1952-1985 Topps set run valuation

iahawks550

I've been approached through casual conversation by a fellow who is wanting to sell his long time collection. To make a long story short, this is what he has, and what he told me he is asking for it.

1952-1985 Topps sets. Missing quite a few 1952 high numbers, but otherwise, everything else is complete. Mantle is a PSA 3. He says the 50's sets are Ex and the 60's - 80's are Nrmt-mint

1950-1955 Bowman sets complete. Excellent condition

1948-49 Bowman, nearly complete. Excellent condition

he also mentioned there were Ted Williams sets, and a ton of other "extras" he has accumulated over the years.

He is kind of a grumpy old man and doesn't really want people just gawking, and said he would part with it for $55,000. Before I even consider looking at this, do you think it's ballpark?

I would probably resell a lot of this, and keep what I could after breaking even.

I know, not a ton to work with here, but it's about all I could get out of the grump.

Crazylegs

If he is close with his evaluation on the grades, 55k is a very, very good price.

If his ex is g-vg and his nrmt-mt is ex-nrmt you are probably paying closer to real value.

I would tell him you are serious but would like to see the sets to gauge condition.

Just wondering if he thought the Mantle was Ex before grading?

Good luck with the collection.

Downtown1974

Like crazylegs said, if the condition is as stated....55k is a very good deal.
If this guy is too grumpy to let you examine the collection closely to determine a fair price, I'd walk.

bishop

If he has all the sets he says, in the condition he says, it is a phenomenal price. But what looks to be too good to be true....

If he is too grumbly to show you the cards, let him continue to enjoy them

JoeBanzai

I certainly wouldn't consider paying that much money for ANYTHING I couldn't examine very carefully before buying.

Who cares if he is a crabby old man. He may be a crabby old CON man.

Now if I could afford the $55,000.00 and I could at least get a list of exactly what was there and what was missing, and he has the cards listed, you should be OK unless the cards are all in the PSA 1-3 range.

If nothing else, show up with the cash (that should prove you are not a gawker) and tell him you need to look at the cards before going through with the deal. If he can't live with that walk away.

The last thing I want to see is a follow up post telling us you got ripped off, you won't get any sympathy from me if this is the case.

iahawks550

I most certainly won't buy before seeing the cards, and will be a bigger pain in his ass than he could imagine. Especially with the important cards of the collection. I'm just trying to ballpark his figures to see if it's something worth my time and investment money.

Great idea about getting the cash in hand before approaching to "look" at the cards.

bobsbbcards

If you ignore the partial sets of Bowman and the partial '52 Topps set, and take the 2011 SCD values for the sets (EX for everything before 1970 and NM for 1970 through 1979), here's what you get:

1950 Bowman 6,000
1951 Bowman 9,500
1952 Bowman 5,000
1953 Bowman Color 9,000
1954 Bowman 2,400
1955 Bowman 3,500

1953 Topps 15,000
1954 Topps 5,500
1955 Topps 3,750
1956 Topps 4,250
1957 Topps 6,750
1958 Topps 4,250
1959 Topps 6,000
1960 Topps 3,250
1961 Topps 3,750
1962 Topps 3,500
1963 Topps 2,750
1964 Topps 2,125
1965 Topps 2,000
1966 Topps 2,300
1967 Topps 2,250
1968 Topps 1,500
1969 Topps 1,550

1970 Topps 2,100
1971 Topps 3,000
1972 Topps 1,800
1973 Topps 825
1974 Topps 825
1975 Topps 650
1976 Topps 250
1977 Topps 200
1978 Topps 200
1979 Topps 150
115,875

Maurice

Based on the information you've told us, 55k is too much.

Maurice

And don't bring 55k cash with you.

itzagoner

<< <i>....a ton of other "extras" he has accumulated over the years. >>



i'd love to know what this consists of and i'd bet there's a good reason to know, too.

i've been plowing through a similar large baseball/football accumulation over the past couple years and can tell you that there had better be some good gradable stuff included there.

the old sets should be easy to break if the conditions are consistent at excellent or better and the more recent sets you should scour for gems if they are really that nice.

i'd ask the dude for a personal look, especially to find out about these "extras". make a nice day out of it by offering to bring lunch and a few nature magazines to shake grump out of him.

larryallen73

The problem is most people, even collectors, have no clue about condition. Let's just say their version of "excellent" is nowhere close to PSAs version of excellent!

itzagoner

you might be surprised. occasionally that version of excellent turns out to be the impression of someone who hasn't bothered to understand Near Mint, Near-Mint-to-Mint, Mint, Gem Mint, GEM F*****G MINT, or otherwise.

it's quite refreshing.

1954

I am a buyer at that price if you don't want it. I will pay a finders fee.

Shane

Nathaniel1960

Do they come from a smoke-free home?

JHS5120

55K is a bargain. Even if every set is VG, 55K is still a bargain.

iahawks550

Thanks for the great information. It's good to get a second opinion on stuff like this. I hop in and out of the hobby and have for 30 years. I'm planning on taking a look at it this weekend or early next week.

gemint

I would take it seriously. As a word of advice, I've always used the library for these sorts of transactions rather than going to a stranger's home. It's safer for both parties to proceed this way. If you really can get all those sets for $55k, that's a good price in almost any condition (above poor-fair).

Good luck!

mygotta

As everyone said, 55k sounds like a great deal. and if the 60's and 70's are in as good a shape as mentioned, many might be worth grading.

LarkinCollector

<< <i>I would take it seriously. As a word of advice, I've always used the library for these sorts of transactions rather than going to a stranger's home. It's safer for both parties to proceed this way. If you really can get all those sets for $55k, that's a good price in almost any condition (above poor-fair).

Good luck! >>


Bank parking lots after hours work well too. You both know everything is on a security cam.

CollectorAtWork

I don't know how you'd lug a set run of 52-85 into a library or bank parking lot, however. That's a lot of boxes of cards. I doubt that the seller would agree to this, especially if he's a grumpy old man. If you wanted to still do that, maybe just ask to see a few key cards and key sets, and then if they look good, go to his house to view the rest. Or just go to his house to view the stuff w/o bringing any payment, and then if things look good, meet at a neutral location with the goods and the payment.

doog71

Studies show 10% of people can't recognize internet sarcasm.