I saw three very interesting items today (N310 Anson, E90-1 Clarke, E103 Lajoie)

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Posted By: warshawlaw

I was at a small show today and saw three very interesting cards:

N310 Anson: trimmed, with the ad meticulously cut away as to the top layer of paper

E90-1 Clarke error: trimmed at the top, otherwise nice

E103 Lajoie: writing on the front, considerable wear, small area colored in amateurishly in tbe background where a paper pull existed.

I had an interesting discussion as to value on these cards. The seller was focused on the fact that the cards had values in the many thousands in the book in top condition and wanted to sell them to me as a % of book. He also told me that he'd offered them to a major auction house but was refused. I, on the other hand, view cards like these as worth very minimal sums--maybe $100 or so each--mostly to have for the novelty value. One of the customers who was there had a 1952 Topps Mantle in poor condition due to glue damage at all four corners and some front surface damage, with a hefty price tag.

What do you think about assessing the values of significant cards in these low conditions?

Would the cards' sale value benefit from being authenticated by a grading service, assuming one would do so? I am certain that the Mantle would grade, obviously as a 1. The others might or might not grade (one had been rejected already for grading) but GAI would perhaps authenticate them.



[edited to change title]