Speaking of 52 Mantles...

[CW]

That's a nice, strong price for the PSA 3, although it's also a nice card for the assigned grade.

http://sports.ha.com/itm/baseball-ca...links-12202013

[MattyC]

Agreed the 3 was a real healthy price and not surprising since the card was nice for the grade.

IMO the 6 was a bit weak looking with that scuffing and it still went BANANAS.

The others had the usual woeful centering issues.

[wheels56]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Agreed the 3 was a real healthy price and not surprising since the card was nice for the grade.

IMO the 6 was a bit weak looking with that scuffing and it still went BANANAS.

The others had the usual woeful centering issues.

Yeah, I agree on the 6. The surfaces are not great, significantly impacting the eye appeal. The centering is nice, but I have a bit of a contrarian point of view in that I think centering, while important, is a bit overrated.

The 6 that sold last year for *$14K less* is WAY nicer, IMHO:

http://sports.ha.com/itm/baseball/19...a/7105-80477.s

Both 4.5s (the PSA and the SGC) are nice as well. I think they both represent decent value for the money. I'd take either of those over the SGC 5.5 any day, again, based on the surfaces.

In retrospect, I actually think the 3 might actually be the best overall value.

Other thoughts?

[MattyC]

The 6 on eBay right now is really nice. Comparing it to the Heritage 6 the asking price is very logical, too. Hits my eye like a 7 all day. For all the meh examples let alone fakes we see for sale, a nice one really stands out.

[begsu1013]

we talking the sgc @ $65K? this was the one that was just auctioned off, right? maybe @ $54K if I recall...not sure if that includes buyer premium or not...

it's really hard for me to follow all the auction houses and buyer's premium, extended bidding sessions and such....

regardless it's a stunning version!!

wondering if it would cross? I can't see it in a psa 5 holder, but then again I don't see your 4.5 in a 4.5 holder either (in a good way)!

[MattyC]

Thanks, B.

I agree. That 6 on eBay is lovely. It's a very personal call on how one pulls the trigger and at what price points, but the way I buy, I could not give a flying f&@k what PSA or SGC says about a card as nice that SGC 6 on eBay. It blows away many PSA 6s in the looks department, including the Heritage card that just sold for over 50k. The sad but understandable politics of crossing are such that one TPG would NEVER give it the same grade unless it was cracked and subbed raw.

But even in a PSA 5.5 holder, that eBay SGC 6 card would and should command more than the PSA 6 that Heritage just auctioned.

In terms of how holders can often be dismissed in this day and age, where the old adage of "Buy The Card, Not The Holder" seems to be the prevailing philosophy among so many collectors, the collector who won a recent 6 at a big auction called me before placing his winning bid, and offered me only two less grand for mine than he paid for the 6.

[begsu1013]

I understand completely. however, I think we'd both agree that "said psa 6 vs said sgc 6" would command more money...

most of your cards are psa, correct? I know mine are. I do have a few sgc holders but I think the set registry that psa runs does add value...and a better brand, although they are plagued w/ questionable practices in the past.

whether or not they affix the proper grade is a completely different story....

which is why we search for the diamonds in the proverbial rough!

I went heavy on that 59 4.5 mantle that pwcc just auctioned off and lost.
same scenario w/ the yaz on that other thread.

that 72 aaron posted in Aprils pick up now resides 5 grades higher. 5 grades!

I like that they make mistakes, personally! ...but those mistakes go both ways, ie your 4.5.

and i think alotta folks have passed on ugly 7's, 8's and even 10's and such, but there is that certain sector out that that "need that 8" to climb the ranks and don't even really consider an sgc card to begin with...

all i was trying to convey.

much love.