Whats the most you'll feel comfortable paying for an ungraded prewar card?

[Exhibitman]

In person is a completely different situation. I will readily spend four figures on a card I can inspect. Mail order really depends on the seller. Someone I don't know on eBay is one thing but a person I know and trust is another story.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

In person is a completely different situation. I will readily spend four figures on a card I can inspect. Mail order really depends on the seller. Someone I don't know on eBay is one thing but a person I know and trust is another story.

+1

[GasHouseGang]

It's funny, but back in the days of 200 page SCD issues and no Internet, you were at the mercy of the written description. Now I want scans and really need to trust the seller. I've bought some expensive raw cards from some of the folks on this board and never been disappointed.

[pclpads]

Zip. Too many card docs out there. If it has value, it is likely slabbed.

[conor912]

Originally Posted by pclpads

Zip. Too many card docs out there. If it has value, it is likely slabbed.

While you're likely more right than wrong, there is still a ton of amazing raw stuff out there, mostly in old-timer collections.

I would spend a couple hundred dollars on a raw eBay card with good scans and a solid return policy from an unknown to me, yet reputable, dealer (i.e. not Battlefield). I once ended up striking up a lengthy month long email conversation with an eBay seller and came to trust him in that time. I then paid him ~$3k for a nice partial Diamond Stars set that his uncle put together in the 30's which he hadn't planned on selling but offered to me unsolicited. It was my biggest raw purchase ever but felt 100% comfortable and have zero regrets. I also have a half dozen or so guys I trust enough to pay limitless amounts to for raw material.

[rhettyeakley]

Certain sets you can't be as picky with.

For example I collect Zeenut cards and there is just no possible way to only collect those if graded (other than maybe the 1911 set which is probably the most common and most graded). People just don't get these cards graded that often and when they do they are almost always lower grade so it ends up not worth it in the end.

The one thing about graded cards that really bugs me is the whole space issue. The holders are so large and cumbersome! I can fit my entire Zeenut collection of nearly 3,000 cards in a relatively small space but you get that many graded cards (especially SGC) and you are probably needing to add a wing onto the house!

[Iwantmorecards77]

I paid a little over $1,500 for a raw T213 from a reputable auctioneer. Big mistake and an expensive lesson learned.

[david_l]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

In person is a completely different situation. I will readily spend four figures on a card I can inspect. Mail order really depends on the seller. Someone I don't know on eBay is one thing but a person I know and trust is another story.

This. If you can't tell the difference between an authentic early 20th Century/late 19th Century card in person you're asking for trouble. It baffles me that people still put so much blind trust in these grading companies even though a quick web search will show the most egregious mistakes one can imagine from these organizations.