OT: My first beloved catalog
 

People wax poetic about REA, LOTG and all the other great catalogs we get over the course of the year. As a kid I loved the Johnson Smith Catalog. Ordered all sorts of insane stuff from that catalog. The idea that there was a company out there stock piling these absurd items was hysterical as a kid. Anxiously awaited their newest catalog like some of you guys pouncing on REA. All sort of gags and gimmicks. I think they eventually went online only which pretty much was the death knell of a very cool business.

I'm surprised by the number of auction companies that still send out catalogs. I really enjoy recieving my auction catalogs and I still have everyone that has been mailed to me.

This auction back in 1991 put baseball card collecting on the map. This is one of my favorite catalogs.

I still have that Southerby's catalog too. However, my first and most prized catalogs are those I received from the Card Collectors Co. in the sixties and seventies.

Here's a thread I posted about that 1991 Sotheby's auction of the Copeland collection, including some background on James Copeland.

http://net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=245412

Given the time frame during which he collected, and who reputedly he bought from, one wonders how many of Copeland's cards were trimmed.

I have that Copeland catalog too. I love perusing it from time to time. Nothing graded. Just great stuff page after page.

AndyH

My first auction catalogue was from Mastro and Steinbach. Seems pretty primitive by today's standard. Still got it.

As a youth I too ordered tons of crazy stuff from the Johnson Smith catalog. Could not wait for those mail days!! I also ordered from the Edmond Scientific catalog.

anyone remember the old Political Gallery catalogs?

I'm a sucker for well-put-together catalogs. I have many special ones saved.

Barry Halper's Sotheby's box set is one for the ages.

I remember Ron Oster sending vhs tapes for his auction

Lew Lipset's "Four Base Hits" catalogs
 

Back in the day, there was nothing better than Lew's "Four Base Hits" catalogs.

They were the best!

Larry Fritsch's "One of a kind catalogs" were a close second!

Patrick

I sent away for a Larry Fritsch catalog around 1972. I would have been about 11. Previously, I had acquired at least one Topps card from every year dating back to 1953, but I had never seen a 1952 Topps before. Displayed in the catalog was the 1952 Topps card of Johnny Mize, which I decided I had to have. I think I paid a quarter for it. I recall the entire set was available for $350 ...

Fun fact: Johnson Smith had the only paid advertisement in Action Comics #1. Their ad appeared on the back cover.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3232/2...3d10feb5_z.jpg

(Note: image was taken from a facsimile sourced from a 1974 reprint, which deleted the advertiser's address so people couldn't order from a then-34-year-old ad)

I use to buy cards through the mail from a guy named Bill Henderson from maybe Alabama around 1978. I may have the name and state wrong, but he would send out a black and white zerox of a typed page of his inventory.
I know I bought a 58 Berra from him and I still have it. Probably paid 6 to 10 dollars for it.
Scott

I bought a lot from Bill in the 1990s & early 2000s while I was building my Topps sets - he's still on ebay -couldn't tell you the state off the top of my head. I was never disappointed.

Bill Henderson, King of Commons
 

When I heard Bill Henderson's name, I remember he was called King of Commons.

http://www.akama.com/company/Bill_He...a01822114.html

Patrick

I had a 5 foot stack of catalogs, finally sent them to recycling bin a few years ago.

Joe

The First REA September 8, 1994 - Tabloid size. I need the prices realized.
Some of the lots:
A&G BB Advertising Poster Res:$100K
1934 Goudey Uncut Sheet (25 cards) Includes Lajoie Res:$90K
1915 Cracker Jack Advertising Poster Res:$25K
Ty Cobb Tobacco Tin Res:$50k
Ty Cobb Uniform Res:$140K
Yum Yum N403 Kelly Creases - looks EX Res:$3.5K

Several lots of Four Base Hits:
Ward NM Res:$2k
Sullivan NM Res: $800
Clarkson NM Res: $800
Etc.

Here is Mr. Henderson's response to my email inquiry:


After 41 years of being a sports card Dealer and at the age of 73, I decided to hang up my hat and retire. Sold my material to another dealer last September



Thank you for your past business.




Take care bill


A Good Guy & Honest Dealer.