The value of #1 cards

[CMIZ5290]

One of the biggest examples of this has got to be in the 52 topps series with andy pafko. I think a recent psa 8 of that card brought $75k! Try to explain that one.....

[novakjr]

The Bengough and Pafko are probably the two most interesting cases of the #1 price spike. Theoretically, there should be a drop-off back to typical common levels at a certain point, but in the cases of these two cards there really isn't.. I think for 2 reasons. 1)some people collect #1s. That alone makes the demand for the card higher than the typical common, resulting in higher values(It's kinda like the Dodger/Yankee premium) Basically, the card falls into another collecting niche outside of just the set alone...2)The high grade copies of these cards go for such a high price, that it almost has a cult-like effect on the value of all-grade cards...Most of us know that these are $5000+ cards in high grade, and it makes us want one, in any condition, just to say we have one..

The Pafko also has two other factors affecting it's price...1)the Dodger premium as previously mentioned. 2)That "Cop Out" movie..The card is pretty much the entire plot of a movie. It's kind of a similar effect that "Cinderella Man" had on Jimmy Braddock cards(although a less extreme example), or "Field of Dreams" has for Moonlight Graham items...Or "8 men out" had on the value of "Black Sox" items. Again, less extreme examples, because "cop out" was kind of a flop, although it carries a cult-following amongst Kevin Smith fans...

The true value of a card lies in how many collections it could fit into.
1)Pafko. '52 Topps collectors, #1 collectors, Dodger collectors, chase(key) card collectors, casual people who saw the card in the movie and wanted one..
2)Bengough. '33 Goudey collector, #1 collectors, chase(key) card collectors..

[tbob]

I get the premium prices for Bengough and Pafko in extmt or better. I think the VG-EX and lower grade prices for each are just incredibly whacko. The 62 Maris also has a premium price but that is a horribly condition-sensitive set and the guy just broke the Babe's record, still there isn't the crazy premium for VGEX and below on Maris (yet) that you see on Bengough and Pafko. Bengough and Pafko share some mythical status, kind of like the Lowdermilk which has been proven to be more common than other scarce back cards like Kuhn in the unnumbered T207 set...

[Paul S]

Originally Posted by CMIZ5290

One of the biggest examples of this has got to be in the 52 topps series with andy pafko. I think a recent psa 8 of that card brought $75k! Try to explain that one.....

+ 1

[RGold]

The Bengough card has a great image and is almost impossible to find well centered. The rubber band theory is just plain goofy. Too bad the #1 card for the set wasn't Jimmie Foxx using this pose.

The Diamond Stars #1 Lefty Grove is another example.

I was happy to find my Bengough.