I have a bunch of different eBay search terms that I keep on a watch list. Unfortunately, I rarely have time to pay attention to eBay so I usually end up missing out on all the good stuff. However, once in a while, something that I actually want falls through the cracks and I happen to snag it.
My latest eBay win? This gorgeous 1889 Allen & Ginter card from the 50 Fish from American Waters set.
Yep, that's a card from over 100 years ago that is graded a 5 (EX) in my possession! I was stoked to win the card - and it puts me one card closer to completing this set. I am now in possession of exactly 50% of the set - 25 out of the 50 cards. I never would have imagined that I'd own a single original Allen & Ginter card...and here I am now at the 50% mark for an 1889 complete set! Not bad.
Unfortunately, this leads me to my dilemma.
Do I free the card?
You see, all of my other fish from the set reside in a binder - and none of them were graded at any point in time (for good reason, most of them are in terrible shape). This card is clearly the crown jewel of my fish collection...but it feels out of place residing in that plastic prison.
What would you do if you were in my position? I'm truly flummoxed right now!
My latest eBay win? This gorgeous 1889 Allen & Ginter card from the 50 Fish from American Waters set.
Yep, that's a card from over 100 years ago that is graded a 5 (EX) in my possession! I was stoked to win the card - and it puts me one card closer to completing this set. I am now in possession of exactly 50% of the set - 25 out of the 50 cards. I never would have imagined that I'd own a single original Allen & Ginter card...and here I am now at the 50% mark for an 1889 complete set! Not bad.
Unfortunately, this leads me to my dilemma.
Do I free the card?
You see, all of my other fish from the set reside in a binder - and none of them were graded at any point in time (for good reason, most of them are in terrible shape). This card is clearly the crown jewel of my fish collection...but it feels out of place residing in that plastic prison.
What would you do if you were in my position? I'm truly flummoxed right now!
Egads man that card looks great slabbed. Get yourself one of those pocket pages that fit the slabbed cards and call it good. Although if you have one graded original Ginter that might lead to many many more and then you have no money.
ReplyDeleteWell since it has a qualifier (MK I think stands for marked) that usually downgrades it 2 spots to a 3, I'd say free it from the prison and let it rejoin the school. That is, if you confident that you can do it without damaging the card.
ReplyDeleteI'm strongly anti-slab, myself. That said, I am fascinated by Japanese cards and, in particular, the 1967 Kabaya-Leaf set (standard size and much of it using the 1959 Topps design. I'll take a stab when I see one at what I consider a good price. I currently have 4--two slabbed and two not. My point is, I guess, its a dilemna you don't have to solve right now. Maybe you pick up 3 or 4 more slabbed and start thinking that's the way you want to go. It'd be a shame if you had unslabbed a card, then. Or maybe you decide you're just not that into it anymore and you're going to sell them. Then unslabbing this card has lowered the resale value. Just leave it be, for now. If you complete the set--all unslabbed--and all that's missing is this one--THEN you can unslab it in good conscience.
ReplyDeleteI would keep it slabbed for now, and wait & see how the next 25 go. You may wind up with a couple more graded cards and you can do a page of them together.
ReplyDelete