How do you price old newspapers with Baseball related articles ?

[Jason19th]

I used to collect newspapers fairly extensively. I had a collection that went back to the mid 1850. While I enjoyed them I can to the conclusion that it is unlikely that there will ever be that much of a market. I think the main issue is that their size just makes them difficult to display and to enjoy. Further the post 1900 papers which were made with pulp paper are almost impossible to handle without damage occurring every read.

[conor912]

Originally Posted by Jason19th

I used to collect newspapers fairly extensively. I had a collection that went back to the mid 1850. While I enjoyed them I can to the conclusion that it is unlikely that there will ever be that much of a market. I think the main issue is that their size just makes them difficult to display and to enjoy. Further the post 1900 papers which were made with pulp paper are almost impossible to handle without damage occurring every read.

Agreed. The few I've sold I had to practically give away. While there are certainly exceptions, run of the mill stuff is usually oversized and doesn't make a great display piece.

[SAllen2556]

Originally Posted by conor912

Agreed. The few I've sold I had to practically give away. While there are certainly exceptions, run of the mill stuff is usually oversized and doesn't make a great display piece.

Uh...yeah. I'm gonna to have to go ahead and sorta disagree with you.

My basement is littered with framed newspapers, partly because both my father and grandfather were newspaper photographers, but I still think old newspapers make great display pieces. These are actual pieces of history! Sold on the street the actual day, or day after, the event occurred!

The 1935 Tiger world series win newspaper went for around $200 on ebay a year or so ago, so I don't think they're exactly cheap. Admittedly, it is not wise to handle them since they will fall apart, and framing them can be tricky.

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[doug.goodman]

Certainly random newspaper issues or pages with baseball content are worth virtually nothing (unless you get lucky and find the right buyer). It gets easier with large images or headlines as noted by SAllen2556, but even then prices are super cheap in comparison to cards with comparable ages.

With the occasional exception (like panoramic photos), I would argue that the bigger things are the cheaper they sell for, on average.

Doug "so size DOES matter?" Goodman


PS - for those of you who care, I believe the safest way to store larger items, particularly newspaper pages from the brittle era, is in a bag (like a comic book) and then in an Itoya profolio (the largest size they sell is 18 X 24). For centerfolds, it's possible to put the backing page in the middle and then fold it all the way over so as to be on the front and back of a single page sleeve, so both are viewable.

[GaryPassamonte]

Certain newspaper type images can sell for decent money. In fact, a Ruthcover identical to this one from 1916 is currently at $3700 without the BP in Heritage's auction. The auction closes tonight so there may be more bids to come. Granted this may be the exception, but we're talking real money here.

[BeanTown]

Current price is 4800.00 and next bid will take it to 5k. So much for newspapers flying under the radar. What’s left to collect for nice old pre war baseball items? Letterheads?

Update... Just closed at 9,900.00. Looks like the Dewey beats Truman paper has company!

[GaryPassamonte]

I'd like to meet the under bidder.