Why are Goudey 4 in 1 cards so difficult to find in PSA 8?

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Posted By: bruce Dorskind

The primary focus of our collection is ultra high grade type cards
We only collect pre-WWII examples.

Whilst we have been fortunate to add significantly to our collection
over the past 18 months, we have found it nearly impossible to
acquire an R321 1935 Goudey 4 in 1 example in PSA 8.

In fact, only one such example has been auctioned in either E Bay
or by any of the top seven auction houses. (Source; Vintage Card Prices.com)

We have studied the population reports (95 examples) and the Set Registry.
We are aware of the collectors who have a significant number of PSA 8
examples.

However, we wonder why there have been so few examples auctioned
and why the cards are so rare in very high grades. It has been far easer
to acquire PSA 8 examples from sets with a far lower PSA 8 population.

We look forward to your response.


Bruce Dorskind
America's Toughest Want

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Posted By: MVSNYC

"we wonder why.....the cards are so rare in very high grades"...

the red borders, much like the gold border T205s are very succeptable (sp?) to chipping...thus tuff to make the cut for high grades.

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Interesting question. Usually the ratio of 7s to 8s in the 1930s Goudeys sets are 5:4 or 4:3; in the 1935 set it's more like 3:1. Strange.

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Posted By: barrysloate

It's possible Goudey used a lower quality paper stock in 1935, but I'm just guessing.

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Posted By: peter chao

Barry,

Your right on point, the paper stock on the '35 Goudey is thinner than either '33 or '34 Goudey. Furthermore the puzzle backs encouraged the kids to combine 3 or more Goudey backs to complete a picture. I assume the color borders in front would chip when combining the backs.

Furthermore, I assume some kids would go as far as tape or glue cards together to complete the puzzle.

The above are just guesses, I've never actually done any of the above.

Peter

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Posted By: Darren

Maybe kids prefered to have 4 cards instead of one....

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Posted By: Cobby33

Maybe it's a consipracy.

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Posted By: Al C.risafulli

I'd say that it has to do with the red or blue borders. They are really prone to chipping; high-grade copies are TOUGH to find. I owned a set once (don't have it anymore) and seem to remember a sort of gloss on the surface that's not present in other Goudeys, either.

I'd also say that the theory of the puzzle has a lot of credence.

It really is a very cool and very underappreciated set, though. I love the cards, and I love the 4-in-1 concept. It's kinda like, you buy one card, you get four. Then, even though there's only one card, you can refer to it as "cards." You could have just one card and say something like "I'm looking at my baseball cards. They are very nice. I like them."

That's an appealing concept, I think.

-Als

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Posted By: peter chao

Al,

I've never seen it, but perhaps you have seen one of these Goudey's cut into 4 cards. I remember seeing a Larry Bird/Magic Johnson rookie cut up. I ended up buying the Bird alone for about $10.

Peter

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Posted By: dennis

there has been quite a few of these('35 goudey) that have been cut into quarters listed on ebay in the past few months,often the seller does not know the orgin of the card. to answer bruces original question. these were printed in low quantities so with the other factors (borders/puzzle) not many high grades around.

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Posted By: Al C.risafulli

Nobody ever gets my jokes.

-Al

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Posted By: jeffdrum

Got It!

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Posted By: peter chao

Al,

You mean to tell me you didn't find a stash of cut-up 4 in 1 Goudeys...

Peter

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Posted By: Al C.risafulli

Thanks, Jeffdrum. I was starting to get a little self-conscious.

-Al

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Posted By: warshawlaw

we are not amused...