What would you do if you had these raw sets?

ALR-bishop · #1 11-12-2019, 09:00 AM

My sets for those years are ungraded and will stay that way. But they are not an investment for me. If they were I agree with others grading of the top cards needs to be considered. Given grading issues being discussed in the hobby now, if your view is long term then waiting could be an option.

When you say master set are you meaning variations listed in a catalog or maybe the Regisrty ?

avalanche2006 · #2 11-12-2019, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

My sets for those years are ungraded and will stay that way. But they are not an investment for me. If they were I agree with others grading of the top cards needs to be considered. Given grading issues being discussed in the hobby now, if your view is long term then waiting could be an option.

When you say master set are you meaning variations listed in a catalog or maybe the Regisrty ?

Yes. I started with the registry and used the Beckett Vintage Almanac and Sports Collectors Digest.

1958 Topps --- 534 cards
1959 Topps --- 581 cards
1960 Topps --- 572 cards

tschock · #3 11-12-2019, 01:05 PM

Since you indicate you are considering this as an investment, I would hope you have left details on how to liquidate this asset should you not be able to do so yourself. That's more important than deciding to grade or not (IMO). FWIW, I would not get these graded prior to liquidation for reasons previously specified. If they are truly 7s and 8s, then I believe many reputable AHs will take care of that for your heirs on the valuable cards, should you not be able to do it yourself.

avalanche2006 · #4 11-12-2019, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tschock

Since you indicate you are considering this as an investment, I would hope you have left details on how to liquidate this asset should you not be able to do so yourself. That's more important than deciding to grade or not (IMO). FWIW, I would not get these graded prior to liquidation for reasons previously specified. If they are truly 7s and 8s, then I believe many reputable AHs will take care of that for your heirs on the valuable cards, should you not be able to do it yourself.

Actually, I am going to sell them myself once completed. I am the one who can get the most out of them. I have been enjoying this fun way of trying to build something valuable. I just don't know if it is worth the extra cost of grading any of the cards or if the appeal of a raw collector built set in this condition will suffice.

bnorth · #5 11-12-2019, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avalanche2006

Actually, I am going to sell them myself once completed. I am the one who can get the most out of them. I have been enjoying this fun way of trying to build something valuable. I just don't know if it is worth the extra cost of grading any of the cards or if the appeal of a raw collector built set in this condition will suffice.

Have you kept track of how much you spent so you can compare it to the price that complete sets actually sell for?

Are you putting it together one or a few cards at a time or buying huge lots and selling the extras to offset prices?

From recent experience in just buying the cards you need one or a few at a time building a set is a really good way to lose cash.

avalanche2006 · #6 11-12-2019, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnorth

Have you kept track of how much you spent so you can compare it to the price that complete sets actually sell for?

Are you putting it together one or a few cards at a time or buying huge lots and selling the extras to offset prices?

From recent experience in just buying the cards you need one or a few at a time building a set is a really good way to lose cash.

When I first started these sets a few years ago, I did buy large lots and sell the dupes. And then as I kept upgrading, which I have done about 3 times each set, I sold more cards off.

I helped a couple members here start their sets. I am now at the point that it only makes sense to purchase only the cards that I need.

1958 - 47 cards to go.
1959 - 43 cards to go.
1960 - 11 cards to go.

I really don't know what else to do.

bnorth · #7 11-13-2019, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avalanche2006

When I first started these sets a few years ago, I did buy large lots and sell the dupes. And then as I kept upgrading, which I have done about 3 times each set, I sold more cards off.

I helped a couple members here start their sets. I am now at the point that it only makes sense to purchase only the cards that I need.

1958 - 47 cards to go.
1959 - 43 cards to go.
1960 - 11 cards to go.

I really don't know what else to do.

It really depends on your timeline. If you plan on holding them for a long long time you might be able to make a little cash selling as sets.

If you plan on selling soon, STOP BUYING NOW. When you win a auction you are paying more than anyone. Then when you figure in shipping unless you got the deal of the century you will lose cash on every card you buy. Especially the graded ones you cracked out.

For the most part sets sell for WAY less than individual cards. There are exceptions but they are very rare. For the most part when you see posts about people putting sets together and selling for a profit they are leaving out a lot of info. They either don't count cards they already owned that they traded for cards in the set or they don't tell about the insane hours they spend trying to sell the extras from big lots they bought.

After all that my best advise would be to buy the remaining cards in as large of lots as possible to save $100s on shipping. Then the longer you can hold them before selling the better. Good luck on whatever you decide.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Liquidity offered for sets, near sets, bulk, misc, graded, complete collections, etc	Sean1125	1960-1979 Baseball Cards B/S/T	28	04-10-2022 01:48 PM
Liquidity offered for sets, near sets, bulk, misc, graded, complete collections, etc	Sean1125	1950 to 1959 Baseball cards- B/S/T	11	04-24-2019 10:32 AM
1959, 1973 BB Partial Sets, '76 & 77 complete sets, 2016 Topps rare sets!! 11/29 End	wolf441	Ebay, Auction and other Venues Announcement- B/S/T	0	11-29-2016 09:31 AM
Buying 1950-59 Topps and Bowman Sets/ Near Sets / Partial Sets	Sean1125	1950 to 1959 Baseball cards- B/S/T	1	08-08-2016 12:46 PM
sets started..sets finished...sets discarded	Archive	Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions	15	12-09-2007 12:50 PM