While driving through rural Virginia on business I passed a Coin and Card shop in a smaller town and dropped in just for kicks expecting the usual marked up Heritage, Upper Deck etc. Found all that but they also had four 51 HOF Parkie rookies, 5 C55s in gd-vg condition and a V304C Marty Barry which I immediately grabbed.

I know you guys up in the great white north make finds everyday but us southerners rarely see vintage hockey outside of eBay and this is probably the best find I'll make down here.

I'm sending it off to PSA and I'm guessing it's a 4 - since there are a total of 1 PSA graded examples of this card what do you guys think this might go for if I was to try to sell it?

Mark,

The V304C series by OPC - as you know is very hard to find. It is the hardest OPC set to find in nice condition. The Marty Barry card you picked up books for $60 in the SMR - if it gets a PSA 4. BUT if I was selling I would want a minimum of $120.00 - $140.00.

Two things about the card are what make it a nice pick up - #1. Marty Barry is a HOFer and #2. The series C cards are just so hard to find in any condition.

Thanks,
Paul

Well, it's hard to say as I'm not sure how fast the market is moving up.
About 15 months ago I won the raw 35 OPC Marty Barry card on eBay for $55.
Returned GAI 6.

PSA 4 - I'd say $100 but you always have a chance to find crazy buyers on eBay.

Thanks for the info guys. Darn, I missed that Barry 15 months ago Elmar....

Mark, thanks for missing it, but...I don't think I'll ever be able to complete that set in high grade. For 3 years I got only 7 cards in PSA 5-7

Mark. I'm going to go against the rest of the guys and say that in todays market I think this card will get a minimum of $250 as a 4. Jim.

I agree with Jim 100%

I stated between $120-$140.00 but that is a starting point on this card. I could easily see the card approach $250.00 maybe more. This set is just so rare.

Paul

I notice noone has asked the obvious question, so I will-How much did you pay for this card when you bought it? You don't have to answer, but I suspect others are curious, too.

I paid $100. I'd buy any of the other V304C HOFers at that price in similar condition and be happy.

Mark,
then maybe you can post a scan here if you haven't sent it to PSA yet

Here it is (at least for a week)

Mark,
I bet that dealer was sure surprised to have you walk in and ask about vintage hockey cards! That card might have sat in his showcase for the next 10 years without anyone asking about it.

Nice pick up!

I hope you're right Earl, next time in I'll try to bargain down the 51 Parkie rookies- they are all at high book and they would probably grade 4s.

This set is certainly an interesting one as they have be documented as O-Pee-Chee with no proof and I am not completely convinced they are.

Some reasons behind my thinking is that the size had changed so dramatically from the other cards they issued.

There was no series to go with the numbering scheme.

OPC was a gum company, why issue cards without gum.

No display box or advertising material has ever been found to be associated with this set.

Plus they also issued Movie Star pictures with the hockey cards, identical to the 1939-40. The movie star cards were also issued in the USA as well and OPC didn't really have any afiliates in the USA at that time?

An interesting story of these for me was when my grandfather passed away back in 1998, I was left his steamer trunk which was under the basement stairs for over 50 years untouched because he had stuff stacked on there since the day he build his house in Toronto.

When I opened the trunk there were many different things from the 1930's and 40's, about 20 Leaf programs from the 1940's, some with original ticket stubbs and to my surprise there was a stack of 40 "DEAD MINT" 1939-40 Hockey and Movie Star cards in a stack in the top of the trunk tray. Snow white cards and just some mild handling wear.

Half of these cards were hockey the other half were movie star cards. The value of these cards back then weren't very high as they are today nor in demand. I did trade and sell most of them to buy some old wax but today I sure regret that. I had two Sid Abels that were 9's for sure, heck they were all 9's....damn.

Pictured below were a few of the hockey ones I had and they are the only pictures I have on file. I still own the Movie Star cards though I do regret the selling them now but I did score some great unopened wax packs with the money I got from them!





Sorry Guys this was supposed to be a new post.....

here's a few if anyone's interested the coulter has glue on back






how bout 105.00

Are you selling? If so what are you asking for the Smith?

Hey Mark there's a Boll V304C on Ebay right now, if you're interested.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=330162704011&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=014

Ron

Thanks Ron!

Great story as to finding older hockey in the deep south.Those other cards are very nice looking too especially the Smith & Kelly cards,Congrats & Bobby those cards you displayed are very nice as well,I have seen those on ebay & they were very reasonable.

so mark interested?

$105 is steep based on what look to be a fair number of creases. I'm guessing the Smith grades a 2 - anyone think it's higher?

I just had a submission pop at PSA and the raw Marty Barry from the start of the thread came in at a '4.' I think the grade is accurate and I'm real happy with it.

I picked up a raw Boll from the set that will grade 2 or 3. At this rate I should have the set completed by about 2013.....

Congrats on the 4 Mark and don't worry, lets set a goal of 2012 as a group of collectors to help Mark finish his set! One full year ahead of schedule, lol