Need help determining the value of this

Wabittwax

A friend of mine asked me to sell this HOF autographed football helmet for him. I told him I would put it in my ebay store but I don't have a clue as to what to offer it for. I told him the first thing to do was to have it authenticated so he took it to the National here in Cleveland and it was authenticated by James Spence. I know he paid for a lot of the autographs (if not all of them), plus the cost of the helmet (it's a Riddell authentic helmet), plus the cost of authenticating it. He's into it for a lot of money so I would like to get him the best price possible without overcharging anybody, so I figured I would ask around here first for opinions.

Here's a list of the autographs on it:
Doug Atkins
Raymond Berry
Roosevelt Brown
Lou Groza
Jack Ham
John Henry Johnson
Stan Jones
Lenny Moore
Leo Nomellini
Bob St. Clair
Charley Trippi
Willie Lanier
Tommy McDonald
Lem Barney
Frank Gatski
Leroy Kelly
Paul Krause
Dante Lavelli
Larry Little
John Mackey
Mike McCormack
Bobby Mitchell
Joe Perry
Dwight Stephenson
Mike Webster
Willie Wood

I'm not sure which of those autographs are worth more than others or what the piece is worth as a total. Any opinions on how much I should sell it for? Any help is really appriciated.

Here's some more pictures:
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
Picture 4
Picture 5
Picture 6
Picture 7

Thanks.

Statman

Wabbitt - I've been collecting HOF autographed helmets over the past few years and I've got a couple of similar full-size helmets with multiple signatures. The problem is, it seems like you can never make your money back when you consider the price of the helmet, autos, and with yours, authentication. The minmum price for most of those guys at a show would be $25, with some a lot more. So, you're talking minimum probably $700 for the autos, plus the other costs.

I saw one like this sell on Ebay recently with some better autographs, including Jim Brown, and it only went for a little over $500. However, you do have several deceased guys like Groza, Gatski, Brown, Nomellini and Webster, which obviously helps out the value a little.

I actually just picked one up with 30 signatures inc Ditka, Sayers, etc... for $165 on Ebay and just flipped it for $400. Lower than is what it was worth, but I resold it before I got attached, since I had most of the guys already. I am in the process of selling off a bunch of mini-helmets and am finding that having paid for the autograph at a show and the helmet, it's hard to get back your money on a lot of them.

As for this one, the authentication helps - I'd just price it high (find out what your friend has into it) and leave it in the store and hope you find that lucky buyer.

Good Luck -
Andrew

envoy98

I agree completely.

Great looking helmet and some nice sigs, but without any of the big name skill position guys (Berry Excluded) it's going to be tough to get a lot for it. If it had Payton or Unitas it would be far more desirable. Even if he can add some of the living guys (Montana, Barry, Aikman, Largent, Starr) it would fetch a much bigger price. The Sun Times and Sportsfest shows tend to have "themed" autograph days and usually it's either HOF'ers or Heisman or 85 Bears, or Packers or SB MVP's. If he keeps his eyes open, he might find some of the HOF'ers in a group at one show.

carew4me

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I saw one like this sell on Ebay recently with some better autographs, including Jim Brown, and it only went for a little over $500. However, you do have several deceased guys like Groza, Gatski, Brown, Nomellini and Webster, which obviously helps out the value a little.
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auction above

Wabittwax

Thanks for the help.

Yeah, I figure he's gotten be into this thing for close to $1000 at least so I'm going to have to put a big price on it. I'll see what happens. There's some big money floating around ebay, trick is finding the right person for the right item.