What would possess someone to have this card graded?

LateBloomer

I just ran accross this auciton on ebay. Why would someone send this card to be graded?

1961 Topps #406 Mickey Mantle PR-FR PSA-1

nearmint

Should have been a 2.

onegaucho

Yeah, kinda strange, maybe they figured by authenticating it, it would attract more bidders than not. It all depends on the hammer price.

I recently graded a Joe Montana RC for my brother. PSA 1 was the grade I got (and expected). It was a card my brother kept in his wallet and pocket as a kid. I found it recently in a shoebox and sent it in with the $5 special. He thought it was a cool present.

Wabittwax

I'm guessing most of those lower grades are cards with sentimental value. The person probably never planned on selling it, until they ran out of some "juice" and needed a fix.

RTB

It seems that no matter what condition an early 60s star card is in it will sell for at least 15% of SMR value for PSA 7. I've noticed this on ebay recently with a '61 Fleer #8 Chamberlain PSA 1 going for $152.00. I don't suspect a slab puts much more value to it, but probably enough for the cost of grading. Personally, If I were buying a star filler for a low grade complete set, I'd prefer to keep it raw. The beauty of low grade cards is that you can handle them without damaging them any more. No hassles with 10x magnifiers, no worries about lowering them another grade by breathing on them, no large storage boxes to hold sterile slabs. You can grab 100 of 'em in your fist in penny holders and read through them quickly.... I have a bunch of '54 thru '56 in F-G-VG/EX. These were old cards at the time that kids gave me in trades. I have fun today trying to complete these raw sets in G-VG. It's really more fun for me than screwing around with slabs. But slabs are a necessary evil for any NM-MT vintage card because of the money involved. But for every one of the cards I send in for grading from complete sets, I try to replace with a lower grade raw card that I can actually enjoy.

Reggie

67standup

I'm so tempted to bid on it.

LateBloomer

Thanks for the great input so far on this thread.




<< <i>I recently graded a Joe Montana RC for my brother. PSA 1 was the grade I got (and expected). It was a card my brother kept in his wallet and pocket as a kid. I found it recently in a shoebox and sent it in with the $5 special. He thought it was a cool present. ----- onegaucho >>



Now that is a cool idea that I wouldn't have thought of!





<< <i>It seems that no matter what condition an early 60s star card is in it will sell for at least 15% of SMR value for PSA 7. I've noticed this on ebay recently with a '61 Fleer #8 Chamberlain PSA 1 going for $152.00. ----- RTB >>



It will be interesting to see what this sells for. I see it has some interest!

Any other ideas out there?
Tom

70chip

That may crossover to a PRO 7, wait a minute...Does Pro even have a 7 or do they just have preprinted 10's for their slabs??

jrinck

I've long had the idea for gag gifts consisting of late 80's commons in poor condition being slabbed and then given away to your card collecting buddies.

I have an '86 Candy Maldonado that is in horrible shape and would be perfect.

Me: Hey Steve! Merry Christmas!
Steve: Thanks, what is it?
Me: Open it!
Steve: It feels like a PSA card! Did you get me that '67 Mantle PSA 8 that I need?
Me: Oh, I don't know! Maybe!
Steve: If you did, man that would be awesome!
Me: C'mon, open it already!
Steve: Okay! (rip) What the f**k is this? 1986 Topps Candy Maldonado PSA 1?
Me: Merry Christmas!
Steve: Bast*rd!

Mantlefan

As usual, the answer is money! Ungraded, that's a 50 cent card. Now it's up to $2.08 with 5 days to go and plenty of snipers lurking out there. Heck, it might even go to $5! Smart seller!

LateBloomer

This card sold for $12.12 !!!

Did the buyer throw his money away?

Did the seller make a profit considering grading and ebay fees?

qualitycards

If you think having a Mantle card graded a PSA-1 is crazy. I just looked up the pop report on a Dale Murphy PSA-10 for another board member and when scrolling down to get to card #708, I noticed that #620 Willie Randolph has a PSA-1 or 2 (they are in the same grouping) graded. So if a Mantle card can fetch $12.12, what would Willie's card bring in, a dime? ...jay

BugOnTheRug

That PSA 1 isn't so bad. What grade do you think my childhood Oliver rookie might get?




Is there a grade for a card like this that shows enough creases that it could be used as a topo map for the Ohio River Valley or a small towel?

BOTR

frankhardy

I have a bunch of PR to FR vintage Mantle cards. I have thought about sending them in. I know what grade they are - they are 1's and 2's, but I just think they look better slabbed. I have tracked low grade vintage Mantles both raw and PSA graded. PSA graded always brings more. Then again, I agree with RTB. I can enjoy looking through them raw. Either way, I enjoy having low grade vintage stars. That way, I am not tempted to sell them. I can just enjoy them. There is a certain "beauty" to a roughed up vintage Mantle.

As for this particular card, I would not want it because it doesn't even picture Mantle.

LateBloomer

I see a PSA 7 just sold on eBay for $61, so the PSA 1 went for a whopping 20% of that. More than I would have guessed!

I appreciate what RTB and frankhardy are talking about when they say they get more enjoyment owning ungraded cards in lesser condition rather than in graded slabs.

A card in poor condition in a PSA holder makes me think of someone wearing a tuxedo along with ragged blue jeans!