Your thoughts on Memory Lane complete set auctions

judgebuck

Seems to me that these complete baseball sets went fairly low:

1953 Topps F/VG+ $2,092
1953 Bowman Color VG+/EX $3,705
1954 Topps VG/VG+ $1,572
1954 Bowman VG/VG+ $1,137
1955 Topps VG/VG+ $1,429
1955 Bowman VG/VG+ $806
1956 Topps VG/VG+ $1,729
1957 Topps VG/EX $1,902
1958 Topps VG/EX $1,181
1959 Topps VG/EX $1,181
1960 Topps VG/EX $940
1961 Topps VG/EX $1,376
1962 VG/EX $1,137

Also, 1986 Fleer Jordan rookie in PSA 8 - $471
1979-80 OPC Gretzky SGC 88 - $550
1952 Topps Mantle PSA 7 - $22,437
1933 Goudey Ruth #53 PSA 5.5 - $3,897

19% buyer's premium added to all above prices.

Set prices were well below 2011 SCD Catalog values, and individual prices were well below SMR, even after adding buyer's premium. Other than the fact that we all know that price guides are always too high, any other thoughts?

thenavarro

The only set I was watching was the 1951 Bowman autographed set (minus 1). It sold for $30,867.41. Always nice to see signed cards do well.

Mike

RonBurgundy

Those prices seem about right to me. The '60 set may be low, but the rest look about what they'd go for on Ebay.

MULLINS5

Where is the fun in buying a set already graded and put together?

That '51 Bowman signed set was insane and truly unique!

CEOBIDMC

the prices are low because the condition of those sets are low grade.

judgebuck

Yes, these are fairly low grades sets: VG/EX or VG/VG+. But, the prices seemed low to me when compared to the 2011 SCD Catalog (I know the Catalog is generally too high). Here are some examples:

1953 Bowman color set SCD: $18,000(NM)/9,000(EX)/5,500(VG) Sold for $3,705 + 19% in VG+/EX

1954 Topps set SCD $11,000(NM)/5,500(EX)/3,250(VG Sold for $1,572 + 19% in VG/VG+

1955 Topps set SCD $8,000(NM)/3,750(EX)/2,250(VG) Sold for $1,429 + 19% in VG/VG+

1955 Bowman set SCD $7,000(NM)/3,500(EX)/2,000(VG) Sold for $806 + 19% in VG/VG+

1957 Topps set SCD $13,500(EX)/6,750(EX)/4,050(VG) Sold for $1,900 + 19% in VG/EX

1959 Tops set SCD $12,000(NM)/6,000(EX)/3,500(VG) Sold for $1,181 + 19% in VG/EX

1960 Topps set SCD $6,500(NM)/3,200(EX)/2,000(VG) Sold for $940 + 19% in VG/EX

Question: Did all the sets sell for considerably below SCD guide because: a) weak economy; b) price guide is always much too high; c) card market is weak (and won't get better); d) Memory Lane doesn't have a big following; e) cards are mostly raw and ungraded and thus cards are likely overgraded; or f) some combination of the above?

I would like to hear your opinions.

KeepItWarm

At times, I wonder if it would have made more sense to save up the money, get my buzz on with a 12-pack, and be a "big baller" for a day and pull the trigger on a complete 1956 set.

I know I'm fast approaching that $1,700.00 complete set price, and I'm still 100 cards short. (although, my set will be in better condition than VG/VG+)

Morgoth

I think the market is really weak for off condition material right now. It sells but you have to really discount it. I am surprised ML prices on normal cards like Jordan RCs being so low considering their fan basel. I am wondering more if we have seen the end of a few of the AH's out there.