|
|
#1
|
||||
|
||||
The Future of Type I Photos
I don't know if this has come up before, but here goes.
We all know that a new, major buying trend in recent years has been in vintage Type I photos. I resisted (though have large collection of M101-2, as I am a photog myself) until the past week when I won a Ruth and a Mays. But here is what I am wondering. Of course, rarity/scarcity has been a big deal for a long time. But the top players always draw much value even when dozens, hundreds, even thousands of a particular card or issue exist. Yet, in many cases, Type I photos can be one of a kind or at least very few of a kind, with little chance that more will surface. PSA authenticates and presents them nicely in jumbo holders and the images are usually great--and in large size, and god bless them, usually without "centering" issues. Sometimes they were taken by the most famous baseball photogs. Anyway: As much as many of these have surged in value, shouldn't they actually go much higher in the future--due to the scarcity thing? Or even comparing similar images and size: Just for example, why should a Ruth Butterfinger or Ruth Quaker Oats, of which there are at least dozens, be worth more than a nice, similar, but nothing special Type I Ruth which might be one or three of a kind? Or pick your own examples of photo vs. card. Why should a Gehrig Goudey, almost too numerous to count, be worth more than a Type I Gehrig with a unique or nearly unique large image? Well, you get the idea. Last edited by GregMitch34; 05-07-2024 at 07:55 PM. |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
I agree that certain Type 1 photos are just breathtaking and with a scarcity as you mentioned (one or few of a kind), only have room to run. Make it a coveted player, playing days, maybe even a little provenance or something unique about the photo and well you get this...
Last edited by anchorednw; 05-07-2024 at 08:04 PM. |
#3
|
||||
|
||||
There are hundreds to probably thousands of photos out there of the big name guys of each era like WaJo, Ruth, Mays, Jackie, etc. The ones that will truly surge in value are going to have to have story, come from a historic event, be a card image, and/or just breathtaking imagery.
The reason they aren't now is because of demand. He supply of Ruth imagery seems never ending as well. Last edited by Swadewade51; 05-07-2024 at 08:41 PM. |
#4
|
||||
|
||||
Yes, thousands of images of these guys--but vast number are not duplicated, unlike cards with same images, sometimes thousands each. And yes, demand not so high right now but my question is why and why won't that change in era where rarity seems to count so much. And yes, plenty of so-so images but then again most card images are so-so and look like each other....
|
#5
|
||||
|
||||
What really kicked card collecting into the stratosphere was the registry. Collecting became a dick measuring contest of sorts for many people. A race … a game … one more thing to win. Collecting photos doesn’t have that aspect because, as we know these photos are rare, there is no population report.
To me, photos over cards every day of the week. Look at Hunts Christy Mathewson auction. Stunning stuff. Last edited by Snapolit1; 05-08-2024 at 12:46 AM. |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
Try as I may, I have never learned lesson of rarity vs scarcity. I seem to specialize in rare Yankee photos that do not have a lot of demand. Here is a possibly unique Bain photo of Alex Burr who played 1 game in 1914 and then went to war, dying in France in a flying accident. Also a Walter Bernhardt Conlon photo from Culver archive, who played 1 game in 1918 coming directly from Penn with no minor league experience, went to war and never returned to baseball. Someday my ship will come in...LOL
__________________
Buzz Obscure Pre-War NYAL cards, photos, etc. WantList: Mendelsohns Marsans; Rose 760PC Niles; 1924 Diaz Roettger Successful deals with 60+ board members |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
At the time very..very..few collectors. Hardly any photos at auction houses. ...now....you are starting to see a strong steady increase of photo lots being added and even some auctions are only Type 1 photos. It will increase in the future. It's happening now, especially the past few years. However, photos are not mainstreamed yet vs cards. They are not formatted to a set. Due to them being so unique and different, there's no real price guide. It's the wild wild west with pricing to some degree. So why the increase? One reason I think, collectors are being out paced with tradition cards cost and fatigue of seeing the same cards over and over again (add in there fraud issues too).....Where as photos offer something truly uniquely special on all levels (as Brian D. stated above) and collectors are starting to connect with that. Would you rather see a newly discovered photo of Ted Williams or the same Ted Williams cards? For me, I still love cards, but I pick the photos. Last edited by GoCubsGo32; 05-08-2024 at 08:42 AM. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#9
|
||||
|
||||
Good points, but what makes photos different from other memorabilia is that they are closer to "cards"--similar shape, often similar images or type of images (though not art/illustrations), but larger in size. A little easier to compare to cards than a ball or shirt of cap or bat.
|
#10
|
||||
|
||||
I love collecting Type 1 photos. Early photography is so much more interesting to me than most cards. As with card collecting, I tend to focus more on the obscure or second/third tier players as opposed to the elite HOF'ers, as I feel like these guys typically have more of a story to tell/discover.
|
#11
|
|||
|
|||
One thing that seemingly hasn't happened yet is insiders making their way into news storage facilities and looting them like rare books/maps/etc and libraries.
It's hard to know how many are out there waiting to be "leaked" from their storage or newspapers/media figuring out those old photos are a hot revenue stream. |
#12
|
||||
|
||||
Photos have always been more about the story to me than anything else. As a collectible, it marries so many elements together, each of which is compelling: subject, event, photographer, location, etc. This makes photos unique. I worry that they’re being treated as commodities in the collecting marketplace currently, being flipped by dealers to capitalize on their popularity, driven mainly by “Type”. Seasoned collectors that appreciate the story will always hold photos in higher regard though. Many of them are museum pieces, one of a handful known to exist. I hope they continue to be treated that way.
|
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#14
|
||||
|
||||
The "type" class is overrated much like most of what PSA does. You can get the swing of what's a vintage print on your own. There's gold in blank backs.
Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk |
#15
|
||||
|
||||
Velox snap of The Beast with the Cubs
__________________
Read my blog; it will make all your dreams come true. https://adamstevenwarshaw.substack.com/ Or not... |
#16
|
||||
|
||||
Here's my all-time favorite photo...
|
#17
|
||||
|
||||
Mine as well, and yours is the best-conditioned copy of this I’ve ever seen. Congrats!!
|
#18
|
||||
|
||||
Wow. Incredible!
|
#19
|
||||
|
||||
|
#20
|
||||
|
||||
__________________
http://www.flickr.com/photos/calvindog/sets |
#21
|
||||
|
||||
__________________
https://www.flickr.com/photos/137748538@N02/albums Successful transactions with Sycks22, Vintageloz, jim, zachclose21, shamus, Chris Counts, YankeeFan Snapolit1 and many more. |
#22
|
||||
|
||||
Awesome All Star photo Jeff, and here’s my All Star photo thanks to your recommendation to buy it years ago which is my favorite.
__________________
Love Ty Cobb rare items and baseball currency from the 19th Century. |
#23
|
|||
|
|||
I can’t get over how amazing this photo is.
|
#24
|
||||
|
||||
Thanks all! Definitely my favorite of my collection.
|
#25
|
||||
|
||||
Andrew do you display much of your personal collection or no? What are your feelings on soft sleeves, toploaders, magloaders?
Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk |
#26
|
||||
|
||||
Andrew,
Are your photos mounted in some way? If so, what exactly do you use? If not, what keeps them from sliding around inside the Mylar? |
#27
|
||||
|
||||
Paul, they are simply resting on the boards. This storage solution takes into account the fact that the boxes are stored flat and really aren't going to be moved. Happily, even when moved the photos don't tend to shift inside the sleeves. The goal is to ensure each example remains horizontal and surrounded by acid-free materials. Not going to be for everyone but hard to beat for long term preservation.
__________________
Visit TCMA Ltd. on Facebook! |
#28
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Thanks for the feedback and the links. I have a similar setup, but not as nice looking as yours. My OCD now says it's time to buy new archival storage supplies. |
#29
|
||||
|
||||
FWIW, I only display printed copies of my vintage prints, and store the originals similarly to Andrew’s suggested solution. Scan the original and upload a JPG scan to Framebridge or to a local printer for matting/framing.
|
#30
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
https://info.gaylord.com/resources/c...-right-plastic For more significant pieces or collections I prefer solutions that incorporate mylar as it is highly stable and absolutely crystal clear. Some collectors enjoy displaying their collections but my preference is to store everything in a safe place and show particular pieces as needed. If I were to set anything up for display I'd have them matted with acid-free materials behind UV-resistant museum glass. Leave your vintage photos exposed to a light source over the course of several months or years and you're putting them at serious risk of fading and other forms of deterioration.
__________________
Visit TCMA Ltd. on Facebook! Last edited by TCMA; 05-16-2024 at 02:56 PM. |
#31
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Difference between Type 1 and Type 2 Press Photos... | jgmp123 | Net54baseball Sports (Primarily) Vintage Memorabilia Forum incl. Game Used | 38 | 05-05-2024 05:40 PM |
Photos Question - Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, etc. | jjbond | Net54baseball Sports (Primarily) Vintage Memorabilia Forum incl. Game Used | 26 | 02-16-2023 08:22 PM |
Future of signed photos in the hobby? | homerunhitter | Autograph Forum- Primarily Sports | 24 | 06-17-2020 05:56 PM |
Price Reduction Photos Added Type I Photos for Sale | 71buc | Baseball Memorabilia B/S/T | 8 | 03-28-2019 12:55 PM |
Type 1 photos - 1922 World Series program - photos used for cards | horzverti | Ebay, Auction and other Venues Announcement- B/S/T | 4 | 10-17-2016 03:58 PM |