REA Boxing Card Results

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Knowing what an item would sell for privately is an inherently suspect analysis, especially with a card that is rarely sold.

One certainly cannot know what it would go for, as one cannot know other offers that would arise in an informal type of bid taking; but one does know a minimum from what they've been offering for such items and many of us are certainly aware of the general range and the market. I've yet to find anyone willing to take $132 for Red Crosses or anyone who offers that low (if they exist, PM me and take my money right now, no questions asked). Auctions usually have some high, some low. It's interesting to me that it was the more difficult stuff that the dice rolls went low on and the more common material went high in the 1887-1912 period. Tough N/T/E boxing still seems to get little respect and the more common sets often go higher now.




If anyone wants to sell a Red Cross common for 150% of what the Ketchel went for, call me. 200% for a Ketchel Red Cross. Offering 150% of the Choyinski for a Robertson Candy in worse condition, paid without any fees.

[Exhibitman]

Now you offer…

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Now you offer…

I hope you bought all of them in REA.

[Jewish-collector]

Adam - Just curious why did you decide to go with REA rather than the 20 or other auction houses including the one you assisted with a Boxing only catalog auction some years ago ?

[rjackson44]

a steal

[jbsports33]

I really think things went well, and I did not get a chance to bid - boxing has been king at some of my local shows. The last two years has been hard keeping it - and glad I am keeping some for myself!

Jimmy

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

I hope you bought all of them in REA.

Ha, I did not though. I won't do business with REA; which coincidentally makes REA a really good double check of the market for me - because it allows me to remove the factor of myself.

A lot of the old boxing market is really dependent on just a couple of us. When I and a couple others were trying to build T218 Tolstoi at the same time, prices ~tripled on eBay and I had to match that in private offers. Now that I'm at 47/50, it seems the price is ~half of what it was again. There are other examples and I'm sure we all have them, but it's very helpful sometimes to monitor a 'reset' by removing oneself.

[RCMcKenzie]

Originally Posted by G1911

Ha, I did not though. I won't do business with REA; which coincidentally makes REA a really good double check of the market for me - because it allows me to remove the factor of myself.

A lot of the old boxing market is really dependent on just a couple of us. When I and a couple others were trying to build T218 Tolstoi at the same time, prices ~tripled on eBay and I had to match that in private offers. Now that I'm at 47/50, it seems the price is ~half of what it was again. There are other examples and I'm sure we all have them, but it's very helpful sometimes to monitor a 'reset' by removing oneself.

I was one of the T218 Tolstoi bidders. I have not added one in a while. 2 people can make a market, and 3 or 4 bidders can make a market explode like a small float pink sheet stock. 47/50 is great. I don't think anyone has publicly completed this set. You are the first to know it contains 50 that I know of. I'm in the high 20's still. Grinding away on a lot of sets.

[Exhibitman]

Why no REA, Greg? I've found REA to be among the least offensive and most professional AHs.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Why no REA, Greg? I've found REA to be among the least offensive and most professional AHs.

I know he isn't running it anymore, but REA is Lifson's baby. Lifson, the library thief (a running ring stealing cards and then getting them into his buddies collections in some versions, a single incident while both high on drugs and drunk, during which he failed and was caught in his own telling). Lifson, the 'expert' who sold all the Halper fraud items as legit. Lifson, the President of Mastronet, a criminal fraud ring. Lifson, who was one of the guys getting card(s) juiced by shill bidding at said Mastronet according to the state. Could keep going, but you get the point.

A company founded and run for many years by this guy raises red flags for me. Don't deal with known thieves, fraudsters, or those who very suspiciously are always getting involved in frauds by their friends for decades. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and seems practically imprudent to enter into business with such organizations rooted in this kind of conduct. It has not been my experience that organization founded, run and shaped by such folks are likely to conduct themselves properly. REA has never sold something I needed bad enough to sign up with them; not sure there's anything I haven't secured yet that would make me flip around and do it anyways. I would not expect anyone to agree or draw the same boundaries I do, and am not claiming that those who make different choice are doing anything wrong. I lay no claim to virtue and do not expect those I conduct business with to possess it either, but I do expect them not to be repeatedly involved over decades in frauds and scams and thefts in the same kind of business as I am conducting with them. That this is such a difficult standard for card businesses to reach and that REA probably is one of the cleaner auction houses, tells one a lot about auction houses

[G1911]

Originally Posted by RCMcKenzie

I was one of the T218 Tolstoi bidders. I have not added one in a while. 2 people can make a market, and 3 or 4 bidders can make a market explode like a small float pink sheet stock. 47/50 is great. I don't think anyone has publicly completed this set. You are the first to know it contains 50 that I know of. I'm in the high 20's still. Grinding away on a lot of sets.

We really drove up the price for a minute. I know a couple of the other active guys gave this set up. On the positive side, it flushed out more Tolstoi's into the active trading/selling market than I've been able to find before the spike we drove, which is more important. It's probably a bit easier to complete now than it was 10 years ago or 2 years ago. I don't know of anyone doing multiples or hoarding (except the Jack Johnson investors, but Johnson's Tolstoi is a superprint and not a hard card. I suspect Jeffries is too.) Did you pick up any of the cards Todd M. put on eBay? I grabbed the Abe Goodman I needed and someone else got the rest shortly after.

Shameless plug that I am happily overpaying for the 3 commons I still have left: Jack Goodman, J.L. Hartranft, and Unk Russell

[RCMcKenzie]

Originally Posted by G1911

Did you pick up any of the cards Todd M. put on eBay?

No, my last purchase was July 2022. I'm at 28/50. I don't have any on your want list. Good luck on it.