1962 Mars Attacks prices

bartman777 · January 1, 2010 2:12AM

I'm new to the post here and want to try this out a little. My question is, do you think that '62 Mars Attacks cards will maintain their value over time with this current economic situation? It seems like I've seen a lot on high grade cards for sale lately. I collect for the pure joy of having the cards. But, my collections have become a kind of investment now that they have grown. In some way it seems that prices have peaked.
My sets are listed in the registry as B9's Mars Attacks...

gotsparks09 · January 1, 2010 4:15AM

First of all, welcome to the boards...

I'm no expert at all, but...

It seems that non-sports cards in general have taken a bit of a hit lately in this market. However, I don't think that is true for high grade examples (PSA 8+) of popular sets (such as Mars Attacks). With that being said, Mars Attacks has always been a popular set and demand has only grown, especially over the last few years. I don't see any reason why that trend won't continue once we're out of the recession. But like I said, I'm by no means an expert on that particular set. I'm sure some of our fellow board members will chime in with much more useful information. Regardless, it wouldn't hurt to ask the folks on the Net54 boards either. Good luck with the set and again welcome to the boards!

Net54 Non-Sports Board

WarHoundR69 · January 1, 2010 6:22AM

This year I picked up a mid-grade (Complete Set PSA Graded GPA 4.17) for approx. $1400.00. If you are OK with Mid Grade sets (VG/EX) you can get a lot more bang for your buck. A high grade Mars Attacks set would be extremely expensive. I'm happy with my MA set and do not plan on upgrading it. Actually my 1936 R60 G-Men & Heroes of The Law & 1938 R69 Horrors of War have higher Set GPA's.

I collect the cards I like and consider the price of buying them an "ENTERTAINMENT EXPENSE" like going to the movies or paying for a sporting event ticket. Anything I get back when I sell a card is gravy. I've actually come ahead with this approach.

If you are interested I have F&B scans of all three sets posted on my PSA Set Registry (All three are 100% Complete)

bartman777 · January 2, 2010 3:27AM

Thanks for the responses.

I started my obsession with Mars Attacks cards by buying a few on Ebay. Then I joined PSA and had them graded. I got "lucky" with a couple or PSA 8s. Then I became an addict. I have never really collected any other cards before. So I kept buying when I could afford to, not realizing how far it would go for me over time. So, as I look back, my collection became something of real value. But, in spite of value... I really love the era, the art, and the subject matter. But now, even with PSA 8s maintaining good value, my dollar just doesn't go as far anymore. So i still keep my eyes peeled for decent raw cards to submit to be graded. But finding them in good condition has become a lot harder than when I first started. I'm a little afraid of paying too much for high graded cards if the market is declining. I dream of owning a PSA 9 one day...... but I'll keep dreaming.

Tomi · January 2, 2010 6:31AM

Congrats. You are officially obsessed like the rest of us. The Registry is a hell of a drug. You are collecting one of the most popular non-sport sets ever made. Don't be surprised if you lose out on many auctions. I still don't think that this market has experienced a boom yet. I think once the market gets better the prices will go up. Great time to invest.

slacker · January 2, 2010 12:36PM

you asked if 1962 topps mars attacks psa high graded cards are a smart long term investment? my answer SURE HOPE SO...
when i started out on the psa set reg i think i was #47 and then the addiction was born like an addict i was hooked and have now spent lots of coin, for example just purchased card #1 psa 8 lowest pop of 12 for $4500.00 and card #35 psa 9 mint pop of only 1 for $3200.00 and now by pure miracle i'm #6 on the psa set reg on the way to my goal of psa gpa 8.0 for my all time favorite bubble gum card sets dark haunting beauty of artwork. i even have the prototype attack from space/ mars attacks 5 cent wax pack display box in my mars attacks vault.
love and laughter,
slacker
ps i just realized i paid 7.5 times psa smr on card #1 psa 8 nm-mt gem
pss maybe i need an intervention haha

WinPitcher · January 3, 2010 8:04AM

I am glad I did my set when I did.

Steve

bartman777 · January 4, 2010 8:50AM

It's amazing how much we will pay for bits of cardboard. I would imagine that if someone did a psychological study on collecting, they might find it to be a mental disorder. WHAT A FUN DISORDER TO HAVE!
Overall, I've been pretty fortunate with many of my raw submissions. But, recently I tried to crossover a GAI 7 Mars Attacks card #1. It came back in it's original holder. How disappointed I was. I guess that's for another thread. Generally I'm very happy with the money I have in my sets of cardboard and I'm enjoying every minute.

slacker · January 5, 2010 1:39AM

i look at it that my mars attacks psa set are my treasures on earth, like i said in the other thread truely fine masterpieces works of art, but since we can't take it with us when the time comes. the thing that gives me hope and more pleasure is the treasures we will have in heaven.
love and laughter,
slacker

slacker · January 9, 2010 8:10PM

last two psa 9 mint 1962 topps mars attacks sold for nearly 4k a pop no pun intended. haha nope i didn't win even one of those two gems.
love and laughter,
slacker

castlewalls · March 29, 2010 4:54AM

How do you convince someone that their cards are NOT really NM/M and are not good in centering and other areas that a card should be in for the high dollar they think they are worth. If there is POOR centering a lot of them are close margins on the left and bottom of the card. I need examples to show them what a good card is to an excellent card any help?

WinPitcher · March 30, 2010 9:59PM

Go to the PSA grading section here and let that person read what PSA says?

Buy a beckett and do the same?

Put together some cards and make up your own set of cards that you feel are

poor, good, vg, vg/ex, ex. ex/mnt, etc.

do the same with OC cards.

Not sure you can convince anyone who thinks that the cards they have are better then they actually are.

(That is why we have TPG's)

Steve

slacker · March 18, 2022 3:57PM

@bartman777 said:
I'm new to the post here and want to try this out a little. My question is, do you think that '62 Mars Attacks cards will maintain their value over time with this current economic situation? It seems like I've seen a lot on high grade cards for sale lately. I collect for the pure joy of having the cards. But, my collections have become a kind of investment now that they have grown. In some way it seems that prices have peaked.
My sets are listed in the registry as B9's Mars Attacks...

slacker · March 18, 2022 4:37PM

12 years after your post Mars Attacks have gone up for Psa 8’s now 400 up to 800% .

In the past 12 years I’ve spent blood sweat and tears upgrading my Mars Attacks set. I even sacrificed five of the most rare on the psa pop report PSA 9’s helping a buddy of mine upgrade his set so he could be number one on the Psa registry.

I felt like a kid back in the day when I would spend all my money on garbage pail kids back in 1985. But instead of nickels and dimes saved up, time and time again I would spend thousands of dollars on Mars Attacks cards. Not being a wealthy man it was a miracle I have a wife that is loving and supportive Knowing the pure joy of my hobby and how special it was to me collecting and upgrading my Mars Attacks set I was building on the Psa registry.

A few years ago before Mars Attacks exploded in price, I made Perhaps the most difficult decision of my life at the time, hitting the eject button on my Mars attack set 3 on the psa set registry or the coin for a down payment on a new home.
It was one of the most gut wrenching experiences I’ve ever had in my life hitting the eject button.
I never knew I would have that much of an emotional attachment.

I started building the set when I was 33 and my first marriage dissolved a way to cheer myself up. It was 7.57. A decade later I believe it was 8.57 when I hit the eject button. The average person that doesn’t seem like a very big bump. But to those of us that collect we realize The milestone that that was.

You’re welcome to chime in and share your experiences of building would I consider the Holy grail of bubblegum card sets.

slacker · March 18, 2022 4:41PM

I just realized my goal back then was building a 8.25 psa set. I not only reached my goal building my Mars Attacks Set but even surpassed it at 8.57. Man that brings me joy.

thedutymon11 · March 19, 2022 2:35PM

Afternoon,

Have a Great Mars Attacks story that I have told on these and other boards, but not for awhile, so I'll go again.

Sometime in 1962/63 when I was about 6/7 every Sunday morning my Father would let me walk with him to the New 7/11 convienence store about a mile from our house in Sacramento to buy his Sunday Sacramento Bee. This was the first one built in Sacramento. It was by itself and not in a strip mall which was a new occurrence.

Outside the store on the Concrete curtain by the asphalt was a Free Standing (Chained to the Building) 2 sided vending machine. And on one side was Mars Attacks. The first time I saw them I was hooked....Period! This is the same kid who stayed up with Dad to watch the Friday Night Fright flicks on TV over my Mothers objection! So Horror and Sci-Fi were right up my alley.

I have never been able to recollect what was on the other side of the machine Card wise, as I had no interest. When I first found the Mars Attacks Cards the machine would spit out 5 Cards for a penny, then in just a little time they went to 5 cents for 5 cards. My Father would give me a penny or nickel to buy one pull of the machine each time we went there!

Over the course of the few months it was there I accumulated about 300-400 Mars Attacks cards, but I could never get a complete set due to never pulling Card, I think it was #21 A Prized Capture. I had seen the Card from my buddies sets and if I remember correctly it was on the Machine display placard as well. I was taking my Lawnmowing money and walking to the store and buying Mars Attacks myself as well. And every nickel I could scrounge!

And then after about 6 months the machine was just gone. My Dad asked for me what happened to it and the Store guy said the company that owned the Vending machine came and took it. Topps perhaps?, I know that about 15 years ago a huge find of still loaded Vending machines was found in an old Topps delivery drivers garage. There were almost all mid 60's Non Sports, Beverly Hillbillies, and many others.

So after seeing the machine gone, I saw a crack in the building at ground level and it looked like some cards had fallen in. I fished out a few Cards, and lo and behold I had 2 copies of the #21, a little beat up, but Gold to me! And then I had 2 complete sets with many many extras.

I'd like to say that the Cards are now in my collection, but I'd be lying! Over the Teen years, Girls came, Collecting Muscle Cars started and I gravitated towards Comics until in my 30's. I don't even have memories of what I did with all the Cards ultimately, they just got traded or sold for other Collecting habits!

Have a Great Day

YeeHaw!

Neil

BaltimoreYankee · March 19, 2022 3:48PM

Great story, Neil, in this 12 year resurrected thread. You said you had told it before but I never heard it. Thanks for sharing - I could just see you smiling as you typed away recollecting these great memories.

slacker · November 18, 2022 1:50PM

@thedutymon11 said:
Afternoon,

Have a Great Mars Attacks story that I have told on these and other boards, but not for awhile, so I'll go again.

Sometime in 1962/63 when I was about 6/7 every Sunday morning my Father would let me walk with him to the New 7/11 convienence store about a mile from our house in Sacramento to buy his Sunday Sacramento Bee. This was the first one built in Sacramento. It was by itself and not in a strip mall which was a new occurrence.

Outside the store on the Concrete curtain by the asphalt was a Free Standing (Chained to the Building) 2 sided vending machine. And on one side was Mars Attacks. The first time I saw them I was hooked....Period! This is the same kid who stayed up with Dad to watch the Friday Night Fright flicks on TV over my Mothers objection! So Horror and Sci-Fi were right up my alley.

I have never been able to recollect what was on the other side of the machine Card wise, as I had no interest. When I first found the Mars Attacks Cards the machine would spit out 5 Cards for a penny, then in just a little time they went to 5 cents for 5 cards. My Father would give me a penny or nickel to buy one pull of the machine each time we went there!

Over the course of the few months it was there I accumulated about 300-400 Mars Attacks cards, but I could never get a complete set due to never pulling Card, I think it was #21 A Prized Capture. I had seen the Card from my buddies sets and if I remember correctly it was on the Machine display placard as well. I was taking my Lawnmowing money and walking to the store and buying Mars Attacks myself as well. And every nickel I could scrounge!

And then after about 6 months the machine was just gone. My Dad asked for me what happened to it and the Store guy said the company that owned the Vending machine came and took it. Topps perhaps?, I know that about 15 years ago a huge find of still loaded Vending machines was found in an old Topps delivery drivers garage. There were almost all mid 60's Non Sports, Beverly Hillbillies, and many others.

So after seeing the machine gone, I saw a crack in the building at ground level and it looked like some cards had fallen in. I fished out a few Cards, and lo and behold I had 2 copies of the #21, a little beat up, but Gold to me! And then I had 2 complete sets with many many extras.

I'd like to say that the Cards are now in my collection, but I'd be lying! Over the Teen years, Girls came, Collecting Muscle Cars started and I gravitated towards Comics until in my 30's. I don't even have memories of what I did with all the Cards ultimately, they just got traded or sold for other Collecting habits!

Have a Great Day

YeeHaw!

Neil

@thedutymon11 said:
Afternoon,

Have a Great Mars Attacks story that I have told on these and other boards, but not for awhile, so I'll go again.

Sometime in 1962/63 when I was about 6/7 every Sunday morning my Father would let me walk with him to the New 7/11 convienence store about a mile from our house in Sacramento to buy his Sunday Sacramento Bee. This was the first one built in Sacramento. It was by itself and not in a strip mall which was a new occurrence.

Outside the store on the Concrete curtain by the asphalt was a Free Standing (Chained to the Building) 2 sided vending machine. And on one side was Mars Attacks. The first time I saw them I was hooked....Period! This is the same kid who stayed up with Dad to watch the Friday Night Fright flicks on TV over my Mothers objection! So Horror and Sci-Fi were right up my alley.

I have never been able to recollect what was on the other side of the machine Card wise, as I had no interest. When I first found the Mars Attacks Cards the machine would spit out 5 Cards for a penny, then in just a little time they went to 5 cents for 5 cards. My Father would give me a penny or nickel to buy one pull of the machine each time we went there!

Over the course of the few months it was there I accumulated about 300-400 Mars Attacks cards, but I could never get a complete set due to never pulling Card, I think it was #21 A Prized Capture. I had seen the Card from my buddies sets and if I remember correctly it was on the Machine display placard as well. I was taking my Lawnmowing money and walking to the store and buying Mars Attacks myself as well. And every nickel I could scrounge!

And then after about 6 months the machine was just gone. My Dad asked for me what happened to it and the Store guy said the company that owned the Vending machine came and took it. Topps perhaps?, I know that about 15 years ago a huge find of still loaded Vending machines was found in an old Topps delivery drivers garage. There were almost all mid 60's Non Sports, Beverly Hillbillies, and many others.

So after seeing the machine gone, I saw a crack in the building at ground level and it looked like some cards had fallen in. I fished out a few Cards, and lo and behold I had 2 copies of the #21, a little beat up, but Gold to me! And then I had 2 complete sets with many many extras.

I'd like to say that the Cards are now in my collection, but I'd be lying! Over the Teen years, Girls came, Collecting Muscle Cars started and I gravitated towards Comics until in my 30's. I don't even have memories of what I did with all the Cards ultimately, they just got traded or sold for other Collecting habits!

Have a Great Day

YeeHaw!

Neil

@thedutymon11 said:
Afternoon,

Have a Great Mars Attacks story that I have told on these and other boards, but not for awhile, so I'll go again.

Sometime in 1962/63 when I was about 6/7 every Sunday morning my Father would let me walk with him to the New 7/11 convienence store about a mile from our house in Sacramento to buy his Sunday Sacramento Bee. This was the first one built in Sacramento. It was by itself and not in a strip mall which was a new occurrence.

Outside the store on the Concrete curtain by the asphalt was a Free Standing (Chained to the Building) 2 sided vending machine. And on one side was Mars Attacks. The first time I saw them I was hooked....Period! This is the same kid who stayed up with Dad to watch the Friday Night Fright flicks on TV over my Mothers objection! So Horror and Sci-Fi were right up my alley.

I have never been able to recollect what was on the other side of the machine Card wise, as I had no interest. When I first found the Mars Attacks Cards the machine would spit out 5 Cards for a penny, then in just a little time they went to 5 cents for 5 cards. My Father would give me a penny or nickel to buy one pull of the machine each time we went there!

Over the course of the few months it was there I accumulated about 300-400 Mars Attacks cards, but I could never get a complete set due to never pulling Card, I think it was #21 A Prized Capture. I had seen the Card from my buddies sets and if I remember correctly it was on the Machine display placard as well. I was taking my Lawnmowing money and walking to the store and buying Mars Attacks myself as well. And every nickel I could scrounge!

And then after about 6 months the machine was just gone. My Dad asked for me what happened to it and the Store guy said the company that owned the Vending machine came and took it. Topps perhaps?, I know that about 15 years ago a huge find of still loaded Vending machines was found in an old Topps delivery drivers garage. There were almost all mid 60's Non Sports, Beverly Hillbillies, and many others.

So after seeing the machine gone, I saw a crack in the building at ground level and it looked like some cards had fallen in. I fished out a few Cards, and lo and behold I had 2 copies of the #21, a little beat up, but Gold to me! And then I had 2 complete sets with many many extras.

I'd like to say that the Cards are now in my collection, but I'd be lying! Over the Teen years, Girls came, Collecting Muscle Cars started and I gravitated towards Comics until in my 30's. I don't even have memories of what I did with all the Cards ultimately, they just got traded or sold for other Collecting habits!

Have a Great Day

YeeHaw!

Neil

@thedutymon11 said:
Afternoon,

Have a Great Mars Attacks story that I have told on these and other boards, but not for awhile, so I'll go again.

Sometime in 1962/63 when I was about 6/7 every Sunday morning my Father would let me walk with him to the New 7/11 convienence store about a mile from our house in Sacramento to buy his Sunday Sacramento Bee. This was the first one built in Sacramento. It was by itself and not in a strip mall which was a new occurrence.

Outside the store on the Concrete curtain by the asphalt was a Free Standing (Chained to the Building) 2 sided vending machine. And on one side was Mars Attacks. The first time I saw them I was hooked....Period! This is the same kid who stayed up with Dad to watch the Friday Night Fright flicks on TV over my Mothers objection! So Horror and Sci-Fi were right up my alley.

I have never been able to recollect what was on the other side of the machine Card wise, as I had no interest. When I first found the Mars Attacks Cards the machine would spit out 5 Cards for a penny, then in just a little time they went to 5 cents for 5 cards. My Father would give me a penny or nickel to buy one pull of the machine each time we went there!

Over the course of the few months it was there I accumulated about 300-400 Mars Attacks cards, but I could never get a complete set due to never pulling Card, I think it was #21 A Prized Capture. I had seen the Card from my buddies sets and if I remember correctly it was on the Machine display placard as well. I was taking my Lawnmowing money and walking to the store and buying Mars Attacks myself as well. And every nickel I could scrounge!

And then after about 6 months the machine was just gone. My Dad asked for me what happened to it and the Store guy said the company that owned the Vending machine came and took it. Topps perhaps?, I know that about 15 years ago a huge find of still loaded Vending machines was found in an old Topps delivery drivers garage. There were almost all mid 60's Non Sports, Beverly Hillbillies, and many others.

So after seeing the machine gone, I saw a crack in the building at ground level and it looked like some cards had fallen in. I fished out a few Cards, and lo and behold I had 2 copies of the #21, a little beat up, but Gold to me! And then I had 2 complete sets with many many extras.

I'd like to say that the Cards are now in my collection, but I'd be lying! Over the Teen years, Girls came, Collecting Muscle Cars started and I gravitated towards Comics until in my 30's. I don't even have memories of what I did with all the Cards ultimately, they just got traded or sold for other Collecting habits!

Have a Great Day

YeeHaw!

Neil

@thedutymon11 said:
Afternoon,

Have a Great Mars Attacks story that I have told on these and other boards, but not for awhile, so I'll go again.

Sometime in 1962/63 when I was about 6/7 every Sunday morning my Father would let me walk with him to the New 7/11 convienence store about a mile from our house in Sacramento to buy his Sunday Sacramento Bee. This was the first one built in Sacramento. It was by itself and not in a strip mall which was a new occurrence.

Outside the store on the Concrete curtain by the asphalt was a Free Standing (Chained to the Building) 2 sided vending machine. And on one side was Mars Attacks. The first time I saw them I was hooked....Period! This is the same kid who stayed up with Dad to watch the Friday Night Fright flicks on TV over my Mothers objection! So Horror and Sci-Fi were right up my alley.

I have never been able to recollect what was on the other side of the machine Card wise, as I had no interest. When I first found the Mars Attacks Cards the machine would spit out 5 Cards for a penny, then in just a little time they went to 5 cents for 5 cards. My Father would give me a penny or nickel to buy one pull of the machine each time we went there!

Over the course of the few months it was there I accumulated about 300-400 Mars Attacks cards, but I could never get a complete set due to never pulling Card, I think it was #21 A Prized Capture. I had seen the Card from my buddies sets and if I remember correctly it was on the Machine display placard as well. I was taking my Lawnmowing money and walking to the store and buying Mars Attacks myself as well. And every nickel I could scrounge!

And then after about 6 months the machine was just gone. My Dad asked for me what happened to it and the Store guy said the company that owned the Vending machine came and took it. Topps perhaps?, I know that about 15 years ago a huge find of still loaded Vending machines was found in an old Topps delivery drivers garage. There were almost all mid 60's Non Sports, Beverly Hillbillies, and many others.

So after seeing the machine gone, I saw a crack in the building at ground level and it looked like some cards had fallen in. I fished out a few Cards, and lo and behold I had 2 copies of the #21, a little beat up, but Gold to me! And then I had 2 complete sets with many many extras.

I'd like to say that the Cards are now in my collection, but I'd be lying! Over the Teen years, Girls came, Collecting Muscle Cars started and I gravitated towards Comics until in my 30's. I don't even have memories of what I did with all the Cards ultimately, they just got traded or sold for other Collecting habits!

Have a Great Day

YeeHaw!

Neil

Cakes · November 22, 2022 9:33AM

Cool story and nice ending getting the two cards!

pdoidoi · December 5, 2022 9:18PM

I do not collect the Mars Attacks cards but I enjoyed all the comments . I am collecting the Bowman Firefighters and the Quaker Pack-O-Ten Birds, Braves OF Indian Nations and Warplanes including the Sample cards. Reading of the Mars Attacks collecting and the enjoyment the collectors share I felt I could relate to as I feel much the same, collecting my sets from the 1950's. I would love to see more from the non sports posted.
I hope it is ok that I posted this as I do not collect the Mars set. If not please delete.

1962 Mars Attacks prices

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