Advice on a 3x5 autograph collection. (Update: Pics Added)

RW

Hey guys...I'm meandering over from the US Coin Board. I hope that means I can still get some advice.

My father has a large 3x5 card auto collection he is looking to sell. It is 100% baseball. The nicer items are.....

(Quantity)

Walter Alston
Luke Appling
Earl Averill
Max Carey
Wahoo Sam Crawford (2)
Earle Combs (5)
Frank Crosetti
Bill Dickey
Joe DiMaggio (24)
Leo Durocher (6)
Red Faber
Bob Feller (13)
Nelson Fox
Jimmie Foxx
Elmer Flick (21)
Goose Goslin
Lefty Grove (16)
Hank Greenberg (8)
Burleigh Grimes
Jesse Haines
Bucky Harris (3)
Gabby Hartnett
Gil Hodges
Harry Hooper
Carl Hubbell
Ralph Kiner
Ernie Lombardi (3)
Ted Lyons
Mickey Mantle
Heini Manush (19)
Joe McCarthy (6)
Joe Medwick
Lefty O'Doul
Sam Rice
Edd Roush
Casey Stengel (8)
George Sisler (13)
Ray Schalk (10)
Lloyd Waner
Ted Williams (4)
Zach Wheat

In addition to this there are roughly 150 other less notable names.

If we're looking to sell the collection what is the best way to get top dollar? Should they definitely be certified? Sell the whole lot? Sell individually? Is it worth investing the money to have the nicer ones framed with an 8x10?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

Robb






This one is one of my favorites. Poor Elmer! LOL

brianwintersfan

Awesome collection!
I would say spend some money and get them certified as that should add some $$ to your bottom line. Not sure about framing them as I think a Williams or Dimaggio would look sweet enough in a PSA/DNA holder.
Or I will be the entire lot for $50.00!

RW

Thanks for the advice. I've been thinking I might slab a few of the nicer ones, sell them and then be able to finance slabbing the remainder that are worth the expense.

kcballboy

bw

No one likes a lowballer. I'll give $51

brianwintersfan

<< <i>No one likes a lowballer. I'll give $51 >>

ToppsCo1lector

I'd love to get one of those Joey D's somehow for my Pops. Please let me know, he used to go to Yankees games as a kid back in 50's and basically my whole family are Yankees fans. Really, this would like be awesome if I could get one. PM me if you'd like! BTW-Awesome collection, the best way to go about getting top dollar is a couple of different ways

You could sell them to a Sport card manufactuer(sp); they are buying up a lot of old-timers autographs to be put into 'cut' cards. You can also get it certified by various sports auctioin houses. Sell them to collectors who like spending big bucks, using non online auctions where you get the most money.

RW

<< <i>I'd love to get one of those Joey D's somehow for my Pops. Please let me know, he used to go to Yankees games as a kid back in 50's and basically my whole family are Yankees fans. Really, this would like be awesome if I could get one. PM me if you'd like! BTW-Awesome collection, the best way to go about getting top dollar is a couple of different ways

You could sell them to a Sport card manufactuer(sp); they are buying up a lot of old-timers autographs to be put into 'cut' cards. You can also get it certified by various sports auctioin houses. Sell them to collectors who like spending big bucks, using non online auctions where you get the most money. >>




I'll keep a list of anyone who expresses interest. And thanks for the advice.

I just calculated out the slabbing fees at $12,795. Ouch!!! I have zero experience with PSA/DNA so I guess I need to check on a volume discount. lol

brianwintersfan

That's why I would do some research and start off with some of the more valuable ones.

jimq112

Sign up for ebay's free trial on the research package, then check closed auctions for all of the names you have. make a little database, spend the time to get all the information you can. I think you can check closed auctions for 90 days.

Like Brianwintersfan said pick out a couple "better" ones and list them first. You don't want to have your recent selling history to show you selling elmer mcgruff autos for $3.95 and then you list a dimaggio.

whatever you do, don't tell anybody you have 24 dimaggios! If you flood the market or let it be known that another is around the corner you might get lower bids and less competition at the end of the auction.

I was bidding on a ray schalk a couple months ago, it was badly listed and I think it sold for $80-90.

Maybe ask psa/dna if you can get a discount if you send them all at once. There's a lot of fake autos out there so getting them authenticated is important.

crsportscards33

RW, PM sent.

onlyanumber

Remember that when you sign up for PSA/DNA they send you a voucher for $80 (?) in services. Sign up, use the voucher for an item or two that will command the big money and use the returns to fund the rest of the grading.

jimq112

One of the great guys here sent me a copy of the SMR magazine, and it has a price section for baseball autos that includes 3x5s. Maybe the prices aren't always perfectly spot on, but it would give you an idea of what is and is not valuable. If you want me to send the price section PM me your address and I'll get it in the mail to you tomorrow -

jim

airjoedan

RW, PM sent as well.


Thanks,

Joe

RW

Thank you all for the advice. I did a spread sheet calculation based on what things are selling for on Ebay then took 35% off to be conservative. I'll try to post some pictures tomorrow. The Elmer Flicks are really cool...my dad had him sign so many I think it just about killed him! lol

MooseDog

RW - I'm not interested in buying, but I would be interested to see a scan of the Dimaggio's. It sounds like the original collector mailed out 3x5's to the players which was popular to do back in the day...Dimaggio's sister signed almost all of his mail.

I'll try to find a piece or two I have that are his sister's sig but I'd like to see what you have.

Counselor

Like a lot of folks I have interest in several of your autos - please let me know when you have some prices availabel - esp Dimaggio and Wililiams

Thanks

Bob

ToppsCo1lector

Dang those Joey D's are beauties, along with the Jimmy Foxx.

Tedw9

I may be interested in a Casey Stengel.

jimq112

That dizzy dean has my name on it, if you start selling them please shoot me a price - thanks!

bsfastball

Ahh, I want the Dizzy Dean too! I'll fight you for it!

MooseDog

Sweet - I think you got the "good" DiMaggio's!

I still can't find my "Marie" Joe DiMaggio sig, but when I do I'll post it here. It's distinctly different.

That Mantle's a little iffy though...

You might want to scan the Earle Combs too, if you have different ones. He had a stroke late in life and his wife signed some stuff for him.

jimq112

Don't wanna fight ya. I'll get it, and send you a free picture!

You have a PM

MooseDog

Just an idea, but if you want to sell the collection whole, you might want to work out something for authentication with Richard Simon. He's been collecting this stuff for near 40 years and knows his stuff and since what you've shown looks "good" I'm sure he'd authenticate the collection for well under $12,000 and provide a letter of authenticity that does carry some weight to those who know this stuff.

Richard Simon Sports

I am not affiliated in any way but I had good dealings with him 20+ years ago when I was big into Baseball HOF autographs.

jimq112

<< <i>Just an idea, but if you want to sell the collection whole, you might want to work out something for authentication with Richard Simon. He's been collecting this stuff for near 40 years and knows his stuff and since what you've shown looks "good" I'm sure he'd authenticate the collection for well under $12,000 and provide a letter of authenticity that does carry some weight to those who know this stuff.

Richard Simon Sports

I am not affiliated in any way but I had good dealings with him 20+ years ago when I was big into Baseball HOF autographs. >>



I'll vouch for him as well. Nothing but great dealings with him. Check his website, he has lots of information and is very helpful.

It costs $75 for him to do a team signed packers yearbook, $50 to do a single signed lombardi packers yearbook. $15 insured shipping back. Turnaround time 2-3 DAYS.

Nice guy and been doing this forever. His name isn't as known as PSA/DNA or JSA for ebay purposes but like MooseDog said his authenticity matters to people who have heard of him. I trust anything he gave his OK to.

onlyanumber

I'll third Richard Simon. Great authenticating going on over there.

Seriously, your best bet would be to find who would give you the best package deal on authentication services. A lot of your size is something these services would drool over--not just for the size, but for the notoriety as well.

RW

Thanks for the name...I'll look into that.

If I could sell a PSA aunthenticated Joe Schmoe for $100, what could I sell Richard Simon authenticated Joe Schmoe for?


I still like the idea of being able to do a nice framed 8x10 with the signature beneath for some of them. Is that a waste of time and energy or would that type of presentation bring a premium in some cases?

baseballfanatic

I'll fifth Richard Simon
No one better
Period

MooseDog

Here's an example of Marie DiMaggio's signing of Joe's name, complete with "Best Wishes" salutation, which she often did.

..

SUNTZ

I've been collecting autographs since 1984 and have been in front of Dimaggio over a dozen times. I'm pretty sure that those Dimaggio sigs and from his sister. She used to make the little tail on the end of the o in DIMAGGIO where Joe himself would not make a tail. Do anyone else hear this? The Mantle looks pretty funny as well. Just my 2 cents. P.

phreakydancin

<< <i>Do anyone else hear this? The Mantle looks pretty funny as well. Just my 2 cents. P. >>

I'm by no means a baseball auto expert, but my first instinct when I saw the Mantle was "what's up with the M's?". Doesn't look like others I have seen.

phreakydancin

Here's a recently authenticated one:

SUNTZ

Yep, there is some funny business with that Mantle.