crsportscards33

I got my REA catalog a few days ago and while looking at some of the lots, I got to thinking. Does REA send in the selected cards from each set to be graded? Or are they already graded when consigned? I guess the reason for the question is this. If they are the ones getting them graded, then why not more than 6 or 8 cards? Especially on the super high end raw sets ( the 1967 topps comes to mind), why not grade most of the stars and low pop commons? Wouldn't this drastically incraese the final price of the lot?

crsportscards33

Here's the '67 set.'67 set

mikeschmidt

<< <i>I got my REA catalog a few days ago and while looking at some of the lots, I got to thinking. Does REA send in the selected cards from each set to be graded? Or are they already graded when consigned? I guess the reason for the question is this. If they are the ones getting them graded, then why not more than 6 or 8 cards? Especially on the super high end raw sets ( the 1967 topps comes to mind), why not grade most of the stars and low pop commons? Wouldn't this drastically incraese the final price of the lot? >>



Because REA pays the grading costs for getting the cards graded. They grade a few key cards - and their reputation is so strong - that with the professional grading combined with their own assessment - knowledgeable collectors can feel secure enough bidding. Also - given that there are some very big money players involved - REA (and others) allow personal inspection of lots for those with the necessary moolah.

Ruthfan

Mikeschmidt is right. The bigger auction houses (Mastros, Lelands, REA) pay for the grading on the few cards they deem that should be graded and want to spend as little as possible. Why grade all the high end cards and cut into their profit.

jrinck

I'm surprised you guys have the patience to go on their website. It's slower than Terry Forster running backwards into the wind. I went on there once, checked out a few things, but quickly tired on the long waits.

Someone let me know when they start taking their business seriously and update their web servers. Then I might come back.

onegaucho

Glad I'm not the only one who thought it was awful slow. I did get the "book" last night. Ton of 19th century stuff!