card collectors company, and T206 Wagner

[zljones]

Originally Posted by Steve D

The first Beckett/Eckes Sports Americana Baseball Card Priceguide issued in 1979 lists the Wagner at $4,800 in mint, $4,000 in VG-E, and $2,000 in F-G.

It lists the Plank at $2,700 in mint, $2,200 in VG-E, and $1,000 in F-G.

Magie's at $400 in mint, $320 in VG-E, and $150 in F-G.

Commons are listed at $1.60 in mint, $1.20 in VG-E, and $.50 in F-G, with HOFers ranging from $10 - $20 in mint.

Steve

Yup and the 52 Mantle was $500.

[Bilko G]

Originally Posted by zljones

Yup and the 52 Mantle was $500.

Hmm that's interesting info.

What about protection and storage? When that advertisement to sell cards was printed in 1963, was there any special ways people protected the cards? What year did the plastic sheets for binders come about? Was that the first way people protected their cards?

I wonder how these companies back in 1963 would ship cards to people when they bought them? I wonder if they put them between cardboard or anything, or did they just send them in PWE?

[g_vezina_c55]

IN the 30, wagner was 50$ and plank 10$

[benjulmag]

In the early to mid-'70s, Wagners were regarded as $1,500 cards. Condition then was much less of a factor than it is today, and from the perspective of one who was looking to acquire to acquire a Wagner at that price, I would have been happy with a vg card (by 1970's vg standards). By the mid-'80s, when I finally acquired a Wagner, I paid $25,500 for one (ungraded but most likely a solid 5 by today's standards). At the time, to my knowledge, it was the highest price ever paid for a baseball card. Another top Wagner, the former Halper example that is now at the HOF, was on the market for $27,500. It had been auctioned by Lew Lipset in the '80's (1982 as I recall), for a tad over 25k. As the '80's wore on offering prices for high end (vg-ex and better) Wagners were moving steadily up, but still in 5 figures. It was not until the watershed Copeland sale at Sotheby's when the "8" (raw at the time) sold did the prices for Wagners explode. What is interesting is that even then the rumors were rampant that "the card" was trimmed.

[Bilko G]

Wow Corey, so at one time you had paid the most ever for a Baseball card?!?! Thats is one amazing thing and definitely something to be proud of, amazing!!!

[benjulmag]

Originally Posted by Bilko G

Wow Corey, so at one time you had paid the most ever for a Baseball card?!?! Thats is one amazing thing and definitely something to be proud of, amazing!!!

What is amazing about it and the only reason I mentioned it was to illustrate how much cards have appreciated over the years. Today a person can easily spend 25k for a condition rarity Topps or Bowman (non-Mantle) card.

[Bilko G]

Originally Posted by benjulmag

What is amazing about it and the reason I mentioned it was to illustrate how much cards have appreciated over the years. Today a person can easily spend 25k for a condition rarity Topps or Bowman (non-Mantle) card.

or for a brand new superfractor of the latest and greatest prospect

[g_vezina_c55]

Originally Posted by benjulmag

In the early to mid-'70s, Wagners were regarded as $1,500 cards. Condition then was much less of a factor than it is today, and from the perspective of one who was looking to acquire to acquire a Wagner at that price, I would have been happy with a vg card (by 1970's vg standards). By the mid-'80s, when I finally acquired a Wagner, I paid $25,500 for one (ungraded but most likely a solid 5 by today's standards). At the time, to my knowledge, it was the highest price ever paid for a baseball card. Another top Wagner, the former Halper example that is now at the HOF, was on the market for $27,500. It had been auctioned by Lew Lipset in the '80's (1982 as I recall), for a tad over 25k. As the '80's wore on offering prices for high end (vg-ex and better) Wagners were moving steadily up, but still in 5 figures. It was not until the watershed Copeland sale at Sotheby's when the "8" (raw at the time) sold did the prices for Wagners explode. What is interesting is that even then the rumors were rampant that "the card" was trimmed.

Your answer is verry nice to read thx to share your experience.

Do you still have your wagner?

[benjulmag]

Thanks for the response. Yes, I still have my Wagner.

[g_vezina_c55]

Originally Posted by benjulmag

Thanks for the response. Yes, I still have my Wagner.

Wow amazing. Thx for share your story.

owning a wagner will only be a dream in my life. the most valuable card i will ever own
in my life is and will be my t206 plank.

[zljones]

Originally Posted by benjulmag

In the early to mid-'70s, Wagners were regarded as $1,500 cards. Condition then was much less of a factor than it is today, and from the perspective of one who was looking to acquire to acquire a Wagner at that price, I would have been happy with a vg card (by 1970's vg standards). By the mid-'80s, when I finally acquired a Wagner, I paid $25,500 for one (ungraded but most likely a solid 5 by today's standards). At the time, to my knowledge, it was the highest price ever paid for a baseball card. Another top Wagner, the former Halper example that is now at the HOF, was on the market for $27,500. It had been auctioned by Lew Lipset in the '80's (1982 as I recall), for a tad over 25k. As the '80's wore on offering prices for high end (vg-ex and better) Wagners were moving steadily up, but still in 5 figures. It was not until the watershed Copeland sale at Sotheby's when the "8" (raw at the time) sold did the prices for Wagners explode. What is interesting is that even then the rumors were rampant that "the card" was trimmed.

I heard that back in 1972 there was a convention and a college student supposdly paid $1,500 for a Wagner. That was believed to be the story until years later it was said that someone made up that story and there was no college student that paid $1,500. I have come accross articles from 1973-1975 that say it was worth $1,000-$1,500. I also wonder about the late 60s.

[zljones]

Originally Posted by Bilko G

Hmm that's interesting info.

What about protection and storage? When that advertisement to sell cards was printed in 1963, was there any special ways people protected the cards? What year did the plastic sheets for binders come about? Was that the first way people protected their cards?

I wonder how these companies back in 1963 would ship cards to people when they bought them? I wonder if they put them between cardboard or anything, or did they just send them in PWE?

Good question I always wondered that myself.

[Steve D]

Originally Posted by Bilko G

Hmm that's interesting info.

What about protection and storage? When that advertisement to sell cards was printed in 1963, was there any special ways people protected the cards? What year did the plastic sheets for binders come about? Was that the first way people protected their cards?

I know that by 1976 Enor was making the nine-pocket sheets for cards. I know this because that's the year I started buying the complete Topps sets (from Larry Fritsch), and I remember putting all the cards (2 to a pocket) in the sheets. These were the sheets that contained mass quantities of PVC, and after a while, they turned very oily.

Steve

[mrvster]

Corey!!

Congrats!!it's my dream card and i'm striving hopefully one day to trade all my t206 freaks and rarities for one

[barrysloate]

A postscript to Corey's story: when he purchased his Wagner he discovered that the seller had another one for sale, a low grade example that he priced at $8250. Corey called me and told me about it, and I ended up buying that one. But because buying and selling baseball cards was my sole source of income, I sold it about eighteen months later. I doubled my money and thought I made a great deal. As time passed I of course realized it was a mistake not keeping it. But part of business is turning over inventory, so that's what I did.

[g_vezina_c55]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

A postscript to Corey's story: when he purchased his Wagner he discovered that the seller had another one for sale, a low grade example that he priced at $8250. Corey called me and told me about it, and I ended up buying that one. But because buying and selling baseball cards was my sole source of income, I sold it about eighteen months later. I doubled my money and thought I made a great deal. As time passed I of course realized it was a mistake not keeping it. But part of business is turning over inventory, so that's what I did.

wow i love to read all your Wagner story.... it is amazing to hear old experienced collector like you ... thanks to share these story !!!

Do you have any pic of these 2 Wagner ? And do you know where you Wagner is by now ??

[barrysloate]

I didn't save a picture of my Wagner, but it's easy to pick out in a crowd. Somewhere there is a gallery of Wagners- I'm sure someone could link it up to this thread- and mine was the one with the upper left corner missing.

[HoofHearted]

Originally Posted by Bilko G

I wonder how these companies back in 1963 would ship cards to people when they bought them? I wonder if they put them between cardboard or anything, or did they just send them in PWE?

Here's an envelope in which I received cards from the CCC. I don't recall how the cards were protected -- if at all...

[Bilko G]

Thank you Mike B. Very, very interesting!

[zljones]

[QUOTE=HoofHearted;985486]Here's an envelope in which I received cards from the CCC. I don't recall how the cards were protected -- if at all...

I am glad you shared that because the one I shared is one year later and still showing the Wagner as $250. Maybe the Wagner was going up in value throughout the 60s just no one was updating their info, unless it truly stayed at $250 from 61-64.

[HoofHearted]

Originally Posted by zljones

I am glad you shared that because the one I shared is one year later and still showing the Wagner as $250. Maybe the Wagner was going up in value throughout the 60s just no one was updating their info, unless it truly stayed at $250 from 61-64.

I also have CCC catalog issue #19 from 1968 and it still shows a $250 value on the Wagner. Either the value stayed the same or the CCC didn't change the value in their catalog. I'd be curious to see if there are any other price guides with differing values from that time period.

[zljones]

Originally Posted by HoofHearted

I also have CCC catalog issue #19 from 1968 and it still shows a $250 value on the Wagner. Either the value stayed the same or the CCC didn't change the value in their catalog. I'd be curious to see if there are any other price guides with differing values from that time period.

Nice that is a time period I was curious about the most, the late 60s. Now you got me really wondering if that was the real price in 68, I wish there was another source to verify what CCC said in 68.

[HoofHearted]

And here is the first page of Issue #20 from 1968: