Keep my Aaron, Ruth and Cobb or go for Mantle? SCANS ADDED

lightningboy

I'm looking for opinions on some sort of investment strategy. I know that sportscards are to be enjoyed and not viewed as investments. I've read that many times and I do enjoy them. But for the sake of my scenario, do you think I would be better off keeping my Aaron rookie PSA 8, Mantle Bowman rookie PSA 5, Jackie LEaf rookie SGC 86, 1933 goudey Ruth PSA 4.5, etc or sell these to buy a more monumental card? I have about $20,000 over about 9 cards, according to VCP. Is the long term value potential greater this way or with say a 1952 Mantle or a lower grade Shoeless Joe or any other card? Thanks for any input, even the standard "stocks and bonds, but not cards", Tom

Big thanks to Piggs for uploading my cards.

Yankeehero74

Or you could just send them to me and Ill hang on to them until you decide....But in all seriousness thats a very hard decision. It would be hard to part with any of those since they are all very desirable cards. I wouldnt get a Topps Mantle seeing how your bowman is his true RC. I personally wouldnt part with any of them. Theyre all investments

Piggs

I'll give you free praise if you post pictures of mentioned cards. It would be cool to see them.

Yankeehero74

<< <i>I'll give you free praise if you post pictures of mentioned cards. It would be cool to see them. >>



I second that

CollectorAtWork

I'd probably just stick with what you have. This is like holding 8 different blue chip stocks to holding one stock. 8 different stocks lessens your risk, so you will likely grow as the market grows. One stock has more volatility. You might have a bigger gain, but you could also have a bigger loss. I think the analogy holds here. I think what swings it towards keeping the 8 is that if you sell them off, you'll likely have to pay 10+% in transaction fees (e.g., ebay or auction house). Therefore, in general, it's better to buy and hold in cards rather than flip if you're buying everything at VCP. The times when it's better to flip is that when you have opportunities to buy at below market. For example, when you find your 52 Mantle at some obscure auction where it's going for a good price, etc, IMHO.

The other way to go about it is that you can list your cards on ebay at BIN for 20+% above VCP (when you have no insertion fees). Therefore, if cards sell, you are getting way above market. Then you use these funds to buy nice cards at below VCP. Somewhat standard flipping strategy.

esquiresports

Sort of like stocks, I would recommend some diversity in your portfolio. I think you have a nice collection of "blue chip" cards there and don't see significantly more upside in a single card. There may be more upside once you get into the truly monumental cards at the $75K level and up, where money won't be an object for most purchasers, but at $20K or so, I like what you have.

esquiresports

<< <i>I'd probably just stick with what you have. This is like holding 8 different blue chip stocks to holding one stock. 8 different stocks lessens your risk, so you will likely grow as the market grows. One stock has more volatility. You might have a bigger gain, but you could also have a bigger loss. I think the analogy holds here. I think what swings it towards keeping the 8 is that if you sell them off, you'll likely have to pay 10+% in transaction fees (e.g., ebay or auction house). Therefore, in general, it's better to buy and hold in cards rather than flip if you're buying everything at VCP. The times when it's better to flip is that when you have opportunities to buy at below market. For example, when you find your 52 Mantle at some obscure auction where it's going for a good price, etc, IMHO.

The other way to go about it is that you can list your cards on ebay at BIN for 20+% above VCP (when you have no insertion fees). Therefore, if cards sell, you are getting way above market. Then you use these funds to buy nice cards at below VCP. Somewhat standard flipping strategy. >>



I was typing my response while yours hit. Appears we're on the same page.

mcadams

I'd keep the current lot.

Foo3112

Some people here already have a 52 Mantle and although its one heck of a fine card and the easily the highlight of anyone's collection, I personally would be more impressed with your collection because they are amazing cards as well and most of all, investments. Amazing set of cards. Now lets see some scans.

ThoseBackPages

Hold.

expertcollector

I give my 2 cents. I would try and go for a centered PSA 6 52 topps Mickey Mantle if you can find one. Centered 52 topps mantles with out tilts are very good investments and will only go up. $20,000 would get you a nice 6 but good luck finding one that is nice

jwilson6204

If you're conservative, I'd suggest going with the recommendations of the board and keep the cards you have. However, you may have a bunch of other cards that are also very nice in addition to the ones you've already mentioned which also helps your diversification. In that case, you could take the advice of one member and list the 8 cards at a 20% premium to VCP. Combine the funds of the cards that sell and upgrade to a higher priced card. Just my opinion, but it seems the very high priced cards such as higher grade mantles, t206 wagner, etc. seem to appreciate at a higher rate than other cards. The absolute dollar appreciation is higher but it also seems the percentage increase is higher is well. Just like a Van gogh or picasso in the art world. The deep pockets of the world look to these items as not only investments but bragging rights. I know most of us can't afford the ultra high pieces, but I believe a psa 6 mantle will appreciate at a higher rate than a psa 5 and so on. Just my 2 cents.

lightningboy

I cannot put up scans for some reason(idiot). But, if someone can do it and send me their email, I'll shoot over all scans. Jeffcbay just did this for me in the last BBCE purchase thread. Thanks in advance for anyone willing to help, Tom

Jakt

While you do have in impressive collection, you might run into a few issues when trying to sell:

1. The upside potential is somewhat limited. It will be a while before those cards double in value. The Aaron probably has the best chance being that he is still alive. The demand on the rest have been pretty consistent over the years.

2. When dealing with cards that break the 4 figure level, the market of buyers does dry up some. Granted, there are many people with deep pockets willing to spend big bucks, there are TONS more willing to drop $500 or less.

3. When dealing with high end cards like that scammers come out of the woodwork. You would almost have to do a face to face cash sale (not a bad thing) OR consign it them to a reputable seller.

4. Although it is against what I actually practice myself, from an investment perspective, the chances of getting a better rate of return might be (I've done no actual research) to buy low to mid grade A list HOFs cards. An example, which would most likely appreciate faster, a Koufax rookie PSA 3 or any Goudey Ruth PSA 5 (in terms of % only).

As with any investment, the real trick is the timing of the purchase and sale.

What is your time frame for holding these? A year? 5 years? 20 years?

For what it's worth, I grapple with these questions myself and my collection. For those that say your cards are not an investment, it's difficult to justify that to myself when I am spending money that could be used to make a significant dent in my mortgage.

Someone brought up the flipping idea. It might not be a bad idea to buy a card and then put it up for sale at a premium. If someone buys it, great! If not, that's fine too.

MrNearMint

I'd keep what you have.

vladguerrero

Hold

JoeBanzai

Go for the best '52 Mantle you can find. None of the cards you have will drop in price, but the Mantle is such an iconic card it will probably appreciate more than the others.

Either way you are going to do just fine.

Joe

Vintageismygame

There is a very nice PSA 4 Mantle over on Net54 for 10k.

Matt

californiacards3

I like the diversification strategy

GR

Whatever you do Keep The Aaron, hes still alive so at some point they will spike

fkw

another way you could go is Scarcity...
none of those cards you mentioned are eyeopening to an advanced collector IMO

all of the cards you have noted are very very common, and exist in the many thousands of examples (so anyone with a few $$ can buy an example, or ten, or fifty)

Maybe try for something actually Rare and would open an advanced collectors eyes a bit... many can be had for less $$ than those common cards too

and when you say Joe Jackson card? which one??

CollectorAtWork

<< <i>another way you could go is Scarcity...
none of those cards you mentioned are eyeopening to an advanced collector IMO

all of the cards you have noted are very very common, and exist in the many thousands of examples (so anyone with a few $$ can buy an example, or ten, or fifty)

Maybe try for something actually Rare and would open an advanced collectors eyes a bit... many can be had for less $$ than those common cards too

and when you say Joe Jackson card? which one?? >>



I assume this would be the E90-1 Joe Jackson rookie in mid-grade for around $20K as even the low grade T210 Jackson is probably out of reach.

vettfanatic

The cards you have are great. Like most others have said I would just stick with what you already have.

Jeff

Piggs

Thanks to Tom for letting me have these cards....................to scan. As payment for services I'll take the '33 Ruth, thanks. Doug

Piggs

Piggs

Very clean '51 Mantle and well centered. Congrats on the cards.

CW

That's a nice, small collection of quality cards. Cool!

Foo3112

Really nice cards. Wish I could had a 54 Aaron in my PC. The Mantle and Robinson also look amazing. Cross them over to PSA however. Stick with what you have.

CNote

I think the diversity is better for the long haul

lightningboy

I did try crossing the Robinson over to PSA with a "7" minimum and it did not qualify. I really dont know why. The corners are all strong, the centering is good enough for 7 and the back is clean. Only thing I can think is maybe the borders are not white enough.

hhmag70

<< <i>I did try crossing the Robinson over to PSA with a "7" minimum and it did not qualify. I really dont know why. The corners are all strong, the centering is good enough for 7 and the back is clean. Only thing I can think is maybe the borders are not white enough. >>



Problem is the flip is green.

scmavl

I'd keep the Aaron, Robinson, and possibly the Mantle. Sell the rest and upgrade the Jordan to the highest grade you can afford.

lightningboy

I'd keep the Aaron, Robinson, and possibly the Mantle. Sell the rest and upgrade the Jordan to the highest grade you can afford.

Well, I would probably be able to get the Jordan in PSA 10. But, I was looking at the last 2 PSA 10's to sell on Ebay (3 days apart) and there was a difference in sales pirce of $3000($7300 vs. $10,300). Cant figure that out.

Jakt

That is quite the collection. Nice work.

CollectorAtWork

I like these cards also, especially the Bobby Jones and Aaron cards. Those look sharp!

handyman

Keep all of those. They will go up more than 1 card by itself. Those have great eye appeal. Keep the lot!!

lightningboy

I have the Cobb, Jones and Jordan up for sale on the Buy/Sell/ Trade Boards.