How would you sell this 1961 Topps Mantle #300?
Bosox1976
Posts: 8,566 ✭✭✭✭✭
I am through with this card; paid almost $900 for it a few years ago.
1. Got it graded at a Rosemont show by PSA as a 5. Only then did I notice a very fine indentation along bottom right border (like it had been grazed by a fingernail).
2. Seller refunded $400 to me (or I could have returned it - wish I had) for overgrading it.
3. Cracked it out and resubmitted to PSA - got another 5.
4. Cracked it out and sent to SGC got an 80 (6).
5. Cracked it out and sent to PSA - EVID of TRIM! - annoying
6. Read a post here and put it between the pages of a thick book and put it under the leg of my dresser for a couple of weeks. Faint indentation fainter, but perceptible at right angle.
7. Sent to PSA on $13 special - EVID of TRIM - twice as annoying
So, I am probably into this card - which is beautiful in scans, and in person - for $650. The indentation is really much, much more faint than any surface wrinkle. Still can't believe it is not an 8 after so many tries.
Anyway, I've had it with this card. How to sell it is another matter. Graded by both PSA and SGC - but later rejected twice. I have high feedback on ebay, but can't imagine I'd get much given its history and my propensity to be accurate in descriptions. What would be a fair price? I am pretty biased on this card (as evidenced by my continued spending on it), so I am having a hard time being objective.
If I had to give it subgrades, I'd say:
Centering 9 - (Front is perfect, but Back centering is not so hot)
Corners 8
Edges 8.5
Surface ? (brilliant gloss, snow free, but that indent...)
I promise that this is the last time I will post about this darn card.
1. Got it graded at a Rosemont show by PSA as a 5. Only then did I notice a very fine indentation along bottom right border (like it had been grazed by a fingernail).
2. Seller refunded $400 to me (or I could have returned it - wish I had) for overgrading it.
3. Cracked it out and resubmitted to PSA - got another 5.
4. Cracked it out and sent to SGC got an 80 (6).
5. Cracked it out and sent to PSA - EVID of TRIM! - annoying
6. Read a post here and put it between the pages of a thick book and put it under the leg of my dresser for a couple of weeks. Faint indentation fainter, but perceptible at right angle.
7. Sent to PSA on $13 special - EVID of TRIM - twice as annoying
So, I am probably into this card - which is beautiful in scans, and in person - for $650. The indentation is really much, much more faint than any surface wrinkle. Still can't believe it is not an 8 after so many tries.
Anyway, I've had it with this card. How to sell it is another matter. Graded by both PSA and SGC - but later rejected twice. I have high feedback on ebay, but can't imagine I'd get much given its history and my propensity to be accurate in descriptions. What would be a fair price? I am pretty biased on this card (as evidenced by my continued spending on it), so I am having a hard time being objective.
If I had to give it subgrades, I'd say:
Centering 9 - (Front is perfect, but Back centering is not so hot)
Corners 8
Edges 8.5
Surface ? (brilliant gloss, snow free, but that indent...)
I promise that this is the last time I will post about this darn card.
Mike
Bosox1976
Bosox1976
0
Comments
If you get it back in an sgc 6 holder, it probably brings $250-300 on ebay? That's a pretty big loss to take on a beautiful card. You probably gave psa enough money on that card so far, I think they're a little trim happy right now.
If you have a few other cards that psa doesn't like, maybe you can take a shot at BVG, they aren't doing the subgrades on the holders on vintage any more and they say they're looking at the card as a whole instead of the one problem bringing down a great card to a stinker. Maybe they look at it and see a nice card with a minor ding and give you a good enough grade to sell it.
Since it was in a PSA holder before, if you get it in a BVG or SGC holder I don't know if you would need to mention the psa hassles on that card. They've been trim happy lately more than before, and mostly everybody here knows it. I've had a trim rejection go back in and get an 8, it happens a lot and it's subjective.
Maybe originalisbest is right, maybe call or email joe orlando and ask him to look at it, maybe he can tell you why it's trimmed?
If it was my card, I would do one of 3 things (not necessarily in this order):
1) Send it back to PSA with a group of 61's and see what happens.
2) Consider sending it to BVG. I am in Dallas and use them very sparingly, but if the idea is to holder this card with the intention of cutting your losses on it, they should be considered.
3) If you truly believe the card to be NM, sell it raw on Ebay as such.
I would not send it to SGC right now. They are murdering vintage cards....there were mass complaints about them at the National.
See my PM for further comments.
Ron
Buying Vintage, all sports.
Buying Woody Hayes, Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, and Jesse Owens autographed items
Allen: Shoot me a pm, I know you commented on this card after my previous posting.
Thanks for the thoughts so far, and the pm's.
Bosox1976
Bosox1976
"I spent 50% of my money on alcohol, women, and gambling. The other half I wasted.
Shane
<< <i> I can't believe you guys have overlooked the obvious solution to this problem. Send the Mantle to the great PRO Grading. They will give it a 10, no questions asked. >>
Now that is the best idea yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Or do like i do---submit it under 4SC
<< <i>I sure would love to have it in my raw 61 set. >>
I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who would love this card just the way it is. I'd offer it raw and point out whatever evident flaws there are. I wouldn't bother giving the TPGer history since clearly nobody can agree on it; it becomes unnecessary information. If your Cousin Jake told you he thought it was counterfeit, would you disclose that?
"All evil needs to triumph is for good men to do nothing."