Question on a baseball card

ajaan

I would like to get a baseball card of Jimmy Collins who was a team mate of my great grandfather when they played semi-pro ball together in Buffalo. I would like to get one of the older cards, not a reprint and I have a few questions.

First, are these cards widely counterfeited? Secondly, what companies can be trusted for the authenticity of this type of card? Lastly, what is a realistic buy price for Jimmy Collins card that need not be in the greatest condition? I'm not looking for anything pristine here.

TIA.

ShootyBabitt

He appears on old tobacco cards which, while not necessarily counterfeited, have several reprints out there. If you want to be sure you have a legit copy, it is best to buy one that has been reviewed and slabbed by a grading company. Look to pay in the $50-$100 range for a low grade (PSA 1-3) example.

Best of luck!

RipublicaninMass

I believe there is a card which exists of him on his minor league team however it is when he played with Providence in 1911, I dont know if there is one of him with Buffalo as you mentioned

fkw

Jimmy Collins is a very easy player to find a card for, he is considered a lower tier HOFer, and is in the very common T205 and T206 sets

Easy, if you stay with the T206 and the T205 like pictured above. The T205 is a bit more pricey because its one of the more attractive Minor League cards in the set (different design from the normal cards) and they are in demand... The T206 will be cheaper, there are a couple thousand of them out there and in lower grade will cost you about $30-$35 or so, if you take your time and dont jump on the first BIN. There are bad looking reprints for every T206 card but they are very easy to spot. Not many counterfeits, if any for J Collins, most counterfeits are of top tier HOFers like Cobb, Wagner etc. The WG2 set is also reprinted but its easy to spot as well (corners too round image contrast way off, especially back "ball")

some contemporary sets Jimmy is in....
* means very rare
*1898 Cameo Pepsin Gum Pins ............ about $1,000 in VG/EX
*1898-99 National Copper Plate Co...... about $400 in VG
*1899 Chickering Studio Cabinets ........ about $2,000 in VG
*1899-00 M101-1 Sporting News .........about $300 in VG
*1903 W600 Sporting Life Cabinets ......about $2000 in VG
*1903 E107 ......................................about $5,000+ in VG
*1904 "Anonymous" Cabinets.............. about $300 in VG
1906 WG2 Fan Craze ..........................about $100 in VG
1908 E91-A American Caramel ............ about $75 in VG
1908 PC760 Rose PC ..........................about $1700 in VG
1909 T204 .........................................about $400 in VG
1909-11 T206 ................................... about $75 in VG (much cheaper in G, about $30-$35) (extremely common)
1911 T205 ........................................ about $125- $150 in VG

bxb

Jimmy Collins PSA on ebay