Just won an unopened 1972 Topps Cello for Less than $70. Did I get taken?

jason045 · March 6, 2005 1:32PM

At first I was elated, but then after I noticed the lack of bids, I was wondering if everyone else knew something I didn't. The seller looks legit. He was even selling some other '72s including a Rose, which I also bought. The packs is a 5th series as were all the other cards he was selling. I don't know how to link ,but the auction # is 5171901872. What do you guys think? Did I get a good deal or did I get hosed? What does an unopened 5th series cello usually go for? I've never seen one for sell before.

WinPitcher · March 6, 2005 1:36PM

cello linkeroo

if your happy with the price u paid I see no reason to think you got hosed.

how about somewhere in between? you didnt make out like a bandit, but didnt get robbed either.

send it to gai and have it graded. then u will know for sure. I mean it is only 70.00

jason045 · March 6, 2005 1:54PM

I was just thinking there may be some reseon to believe the pack wasn't legit due to the low ending price. I mean a 5th series wax pack graded in the 8.o-8.5-9.0 range goes for at least $200. I figure this cello is much more rare than a wax pack from the same series which is why I can't figure to low ending price.

CollectorChris · March 6, 2005 1:59PM

Sorry to hear you bought it for $69.08 when you were expecting to pay over $200. You might want to ask him if it's OK to send $200 if it will make you feel any better.

jason045 · March 6, 2005 2:10PM

Look. My feeling is this. If the pack is authentic and unopened, I think I got an awesome deal, no question. But the lack of bidders and the low ending price is leading me to question whether or not this is the real deal. I just need some opinions from someone more experienced in this than me not smart as* comments.

CollectorChris · March 6, 2005 2:17PM

It's just that one is not used to hearing about a collector who is concerned that he paid too low for an item.

1967topps · March 6, 2005 2:20PM

Perhaps it was the admitted "don't know cards" seller that made people dubious. Although he
seemed to know enough to sell the Santo card separately...

Lodi · March 6, 2005 2:26PM

How many cards in the cello? He sold 27 cards in seperate auctions. If 27 cards come in the cello it's probably legit.

jason045 · March 6, 2005 2:32PM

No ill will, Chris. I'm not concerned not that I paid too little, but that I paid from some thing that was altered,resealed, unauthentic, etc. I am new at buying unopened material and expected this to go much higher than it did, and the lack of intrest kind of scares me I guess. If it is clean without rips, tears, or cracks I ill probably send it to GAI. Otherwise I will probably open it. Still curious though. What does one of these normally sell for?

jmoran19 · March 6, 2005 6:52PM

I believe the reason for the lack of bids is because 1972 baseball cellos were wrapped in clear cellophane and then placed inside a blue cardboard box that read "Topps baseball cards 25 cents". I personally have never seen a 1972 (or 70 and 71) cello pack with this type of wrapper. Sorry.

lostdart58 · March 6, 2005 8:16PM

I have bought unopened 72 packs off of ebay (waxpacks, as I have never bought a cello). I have paid between $48 and $62. Many went for more but no more then say $75.00...................These were all ungraded.

If the cello is indeed legit you got it for a inexpensive price.

gregm13 · March 6, 2005 10:13PM

After looking at the pack, it appears the corners are a bit dinged up. It's still a nice pack but it doesn't appear that you'll pull any high grade cards.

Regards,

Greg M.

packCollector · March 6, 2005 10:47PM

KansasJayhawk · March 6, 2005 10:59PM

That's a legit pack, great find! Wish I would have found it

lostdart58 · March 6, 2005 11:37PM

<< <i> if it is you got the deal of the century, send it to gai and find out. otherwise you got 27 cards which appear to be decent for 70 bucks which is still not a bad deal. if it is legit , grade it and sell it as the major pack guys will pony up serious bucks since this is a rare variation which most probably don't know about or have. >>

..............agrees with packcollecter.

Jason...DO NOT OPEN THIS CELLO, unless you find out it is not legit. This cello pack would be worth much more unopened then opened.

highend · March 7, 2005 1:27AM

jason- i've never seen the "variation" of that wrapper. a couple of years ago i busted 4 series 5. '72 cellos. i found them among boxes of 70's commons that i bought in bulk in the mid 80's. ALL were of the wrapped and boxed variety.

i'm skeptical of the pack, but i'm not an expert. try contacting steve hart of bbcexchange or mark murphy, they will know for sure.

i know your building the 72 set, but busting packs is costly with few dividends. last year my wife (god bless her) bought me a 72 series 3 wax box, the box was legit and the packs were mostly mint. while the thrill of ripping the packs was awesome, the payoff wasn't. i had a bunch of 9's including a clemente but for over 3 g's i could have bought at least 40-50 psa 9's. in the end the box yielded no 10's and about 16 9's to go along with a bunch of 8's.

having said that, you never know, the pack may yield a psa 9 ryan or rose. in any event good luck.

WinPitcher · March 7, 2005 8:31AM

i'm skeptical of the pack, but i'm not an expert. try contacting steve hart of bbcexchange or mark murphy, they will know for sure.

very good advice, both will answer you fast too. Since this guy who has been living in NY for 30 years ( up until 3 weeks ago he was a UK seller) Did not accept paypal and in capital letters claims ALL SALES FINAL you have not yet paid. Id take the neg as opposed to getting a resealed bogus pack. Good luck in any event.

Steve

jason045 · March 7, 2005 12:29PM

Packcollector, I hope your right. Now that I hear all this, I definitely won't be opening the pack unless I find out its not authentic. The fact that the seller was selling other series 5 cards kind of helped me with the decision. And just his lack of knowledge about what he had made me believe he was telling the truth. I'll keep you guys posted.

jason045 · March 11, 2005 11:46PM

Well, its been 5 days since I emailed Mark Murphy and Steve Hart and I've yet to get a response from either. I'm really anxious to find out about this pack!

jason045 · March 13, 2005 8:21AM

Just got a response from Steve Hart of BBCExchange. He says he has never seen a '72 cello like this, although he recently came across some '72 Football cellos with the same wrapper which were authentic and unopened, and this was the first time he had ever seen these. Therefore, very possible, he says this pack did exist in small numbers towards the end of baseball season. He goes on to tell me that the pack is most likely real in his opinion, based on his experience with the '72 FB cellos. If this pack is authenticated by GAI anyone care to guess what it might bring on ebay?

lostdart58 · March 13, 2005 8:41AM

A rare cello pack as such?

$200-$400 is my wide guess

pc · March 13, 2005 9:21AM

74.32

jason045 · March 13, 2005 9:59AM

Steve also told me that regular cellos from the 5th series bring $400-$500. This being a variation, it should bring a good bit more than that. So, PC, I hope you're waaaayyy off!

Of course all this is contingent on GAI authenticating the pack.

jason045 · March 18, 2005 9:10AM

I just got the pack and the Rose in today. I am flabbergasted to say the least. The Rose is almost a lock for a 9, and the pack, well, all I can say is WOW! Very near perfect. I can't imagine how a pack can stay that tightly wrapped with a perfect seal all these years without splitting open. The seller even sent me the empty wrapper from the cello the Rose came out of. I wish I had bought all the cards he pulled from that pack. I'll be getting this thing off to GAI sometime this week. I'll post an update when I get it back.

highend · March 18, 2005 9:35AM

jason- GREAT news!! as we had discussed i was skeptical, but if steve feels confident about the pack i'd be thrilled. i can't guess what the pack may fetch but i would call GAI and try to have them research it and label it accordingly. i thought mark murphy was handling the unopened stuff for GAI but apparently he is no longer doing it.
even better, if the rose makes a 9 or even an 8 you made quite a score!!

KansasJayhawk · March 18, 2005 9:37AM

Told ya it was legit! Congratulations man! If I were you I would hang on to that one......we need a scan when you get it back from GAI.

jason045 · March 18, 2005 9:43AM

Thanks, Jim. The Rose will no doubt get an 8. I would bet my set on it. The left edge has just the slightest hint of a rough cut, other than that, and 60/40 T/B centering it's pretty much flawless. Really hoping for that 9! I have already contacted GAI and told them what I know about the pack and the opinion of Steve. I'm having a problem printing their submission form, but soon as i get one I'll be sending it right off.

jason045 · March 18, 2005 9:45AM

Thanks, Jayhawk. I'll get yall a pic when I get it back.

jason045 · April 25, 2005 9:09PM

Got the pack back from GAI yesterday. It is indeed authentic and unopened and graded a 7.5 (NM+). The only thing that ticks me off is not only did GAI not meet their turnaround time (they did give me a discount) they didn't label the flip with what type of variation this is as I requested. They didn't even mark it 5th series. Oh, yeah-- The Rose I bought from this same guy came back a PSA 9. Back to the pack. Would you send it back to GAI to have it labeled properly, or is it pretty self evedint that it is a 5th series and not your ordinary '72 cello. I want to maximize value on this when I put it up on ebay, but I don't know what to call it. Even Steve Hart said he had never seen one of these. Any input would be appreciated.

lostdart58 · April 25, 2005 9:54PM

Good on ya Jason!!

I would not worry about how the flip is labeled. The pack will sell itself. If you plan to sell it on EBAY, just make sure you have a very thorough description explaning 5th series and the rarity of the pack. I would even quote Steve Hart. Make sure the two scans (front and back) are large enough to clearly see the front and back card.

So wheres the scan??

KansasJayhawk · April 25, 2005 10:09PM

Sweet news on the pack and Rose! You made out nicely......we need scans of both please!

Congrats again.

lostdart58 · April 25, 2005 10:23PM

I believe he sold the Rose and got some BIG bucks for it!!

purelyPSA · April 26, 2005 3:59PM

I'm jealous. Nice going.

1967topps · April 26, 2005 4:53PM

maybe the whole humble "I'm a Londoner" prose scared away bidders?

Just won an unopened 1972 Topps Cello for Less than $70. Did I get taken?

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