I would probably do it if it was the only reasonable way I could attain a grail card. Let's say your current collection is 20 great HOF cards in low-to-mid grade that sell for about $2500/ea. You can hold on to 4 of your favorites and liquidate or trade the others for $40,000 in spending cash. You then scour the internet for the best deal you can find on the 1952 Mantle. As time passes, you can set aside funds and buy back the cards you let go as you save up, one by one.
By contrast, you keep holding your 20 cards and pass on the Mantle. You start setting aside some money and are very disciplined, not spending any of your savings in the hopes of acquiring the Mantle down the road. Not knowing your specific financial situation, let's assume it would take you a few years or longer to save up $40K in discretionary funds to make the purchase. Unfortunately, there is the very real possibility that the Mantle will continue to appreciate, leaving you in a race against the market to see if you can ever catch up and acquire the dream card.
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