Every time I write a post like this, I feel the need to talk about how I am not a card collector in the true sense of the words. I dont collect sets and I dont collect cards just to amass a huge quantity. In all reality, I am an autograph collector, and the more unique the autograph the more I want it. That being said, most card collectors confuse me, and I want to talk about a specific example.
Check out this Eli Manning autographed card before reading on.
Basically, a collector pulled or bought the 1/1 Eli Manning Certified card, took it to a show, and had him sign it with a bunch of cool inscriptions. Why he picked this ugly card, with foilboard that smudges easily, I have no idea. That is my only gripe with this card. As you can see, the autograph turned out nicely, and it still didnt sell for very much, even with the JSA cert.
Here is the thing I am confused about.
If this card had a sticker autograph on it, the card would sell for a LOT more money. however, with an on card auto, the card sells for next to nothing. Its obvious the seller lost money with all the inscriptions he probably paid for. I dont get why collectors only value the autograph when it comes that way from the factory? Eli signs the card either way.
Over the last few years, signed and certified vintage rookie cards have started to gain value in the hobby. When I was in Chicago for the National show, I saw a ton of cards that fell under this category. Card collectors and autograph collectors were finally merging their wants. Unlike this situation with the manning, these types of cards are all vintage.
Many are popping up on eBay now:
1959 Topps Bob Gibson PSA Certified Autograph
1990 Frank Thomas Leaf Signed Rookie PSA cert
1984 Topps John Elway Signed Rookie PSA cert
Frankly, I can see why people would be angry over a 1/1 ruined, but this one isnt ruined. Although I see how everyone wants everything original on Pawn Stars, original in this case is not as cool. I sincerely hope another card like this comes up, because I would buy it in a second.
Anybody can pay Eli 200 bucks or whatever he charges for an auto, but to pull a black mirror auto from a pack it’s probably a billion to one odds. I was never a big fan of the concept of going to a show and paying for autos. It’s just lame to me. You can mail players a short letter and some cards and a lot of them will send you there auto for free I got Dirk Nowitzki’s and Chipper Jones sent me his auto on a really nice photo.
It’s definitely an odd situation, that’s for sure. I think there are 2 viewpoints on this one, neither one wrong in any sense. First, you have examples of older PSA certified auto’d/RC’s. I think collectors are beginning to place value on cards like this because there wasn’t any other option at that point in history. There were no pack inserted autographs and, therefore, value is placed on the authentic signature. From a current day standpoint, when there are hundreds of other Eli Manning cards that have been issued in packs, collectors are much more inclined to just go with the established company like UD, Donruss or whoever and look past anything like what you posted.
Secondly, the collective mindset of current day star players vs. someone who is more likely to be collecting a player like Frank Thomas, John Elway or another star from over a decade ago, at the beginning or before pack-inserted autographs were common.
Either way, I stand by my belief that if Topps manages to get off their lazy ass and get on card autos on reprinted RC’s and puts those in a set, you’ll see an unbelieveable demand … if driven even more by the fact that they’re “pack released/certified” versus PSA authenticated. I think one of the factors on the certified pack autos is also set builders driving value while trying to complete a set. That Eli Manning has great value to the person who got the auto in person and certified but to just anybody else, not nearly as much.
I would note that TTM autos offer no guarantee that the player himself/herself actually signed your card. The history of the hobby is full of stories of relatives/clubhouse attendants/team secretaries who sign TTM auto requests for players.
Well I’m one of those collectors thats takin a shine to the older in-person rc autos. In fact I have been able to pick up a Joe Montana Rc Auto AND an Emmitt Smith Rc Auto for under $300 combined. But I don’t see these or any in-person autos(modern or vintage) gaining much value in the next 10 years.
First is the fact that most collectors don’t trust even PSA or BGS for auto authentication, which leads to the second part. Theres just way too many dirtbags out there that would flood the market with fakes if they did gain value. Even now, whether the auto is authenticated or not, I have to spend at least a week comparing all the details of the in-person auto to known genuine examples before I will consider buying it.
But honestly I don’t understand why all these collectors put so much faith in these companies. These are the same companies that screw up jersey swatches and buy the jerseys from questionable sources. The same companies that have repeatedly put the wrong autos on the wrong persons cards. The same companies that just mail the players the cards/stickers and take the players word that they were the person that signed them without any form of actual verification.
That along with a few other reasons is why I quit buying modern cards and have completely switched my focus to Vintage and HOF Rc Autos, all of which are “in-person” autos. I’d rather go out and do all my own research and “homework” and buy “in-person” autos than put blind faith into a company thats only interest is making as much money as possible while spending as little as possible.
JF,
Agree with all your sentiments. The hobby is filled with scumbags, and PSA and Beckett lead the pack.
What I would like to add is the fact that the value of autographs will inevitably be held down by the fact that supply is virtually unlimited. Players are living longer and signing many more autographs per year, which is why you can get autos of legends such as Gordie Howe, Jerry West, Stan Musial, Gale Sayers, Jim Brown, Bob Feller, and many others for ridiculously low sums. All of them probably have signed at least 100,000 items over the course of their lifetime, if not more. Now imagine how many autos guys like Kevin Durant, Cam Newton, and Bryce Harper will sign over the course of their lifetimes. Demand is going to have a hard time keeping up with supply.