The 1932 sanella margarine Ruth...

[yanksfan09]

I like the card and own a couple myself. For the prices they go for you can't beat grabbing a period Ruth with a nice image like he just homered!

It seems like there are more Goudeys especially when you combined all 4 different cards from the set and the WWG canadian versions. I would still rather have a Goudey any day but I do think the Sanella gets almost no respect. My advice would be to pick one up if you don't own one already. Very nice image.

[phikappapsi]

I actually already have 2, a 7.5 and an 8

I bought them both, hoping one day the value would spike, thinking I'd keep the 8 and trade out the 7.5 for something.

Just seems illogical that the one specific card would be the only period piece with such a radically different value than it's peer cards.

Especially when you consider the vast majority of these "pre-war" Ruths actually lived and survived through the real war. The story behind each one of them surviving seems almost surreal.

[yanksfan09]

from what I've heard, ebay and the internet has had a lot to do with it. I think their popularity in Germany was probably nothing compared to US and before the internet auctions not a whole lot found a way over to the states.

So the supply in the US was very low back in the day but overseas people were sitting on quite a few untouched cards. The internet and ebay really changed that and many more found there way over here. Since you went from such percieved scarcity to a big "surplus" (relatively speaking) the value went down a lot.

Even with all that, I would expect a slow gradual increase in price over the years, but it does have a lot to do with collector perception which also needs to become more favorable over time. In my opinion it should as it really is a nice looking card.

i really don't think they're printing them over there , it's just that a lot found their way into the market in a relatively small amount of time. I think over the years they'll gradually gain more respect as less come from overseas in auctions and maybe a price revaluation will occurr then. But then again, maybe not?

[yanksfan09]

It's kind of similar to what happened to the Tiger Woods Sports Illustrated for Kids "Rookie' card.

Early on it was his only real card from 1996 and was seen as being very scarce as many had been thrown out or wrecked by kids.

The value skyrocketed with a couple going for tens of thousands for high graded cards. Then slowly more and more found there way into the market as people heard of its "value" and people searched their piles of old magazines, which were previously looked at as worthless.

Then the value really dropped and is still very low compared to what it once was. I don't follow the sales prices that close, but I would think a slow gradual increase in price for that card could happen too as it still is a fairly scarce card of maybe the best golfer ever.

[Matthew H]

I think the fact that most of them are in mint condition also affects the value.

[brianp-beme]

Larger than normal card size
Plentiful supply
Low Demand
Not from a baseball-centric set
Not made in North America
Most found in top condition

The recipe for low prices...but it is Babe Ruth and an attractive image. So appreciate the fact that you can get it so cheaply, and enjoy the card for what it is, and not worry about its value.

Brian

[HRBAKER]

17 listed on ebay right now, avg. grade = 6.2
No perceived rarity or condition rarity, plentiful supply

Nice card but IMO not going anywhere value-wise anytime soon
If prices were to spike again, how many more would come out of the woodwork?

Look at the good side, you don't have to pay an arm/leg to get a legitimate prewar Ruth card

[glchen]

I think much of it as what Brian has mentioned. Also, the image is not unique or particularly noteworthy. You can't really see Babe's face. The Goudey's are very popular and expensive because they are part of a very popular set (e.g. one of the Big "3" with T206 and 52 Topps). Therefore, if you're a set collector, you need these cards also. You only collect the Sanella's if you want a Ruth, but there are plenty of others with better images and that are rarer. Sanellas are still a good option if you want a nice affordable Ruth that you can get in good condition.

[bcookie]

i can say that they are easy to find... i went to eBay Germany and picked up 4 complete books for under $250.. and that was only 3 months ago.