Yard Sales/Estate Sales?

[jingram058]

Many cards in my collection came from my nephew who, as he got older, became totally disinterested in them and bequeathed them to me. It was his mother, my wife's sister, who found the majority of his cards at early-morning yard sales (if you weren't first on scene, the good stuff like cards were long gone) and estate sales. This was back in the 1980s/90s. I am told that, as posters above state, the pickings are slim to none now. Everyone nowadays knows these cards are quite valuable. Same with flea markets and antique malls. The days of getting these cards on the cheap like this would definitely appear to be gone forever. Every so often you hear of some pick up like Bender above, but something like that now is exceptionally rare. The only things I see on my occasional flea market and antique mall forays is junk wax and way over priced beaters.

[Schlesinj]

I stopped by my local card shop on Saturday and the owner mention a family brought in several raw T206 Drum to send to PSA.

[obcbobd]

Yes, as mentioned earlier it is slim pickens for the most part, but every now and then you get something by asking if they have any old cards. I've had no luck with pre-war but have gotten a few complete 1970s sets, box of mid 60s card w/ Mantle, Clemente etc and a few autographs just by asking

Good luck

Bob

[philliesfan]

It seems I have better luck at a local card shop. This guy I know calls me whenever something old comes in the door. Usually when the person is there. So, I tell the store owner what I would pay and he makes an offer to the person which is usually a few hundred less than I offered
This way the customer gets cash, the owner makes a few hundred and I get some good cards.

[bmattioli]

Two weeks ago a bag full of Vintage GI Joes for $5.00.. Keep hunting it's still out there..

[Vintagedeputy]

Garage sales, estate sales and the like are all really hit or miss. I tend to do better at antique stores believe it or not. These pics are all items I found at antique stores and they were cheap.

[Tere1071]

Where I live, Southeast Los Angeles County, I have never encountered any cards worth purchasing at a yard/estate sale, the thrill is in the chase. Where I have done well is finding collectible books and occasional CDs, DVDs, and BluRays that I have been able to make money on and that becomes baseball card purchase funds.

Phil aka Tere1071

Complete 1953 Bowman Color, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1975 Topps Baseball sets under revision as the budget and wife allows

Under construction:
1967 Topps Baseball - 330/533: Overall p-g, missing all of the bigger name stars and many commons, no high numbers or posters

1968 Topps Baseball - 420/598: Overall good, missing all of the bigger name stars and many commons from 1-375; no game cards

1969 Topps Baseball - 328-664: Overall good, missing all of the stars and many cards after #217; no deckle edged cards
1969 Topps Baseball Team Stamps- missing Twins; Cubs; Cardinals; Braves; Tigers; Orioles; Mets; Giants; Pirates; Red Sox; Pilots; and Reds. i need the following individual stamp that appear together on the same block: Siebert; Pasual; Bailey; McBean, plus Hannan

1970 Topps Baseball Insert sets:
Booklets- missing 7; 9; 11; 13; 14; 15; 17; and 23.
Posters # 1; 8; 14; 17; and 19
I do not have any 1970 scratch offs yet.

1971 Topps Coins- 120/153
I do not have any 1971 scratch offs yet.

1974 Topps Baseball Washington variations- 32; 53; 77; 102; 125; 226; 241; 309; 364; and 599