I'm pretty sure all of us saw some vintage cards going for some
pretty high prices, especially when rarity is an issue with high
graded cards.
1954 Topps PSA 8 commons often go for $500-$600 at on-line auctions
while some other commons from the same set are often sold for less than $250.
The lattest price abuse was last night. A nice 1971 OPC #1,
Poul Popiel was bidded in the last few seconds of the auction
by two people wanting badly the PSA 9 card with a nice OPC
rough cut on the top and bottom edge. Result? Well, just see
for yourself:
Sure, a Goudey PSA 10 Lou Gehrig was sold for $234 000 last weekend but this
is a 1933 basball card. In the case of 1971 OPC, I'm pretty sure there will be
more (much more) ungraded high end cards coming out of the drawers in the
years to come, increasing the PSA population. Chances are the buyer has paid an
insane price for this one, but this is my personnal opinion.
FYI - I did a search, the 8 (which looks nicer to me) went for $220 or so. This topic has been discussed before quite a few times, the "holder collecting phenomenon". It usually doesn't end well; people often get offended when the practice is criticized, if I recall.
The high bidder has also paid some very high prices for some 68-69 OPC's earlier this year ....
Will not be outbid for high end Hockey, which is OK too .........HEY, if you got her spend er!!
I also agree that the PSA 9 could have very easily been an 8 ....
and the PSA 8 a PSA 7
I never did and still dont understand how you can grade a 71-72 OPC card a 9 with a rough cut like that? I could sort of understand it I guess if they were all rough cut and there were no sharp cut cards out there, but this is not the case? Anyone else have a opinion on this one!
I remember the first time I saw a 1980's OPC card with a rough cut. I thought it looked terrible! The dealer tried to explain to me that a lot of the OPC cards had that cut. It took me a while to accept it, but I realize that it is true. I guess the graders try not to penalize the card for something that was the condition when it was made. But this also contradicts the policy of lowering a grade for centering.
To me it depends on how bad the rough cut is. If it's only 1 edge, and it's not an ugly rough, then I'm not totally against it getting a 9. Personally, if I were to buy a high dollar card in PSA 9 I would hope that it had pretty nice edges. I don't usually buy that kind of thing in vintage cards.
I saw a 1962 Topps Bobby Hull in the Mastro Auction back in the summer. I think it was a PSA 10. I looked at the scan and was really disappointed! I'm familiar with that set and this card really didn't look like an outstanding specimen at all. The edges were a little rough and it just didn't impress me. (Especially considering how much it was going for!)
Earl, I bought the 62 Topps Hull and believe me if you see the card in person you would think differently. The scan does not do it justice. Might be because of the blue borders. I went to Mastro and looked at the card prior to bidding on it and I was sold. I scanned 2 Hull pics on Ebay and added a scan of mine to show how impossible the cuts are on these cards(especially on the left of all 3 cards). You can see the centering on all 3 cards appear to taper off as it gets lower. Centering is always an issue with this year. Mine has a slight rough cut on top but nothing like an OPC card. There are only 4 PSA 10's across this whole set with more
than 2,500+ graded. Let me know what you think with a closer look. Thanks.
This message has been edited by DamirTomicic on Sep 21, 2007 1:07 AM
Thanks for the scan. I have bought a lot of these cards so I know who tough the blue borders are.
The PSA 10 Hull is definitely nicer than the Mastro scan made it look. It would be nice to be able to hold the card and see it with the naked eye. A flat scan really makes some cards look better/worse than they really are.
I do see the slight rough cut on the top, but the bottm corners look very sharp!
I guess being able to go to the auction house and see the card makes all the difference!
I think I will only buy cards in person or already graded because on ebay you can't actually hold & see the card.BTW the Hull card graded 10 is a beauty,I do see a bit of white at the top but that can be from the scan as well.That card would be sweet to hold in your hand as I would hold it as if I was cradling a newborn child.Congrats on the card.
Regards,
Ralph.
It blows my mind when I see someone paying that much for a common card.Who is that player anyway?
You can buy a psa 8 OPC Gretzky rookie for $1000.
Grading is scarry...I have many psa 8 70's rookie cards that are sharper than my psa 9's.I cant figure it out?
I will never understand the rough edge/cut issue.In my opinion a psa 9 should have sharp edges period!
Anyone else agree?
Jon, the OPC rough cut is a factory cut. The card is being graded as is from the factory. If you knock down grades for OPC rough cuts you will have a population with almost no gem mints at all. This is how the cards were cut from the sheet. There are some rough cuts that are worse than others, but that's just the way it is with OPC. BTW, I love seeing rough cuts (not excessive)on OPC cards.
I have to admit in embarrasement that I was the second high bidder for that card....I am the guy that is working on building the highest graded 71/72 opc nhl set...I have about 16 psa 10's for this set which include the Ken Dryden PSA 10...
BUT their is a lady in Philly that I go up against quite often and that is the only reason the prices for these 71's are getting out of hand....
Without us 2 people bidding on these cards, the prices would be quite normal....
I honestly do feel quite stupid and foolish for the cost that I have put into this set......before this other lady was on the scene, I was getting them at reasonable prices....indeed, I probably will be selling my set to her when it is complete or perhaps before as she is willing to pay a considerable amount for my cards....
One thing I have to realize is to be more patient...their will be more cards to bid on........
Damir I agree with Jon,if the cards have a rough cut it should bring the cards grade down.Are you saying that just because OPC had rough cuts we make exceptions for their bad cuts.IMO if the card has a rough edge & it's an OPC it gets graded with the same standards as all other cards,that's called being equal & fair.Just my two cents
Rough cuts are a good thing, especially for modern OPC where there are plenty of sheet cut cards.
Devon - No need to be embarrassed as the under bidder. Bidding on high grade OPC cards from the 70's is not my thing but I certainly understand throwing in a high bid when you need a card and it seldom appears.
I remember completing my 63-64 Parkies set in PSA 8 and when I got down to the last few cards I just wanted to get them and wanted those cards regardless of the amount even though if I had waited I would have gotten a better price.
Devon, please let me know if you are going to part with the PSA 10 OPC Dryden. It would go good with my Topps PSA 10. They are both 1 of 1's and I'd like to get the OPC in case another one doesn't show up for many years. Thanks.
Anything is a possibility Damir....for the right price anything is for sale but this lady in Pennsylvannia spends like crazy....She obviously has very very very deep pockets as she bids on other Hockey stuff also......But the Dryden is my crown jewel and of course is a tremendous loss leader when I am ready to sell my 71 set.....
My handle there is 'proamericanalbertan'......I have bought the odd 69 opc graded card....I bought that PSA 9 # 1 Lorne Worsley awhile ago...cost a small fortune at that....
I like collecting in particular 68-71 opc nhl cards but I will buy anything if it is nice and I got the cash to do so....
Even if she has deep pockets, I guess she'll start thinking twice
before bidding any random numbers for high grade cards that
would normaly sell for less than 30% of that amount.
I bought the only one PSA 9 73'OPC Jim Roberts for $50 some months ago.
I would not have paid more because I'm convinced there will be some (many?)
more graded 9 in the years to come. I'm pretty sure you'll have the same
opportunity for many of the PSA 9 or 10 you are missing from your 71-72
OPC set. Next time this card shows up, you'll get it for less than $500.
It may be next month or next year, in the meantime there are other cards
to buy.
I always took vintage hockeycards collecting as a hobby. I think it
requires a good dose of observation and research to enjoy the activity.
And of course money but some patience could help too!
After all it's a hobby and we have a lifetime to enjoy it... For the ones
in a rush, there's a price to pay.
Afterall, to each his/her own style in collecting and bidding.
I absolutely agree with you Gilles but sometimes I am stupidly impatient...But I am getting better...and yes, I agree....some of the cards she has beat me out for will come around again...especially the 2nd Series stuff...lotsa high grade Raw out there!
I really don't know what she is thinking...its very unlikely she would be able to unload those cards anywhere for the prices she is paying?
Besides ....I already own most of the highest graded cards from the 71 set as I started long before her and have been able to buy cards on the side from dealers..
She has about 15 cards from that set in higher grade then me....I have most of the rest....
Nonetheless, I have got caught in bidding wars with her and have felt completely foolish after the fact for spending far to much...
Their are so many other cards and set and even baseball and football cards I want to collect but this set is tying up much of my capital....sighhhhh....but oh...what a set!!
