Any 'finds' overseas?

[kecleveland]

I find the prices from overseas all over the map. I’ve primarily been purchasing soccer from Europe with an occasional boxer here and there. I’ve also purchased some Sadaharu Oh’s from Japan, but there are no bargains for Oh. In fact, Sadaharu Oh cards have gone up dramatically since the pandemic.

Pele cards used to be more affordable, but seemed to jump in price since last year’s world up. His recent death, and $1 million rookie card also drove prices up.

I find European and South American soccer card prices are all over the place for the same card. English cigarette cards are way cheap and there’s tons on them, same for boxing. Italy and Spanish soccer is more expensive but can be had for sometimes less than half the asking price. I do also find American sellers like COMC sell European cards for much less.

[Ulidia]

Originally Posted by kecleveland

I find European and South American soccer card prices are all over the place for the same card. English cigarette cards are way cheap and there’s tons on them, same for boxing. Italy and Spanish soccer is more expensive but can be had for sometimes less than half the asking price. I do also find American sellers like COMC sell European cards for much less.

The English soccer cigarette cards that are cheap are those from between the two World Wars. Those pre WWI have risen dramatically in price over recent years, esp for iconic players of the era such as Billy Meredith and Steve Bloomer.

Italian cards are generally priced higher and more collectible than Spanish equivalents. For example, cards of Giuseppe Meazza (Italian soccer legend of the late 1920s through to early 1940s) have sold for high 5 figure sums in recent years. Similarly, other Italian soccer legends such as Piola and Valentino Mazzola can command high prices. Comparatively, the equivalent Spanish stars such as a Samitier, Alacantara and Zamora sell much smaller sums.

I am a season ticket holder of Internazionale of Milano and travel to Milan regularly (next trip is forthcoming Friday). There are many markets but the items for sale there are generally over-priced and, irrespective of price, not particularly alluring. I find that’s the same with all mainstream markets across Europe, including UK. My better purchases in Italy have come from building up relationships over time with other collectors - building and maintaining a network really does help.

[Brian]

Very interesting. I have never acquired one, but I was always pretty amazed at how comparatively undervalued (there's that word again) Sadaharu Oh's cards were, him being the 'Babe Ruth of Japan' and all that.......

What also surprises me is that some sellers in Europe nowadays don't ship to the US. If they are selling cards and Americana most frequently bought by Americans (including Ruth and Ali), that is a poor business model in IMO. I never figured that one out. Is there some new glitch in shipping to the US? I am seeing this more and more.

[Steve D]

Wasn't there a find of several T215 Pirate-back cards down-under a few years ago (Australia)?

Steve

[Snowman]

I have a 1958 Menko Doyusha Jackie Robinson that was discovered in Tokyo. Pretty cool card.

[EddieP]

Here are mine. Both are of Ruth: 1937 Lindt & Sprungli and 1930 British American Tobacco . The two companies are still in existence. Anyone with an interest in business history will know that the British American Tobacco Company was created by the T206 distributor, American Tobacco, to sell tobacco products overseas. And, despite its name, British American Tobacco did not sell tobacco products in the UK or the US. Because of this, I believe the recently found Spanish “ Churchman’s” is really a British American Tobacco Card.

[glchen]

Originally Posted by EddieP

Here are mine. Both are of Ruth: 1937 Lindt & Sprungli and 1930 British American Tobacco . The two companies are still in existence. Anyone with an interest in business history will know that the British American Tobacco Company was created by the T206 distributor, American Tobacco, to sell tobacco products overseas. And, despite its name, British American Tobacco did not sell tobacco products in the UK or the US. Because of this, I believe the recently found Spanish “ Churchman’s” is really a British American Tobacco Card.

I recently picked up the Edwards, Ringer variation of the Churchman card to "complete" (hopefully) the different variations of this card, including the newer Spanish one.

[seanofjapan]

Originally Posted by Snowman

I have a 1958 Menko Doyusha Jackie Robinson that was discovered in Tokyo. Pretty cool card.

That is a beauty!

The picture is Jackie, but it was supposed to be a Roberto Barbon card (the player identified in the text on the card). One of the all time great photo errors.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Brian

Very interesting. I have never acquired one, but I was always pretty amazed at how comparatively undervalued (there's that word again) Sadaharu Oh's cards were, him being the 'Babe Ruth of Japan' and all that.......

What also surprises me is that some sellers in Europe nowadays don't ship to the US. If they are selling cards and Americana most frequently bought by Americans (including Ruth and Ali), that is a poor business model in IMO. I never figured that one out. Is there some new glitch in shipping to the US? I am seeing this more and more.

I think the not shipping to the US is a combination of reasons.

One being the different approach to doing things.
A bike I bought from Italy, from a guy I knew from online took long enough that I was getting worried. When a set of wheels that were "right" for it with the same provenance were for sale I got worried enough to ask a couple questions. Apparently shipping something when they get to it is a thing there. (Perhaps not for all countries, but I've come to expect something ordered from a hobbyist in Europe may not ship anytime soon unless it's Ebay or another venue that requires it. )
It's a pretty big mismatch with most of the US which has come to expect very quick shipping, and returns for any reason at all. To some, we're simply not worth the hassle.

There may also be odd customs delays. Another seller did pretty big volume from the Netherlands, and eventually moved his business to California because every shipment was subject to months waiting to be inspected. and that pre-covid. (there was apparently loads of ecstasy coming from the Netherlands at the time)

They also have peculiar to us laws about some things, and there may be a lot of paperwork involved in exporting and expensive item in a way that it's not subject to VAT.

Most of the bike guys in the UK or elsewhere that buy bikes in France end up having the seller hold it for "a while" until they can take a small vacation and pick it up in person, as most French sellers simply won't ship anything.

[steve B]

Another interesting thing is that for British tobacco cards, the common sets are collected very differently than they are here.
Hardly any dealers sell singles, or worn cards. Most are very presentable and sold as complete sets.
That's not bad, since they're usually small sets.