Non-sports Cards and The Wrapper Magazine
Klif50
Posts: 732 ✭✭✭✭
I have collected non-sports cards since the late 70's and sports cards, mostly Baseball, during the same time period. One periodical I have depended on (other than Tuff Stuff for sports cards) has been The Wrapper. The Wrapper is devoted to non-sports cards, has many ads and a lot of discussion about the hobby. Recently two of the major advertisers have bailed out (gone out of business or had the principal die) and they are hurting for revenue. The magazine comes out 6 times a year, it is always packed with good information and some pretty decent buy/sell/trade ads.
If you collect non-sports I would urge you to subscribe to the magazine. If you don't want to spend the money for a subscription, get on Ebay, there are always back issues for sale, most under $5 and they will give you a good feel if you want to invest $32 for a year's subscription. You won't be sorry. Plus he had a neat ad for a 1949 Leaf Display Box Ad in issue #363, his first, as far as I can remember, dip into sports.
Comments
Recently two of the major advertisers have bailed out (gone out of business or had the principal die)
May I have that info I've been out of non-sports scene for a while. SThanks
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me 2025
The Wrapper
1500 Briarcliff Rd. #304
Montgomery, IL 60538
You can subscribe via Paypal directly to LesWrap@comcast.net
He has a free to subscribers want ad page where you can list your missing cards you are looking for.
Bob Osifchin has an auction ad usually 6 pages or more of some great cards and sometimes coins and such. He has an online presence with the auction also.
Pretty cool. I didn't know this periodical existed. Thanks for sharing with us. It looks like you can get a sample copy for $3 from the website.
How many pages is the typical issue? Does he do articles on certain sets with each issue?
Thanks as I will do that but I Actually i wanted to know who you are referring ; two of the major advertisers have bailed out (gone out of business or had the principal die)
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me 2025
68 pages in this issue. Always sets highlighted as well as random collectors and their collection.
Awesome. I think I'll buy a random back issue to check it out. Thanks!
Recently two of the major advertisers have bailed out (gone out of business or had the principal die
Still hoping for an answer on who they were
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me 2025
I ordered one to check out
Very informative nice post...I will buy a back issue on ebay...thank you
Just got my issue. It's nice.
I got mine as well. I like the old periodical format and feel. Very enjoyable - now I need to decide on a subscription.
Just Got my Issue #333 2021...Amazing this magazine has been around since 1978 and I never heard of it until this Thread post...Very Kool reading and for sale ads...I think some of this non-sports pop culture vintage cards and packs might be a sleeping market...I have LOTS of 1977 Topps stars wars sets, cards and unopened boxes...seems like these are a no brainer investment for the future
You can get a copy of the most recent Wrapper magazine for $3 from TheWrapperMagazine.com website
Starting in the early 90s I used to hear Non Sports was the next big thing in Trading Cards..well it never was! I know as i was a huge non sport collector especially test cards, and lived the situation.
Other than far and few between outliers the norm is graded non Sports cost less now than raw in the late 90s if accounting for inflation and submission expenses.
Other than a few outliers non sport is currently over valued and the multi decade downward slope will continue.
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me 2025
Star wars seems to be the outliers as they have been featured in the PSA magazine several times and I think the 1977 Blue series cards 1-10 PSA 9's and 10's have gotten real expensive. Did the recent Heritage auction sell a 1977 Luke #1 PSA 10 for $220,000? Also some comic stickers and cards from the 70's. I think you could be right that the 60's and below non-sports cards have been "forgotten by collectors". I'm hopping a few of the 70's and 80's non-sports TV shows and movies (Star trek, Good Times, Superman. ROCKY and such) may have a chance at increasing in value in the future. I know someone on the board posted a while back about collecting the 1979 Rocky cards graded in PSA 9 and 10's. As always the future rarely can be predicted...Rock on!
The great thing about nonsport is its mix of history and popular culture. I collect what I like and, although I like that some of it is worth something, I like the lack of volatility in price.
Mars Attacks is also an outlier in near any grade, Pre 1980s Treks too if 9 and especially 10 or stickers in 9. There are others of course...
As for 70s Marvel PSA 10s sell for less than in 2007 if accounting for inflation.
Of course during pandemic BUBBLE they did command solid coin. Those days ain't coming back.
TV cards from 60s and 70s that were hot in the 1990s, including test issues now barely garner 1/3 of what they did during their salad days. Those days ain't coming back.
If you dont want to lose $, Stick with vintage sports folks. Unless you have a huge sense of nostalgia for the Partridge Family or Good Times or Space 1999, Monster Initials, etc....
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me 2025
Even vintage sports cards may suffer IF the current modern collecting generation does not look backwards in time. I.e. who you gonna sell your vintage sportscards to? ... other older generation people who most likely ALREADY have the cards and trying to sell them as well?...most people collect things based on their childhood experiences...That is a fact jack...Do you collect T-206's? At any rate most all HIGH HIGH grade collectibles tend to hold their value...rock on!
If you think non-sports cards are not getting their share of the money (alas, not quite the share as the sports cards are getting) I would invite you to check out https://auctions.vintagenonsports.com/catalog.aspx there are 6 more days before the auction is over and there are some fantastic non-sports cards up for bid.
I'll gladly take your Dark Shadows, Shock Theater, Funny Monsters, Monster Flip Movies, Movie Monsters, Monster Midgee, and Spook Theatre cards for pennies on the dollar. Hurry before you lose to inflation.
My all time favorite set as a little kid was the outer limits cards from the 60's. They are very hard to find in high grade condtion and I'm considering collecting the set soon.
As a kid I had the entire set which was around 50-60 cards.
someone definitely has been burned by non-sports cards...apparently he didn't buy the right cards/sets...
TV and Most film cards have not done well. It mostly what I collected.
I did well with 1940 Superman Card's purchasing them back then.
Keep in mind $100 cost basis in 1997 is approx $220 today.
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me 2025