1936 Sporting News Stamps
 

Hello everyone. First time poster.

I'm looking For help with some questions on 1936 sporting news stamps. I have an uncut sheet featuring Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig. Never seen one together, so I'd like to keep it intact.

NONE of the major grading companies will slab it as an uncusheet. Would love to get any opinions on possible value and if might be worth cutting. As mentioned before, I would really love to keep this intact but I'm open to any suggestions. Thanks again.

I have some of those stamps and have collected quite a few. Honestly, I don't see a lot of extra value in the uncut sheet on this one. It's a newspaper item anyway. IF you cut it and get them slabbed they are worth some good money. FYI, I have never, and don't see me ever, cutting a full strip of pre war cards...but this is different. Just my opinion...
.

I would think the true decision lies with your intentions.

Personally I would keep as is and if you wish to display you would need to research archival display items to avoid the usual decomposition that occurs in newspaper with light and exposure.

Value is a different story as no matter what virtue signaling we wish to do as collectors, the silly slab adds additional measurable resale. The unfamiliarity that most average joes have with the issue, they would not consider bidding unless they see it as a recognized item with PSA.

I feel comfortable stating that the slabbed value of the Gehrig would likely surpass the value of the piece as a whole unless the absolute right eyes are on it. Then the DiMaggio would be additional cake and the others frosting toward those profits.

My thoughts.

If you are looking to sell in short term, I personally would consign the uncut sheet to an AH that would treat it right. I think many collectors would be interested in framing that and putting it on the wall. I have never seen a sheet like that and it's very cool. Individually a few of these cards would have decent value slabbed, but don't plan on making it a big part of your retirement planning.

I have a hard time believing the sheet would
Pull less than a slabbed Gehrig.

Now you have a few competing views to consider.

While I find "virtue signalling" just as offensive as "greed above all" would be to others, I think this is close to right. (why must we stick offensive labels on everything we disagree with?)

Personally I'd want a complete panel over a slabbed newspaper cutout. If I had it, I'd get or make a biggish sleeve, and put it in a large toploader.

But if all I wanted was to sell and maximize the money I got grading would be the way to go. I think to get a number the entire edge around the card has to be there. With how thin the lines between them are, you'd probably have to cut so the ones on either side of Gehrig wouldn't get a number, and even then I'm not sure how they would handle the top and bottom which never had them.

I would keep intact
 

I agree that the panel would not receive anything other than an "A" since some of the right border and bottom corner are missing. The same could be said if there is glue or scrapbook remnants on back. I see where you say that none of the grading companies will slab it anyway, which I assume means you inquired. I would have thought otherwise if the measurements were within a slab they already use, such as an m101-2, which Beckett and PSA grade. It would be ironic if they would slab a six-stamp panel were you to cut off the far right pair.

Personally I agree with those who say don't chop it up. Value wise these are not high dollar stamps as it is, and the grades--if you survive the dreaded "A"- are generally harsh. I suppose they could appeal to a registry hound, but otherwise they likely will not fetch that much, IMO. Preservation is important of course, but authenticity is not really a factor--no collector is going to think someone faked a 80 something year old newspaper. Keeping it intact may someday prove to be wise from a value standpoint, as these may gain popularity when the hobby better appreciates their scarcity.

Here is a somewhat recent thread on these stamps you may not have seen-- note that post #12 contains a panel similar to yours, although with only six (different) players. Perhaps that forum member has some ideas on preservation and value related to his experience.
https://www.net54baseball.com/showth...ighlight=OMAHA

EDITED TO ADD: looking at ebay, I see where even low-grade super HOFers are listed at 4 figure sell prices. If the market is supporting anywhere near these values, then I stand corrected on my earlier statement that these are not high-dollar items. I don't want folks to think that I consider such prices as nominal :) I have not researched prices realized but thought they were far less than four figures.

Here is a somewhat recent thread on these stamps you may not have seen-- note that post 12 contains a panel like yours, although with different players. Perhaps that forum member has some ideas on preservation and value related to his experience.
https://www.net54baseball.com/showth...ighlight=OMAHA

Check out the thread from a few months back, as it contains a lot of useful information.

I have several panels and individual stamps. PSA would not grade my stamps from the Chicago American, picture attached. SGC did, picture attached.

PSA will grade stamps from the Sporting News and one other magazine (I forget which - Detroit I think), but not from other newspapers.

I didn't submit my panels, but I'm sure they wouldn't grade them - you could try.

Good luck.