1955 Bowman Unopened Packs

frankhardy · February 4, 2007 5:11AM

I acquired these three 1955 Bowman packs this week in a collection. Have any of you heard of the Paris, TN find? Well, these 3 packs came from that find from a man that lives about 30 minutes from Paris, TN. I live about an hour from Paris, TN. I bought his entire collection. Come to find out, he is Hall of Famer, Freddie Lindstrom's nephew. Anyway, these packs are still sealed. The problem is that they have water damage. The first one is the best one. The bottom edge of all three are cracked. The wrappers are very brittle, so I am very careful with them.

I was just wondering what your thoughts were on these. I would like to keep at least one. Of course, if they are totally worthless, I will definitely keep them because I think they are a neat item, even thought there is zero chance of getting a nice conditioned card. However, I might sell a couple if I thought they were worth very much. Should I send them to GAI if I decided to sell a couple on Ebay? Or, should I just guarantee them myself and hope for the best? Would GAI encapsulate them since they are damaged? Your thoughts would be appreciated. You are even welcome to say that they are completely worthless junk, and I won't be offended. It won't change my mind because I think they are pretty nice little display and conversation pieces. I just want your thoughts on these.

jmbkb4 · February 4, 2007 5:18AM

First off, nice find!

Secondly, I know nothing about these packs, but the top L seems like a nice one. If you do decide to get it/some graded, I'd probably go with PSA (as opposed to GAI -- unless there is a better reason). Seems like PSA will bring more if you should need to sell.

frankhardy · February 4, 2007 5:26AM

I agree with PSA over GAI. However, I don't think that PSA will grade these packs yet. It says on the PSA site that they will grade 1952-1956 "Topps only".

After just now reading the guidelines on their grading, I would say that these would grade a PSA 1 or 2 (just a guess).

tennesseebanker · February 4, 2007 5:36AM

I live about an hour from Paris as well, In Jackson. I heard of the Paris find a few years ago when they found a horde of unopened 55 Topps as well. Nice Find ! I would crack the two worst ones(they arent going to grade high anyway). Where are you from and exactly where did they find the packs?

frankhardy · February 4, 2007 5:40AM

I am from Western KY, near Paducah. I am not sure exactly where they found them. All I know about it is that Alan Rosen (Mr Mint) flew in and bought most of them (apparently all but the water damaged ones). From what I understand, there was a hoard of 1952-1956 Topps and Bowman unopened wax boxes. Makes me sick just thinking about it!

Here is a link about it.

Paris, TN Find

RipublicaninMass · February 4, 2007 5:41AM

I guess the Paris packs were water damaged. Still

I dont know if I would crack or slab

Bunker · February 4, 2007 5:45AM

I would at least open the worse of the 3. Like someone else mentioned it probably wont grade. If you do please post a scan! Good luck with whatever you decide.

frankhardy · February 4, 2007 5:50AM

Also, in this collection was this - a 1954 Bowman pack from the same find. The man that I bought this collection from had already opened this one. I don't really know why he opened the 54 instead of one of the 55's that he had duplicates of. Anyway, scroll down and take a look at the first card in that pack.

WARNING: This is not for the faint of heart. You just might come to tears when you see this.

Scroll down.

Scroll down.

Scroll down.

scooter729 · February 4, 2007 6:02AM

Oh man, that IS tough to see! The corners on that Mantle are gorgeous! If only not for the water damage! Gorgeous Mantle nonetheless...

Stone193 · February 4, 2007 6:19AM

Frank

It's still a Mantle!

Is the surface of the card destroyed? Or just water damaged?

I have heard that the card can be cleaned - but many would call that "altering."

Interesting.
mike

frankhardy · February 4, 2007 6:26AM

It's bumpy on the surface and stained pretty good on the back too.

Just think, if the top was just like the bottom, I would have a $3500 card on my hands.

JackWESQ · February 4, 2007 6:27AM

Regarding the Mantle and even with the water damage, if it were ever submitted to Beckett, I could see the following grades:

Centering: 6 or 7
Edges: 8, 8.5 or 9
Corners: 8.5, 9 or 9.5
Surface: 1
Overall Grade: 2

/s/ JackWESQ

leadoff4 · February 4, 2007 9:47AM

I was in Paris, TN once. Have you heard of a Mexican restaurant named The Big Apple that is there? Beautiful find and story. I love these stories!

frankhardy · February 4, 2007 10:04PM

<< I was in Paris, TN once. Have you heard of a Mexican restaurant named The Big Apple that is there? Beautiful find and story. I love these stories! >>

No, I've only been there a few times.

Does anybody have some sort of guess how much one of these would bring on Ebay?

EAsports · February 4, 2007 10:19PM

<< 

<< I was in Paris, TN once. Have you heard of a Mexican restaurant named The Big Apple that is there? Beautiful find and story. I love these stories! >>

No, I've only been there a few times.

Does anybody have some sort of guess how much one of these would bring on Ebay? >>

A mexican restaurant? Or the Bowman packs?

Seriously though... Nice find! That's a shame about that Mantle, but it's still way nicer than the '54 Mantle that I own....

originalisbest · February 4, 2007 11:31PM

Aaah! A shame about the Mantle - still nice to keep. The bright side? At least it wasn't 50/50 centered!

frankhardy · February 4, 2007 11:37PM

I still would like to know what these packs might be worth. The reason is that I would like to open one just to see what's in one. If it would only bring $20 or so, then I will open. If they will bring $100 or more, then I would have to sell at least 2.

Ideas, anyone?

studentT206 · February 4, 2007 11:38PM

I had a football pack from the same find in very similar condition. I think it was 54 or 55. It had been opened like your 54 pack and contained a star card. Can't remember who, but was $50 to $100 star. Cards were about the same shape as your 54's. Paid and sold it for about $10 I think. I would guess your 55 packs would get around $50 each slabbed or not. Of course you could open them and get a Mantle. If positioned correctly in the pack it could be pretty nice considering stain wouldn't stand out as much on '55's. Good luck with them and if you open please post scans.

Damian

frankhardy · February 4, 2007 11:56PM

I just checked and 1954 Bomwan Mantle graded in PSA 1 and 2 are going for $100 to $200. I would say that my Mantle would do at least $125. I plan on putting the whole lot with the wrapper with the Mantle just for the intrigue.

sagard · February 5, 2007 12:35AM

I'd send an email to Steve Hart at bbcexchange.com. I'm guessing those would be worth more slabbed and unopened even after pulling a Mantle, but who knows. That had to have been pretty awesome to see Mantle staring back at you.

basestealer · February 5, 2007 12:42AM

<< I just checked and 1954 Bomwan Mantle graded in PSA 1 and 2 are going for $100 to $200. I would say that my Mantle would do at least $125. I plan on putting the whole lot with the wrapper with the Mantle just for the intrigue. >>

My estimate is, if you listed that Mantle on eBay, you'd get no less than $300 for it.

frankhardy · February 5, 2007 1:23AM

Wow, I wouldn't have thought that high. We will find out because I will list it in the next couple of weeks.

Beezer12 · February 7, 2007 1:42PM

I'd leave them be and sell them as is on ebay. Regardless of the condition, they are extremely rare to a pack collector, the cards inside are irrelevent as most would never even consider opening them. I'm not sure getting them graded matters much as grading packs is generally considered subjective to the point of being laughable, particularly so in this case as anyone can see they would be a low grade without paying someone $20 a pack to confirm what you already know, it's the authentication that matters for packs. Having said this though, authentication probably also doesn't matter much for these packs as no resealer is going to make a pack that looks that bad anyways. They tend to ty to make them look as good as possible. You would be marketing these to a baseball wax collector who just wants a rare piece of baseball card memorabilia. As someone said earlier ask Steve about value.

zef204 · February 7, 2007 2:05PM

I missed this thread on Monday, so I am glad someone responded now.

Awesome find!

That Mantle, IMO will do far better than the average 1 or 2. Personally a card in that condition is far better than what we all know of 1's and 2's. The corners are great, there are no creases, and the clarity is awesome. I think you would be very surprised how that auction ends up. As Stone suggested, there are many poeple out there who can clean a card and they will be very interested in that card.

I would try to be honest about the water stains, but harp on the pristine condition regardless. Show big pics in the auction and if you need help with hosting the images and linking them to your auction, let me know.

As for the 55's, I would leave them in tact. I am a pack ripper but those I would leave alone. If you are wondering the value, put the worst one on eBay and see what it goes for. If it is only $20, which I highly doubt, then rip the others if you like. But to be honest, the cards inside considering the condition of the wrapper and the condition of the 54's, are likely not worth much of anything.

Anywho, keep us informed and if you need help in the auction, just let me know. I'm glad to help or host your pics if you like.

Cheers,

Jordan

frankhardy · February 7, 2007 9:29PM

Thanks for the advice guys.

Jordan, I use Imageshack (or at least, I am just starting to use Imageshack). I usually just let Ebay host them, but I'm going to use Imageshack this time around. The reason is that in this collection I bought, there is a really nice 1961 Topps Complete set and I be able to show more than 12 pictures, which is Ebay's limit. Plus, I won't have to pay $0.75 everytime I want to show a large picture. Do you recommend another host besides Imageshack? Imageshack is free. Are there any other free ones?

Uncbob · February 7, 2007 9:53PM

Damn I quit collecting in 51

9 cards for 5 cents

Back in 51 if I remember correctly it was 5 cards but maybe more gum

But I can't remember what the packs looked like

You would think after buying so many the image would be etched in my brain

Anybody have a pic of a 51 pack

frankhardy · February 7, 2007 9:55PM

Also....back to the 1954 Bowman lot with the Mantle... would you guys sell the Mantle by itself, then sell the rest itself. Or would you sell it all together?

mikeschmidt · February 7, 2007 10:19PM

<< Also....back to the 1954 Bowman lot with the Mantle... would you guys sell the Mantle by itself, then sell the rest itself. Or would you sell it all together? >>

Sell the Mantle separately. You can put them in two separate auctions and reference one another -- but the Mantle will do better on its own.

stown · February 7, 2007 10:51PM

As a 54 Bowman collector, major props on the find.

In my opinion, the condition doesn't matter; a Mantle is a Mantle:

Ahmanfan · February 8, 2007 1:03AM

I use www.tinypic.com as well as www.photobucket.com as well

zef204 · February 8, 2007 3:08AM

I would sell the Mantle by itself. I would show a nice big scan of just the Mantle, and then show the whole pack and wrapper.

I would advise against the use of the words "find," "part of a collection" and other sayings like it. This is JMO, but I think it comes off bad. I would just show the pack and the card and not gie the story.

Does ImageShack put a limit on size of the picture? I would think you would want a picture of the Mantle alone to be 600 wide.

frankhardy · February 16, 2007 11:57PM

Here is the 1954 Bowman auction. Zef, sorry, I decided to go against your advice. Hopefully, it will pan out. Here it is. It ends tonight.

1954 Bowman Mantle pack

ldferg · February 17, 2007 12:17AM

wow, i missed this post as well. great find. i live in TN as well and am aware of the Paris find. i'd love to run across something like this. i purchased some 48 leaf fb cards (one was luckman) at an auction back in 85 for $1 and traded them for an 88 fleer factory bb set....ugh.

frankhardy · February 21, 2007 9:27PM

Great googly moogly! Take a look at my 1955 Bowman pack! It's at $300.00! I had no idea it would even end that high, much less be that high half way through the auction.

1955 Bowman Pack

That's just one of them. I have 2 more. I will probably keep one and sell the other later on.

By the way, the 1954 Bowman Mantle and pack sold for $184.70

stown · February 21, 2007 9:53PM

<< Great googly moogly! Take a look at my 1955 Bowman pack! It's at $300.00! I had no idea it would even end that high, much less be that high half way through the auction.

1955 Bowman Pack

That's just one of them. I have 2 more. I will probably keep one and sell the other later on.

By the way, the 1954 Bowman Mantle and pack sold for $184.70 >>

Best of luck on your auction. Sure hope the Buyer doesn't get pissy because of the cards' condition.

frankhardy · February 21, 2007 10:01PM

I made it pretty clear in the auction description and even more clear in the additional description below the pictures about the cards condition. I'm more worried about his feedback percentage.

packCollector · February 21, 2007 11:47PM

That's a pretty amazing price for that pack in that condition. hopefully you get some more , the joys of ebay , you never know what will happen!

frankhardy · February 25, 2007 6:35AM

Well, it ended at $300. The winner was the high bidder for a few days. I didn't like his feedback. He had several negatives for non payment, so I was getting worried that he wouldn't pay. Good news for me - he just paid!

CDsNuts · February 25, 2007 6:56AM

Sweet. That's a great price. I hate the tease of getting high bids early, only they don't go up after that. Looks like you did well on the collection you bought.

Lee

magellan · February 25, 2007 7:16AM

Nice going Shane. I like the way you presented the auctions.......Congratulations on the prices realized. I thought they were quite good for the condition.

I've just started to use photobucket for my auctions rather than eBay's hosting. First ones start tonight.

Dave

stown · February 25, 2007 7:18AM

<< I thought they were quite good for the condition. >>

No doubt, congrats

1955 Bowman Unopened Packs

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