Sports Illustrated/TIME Blog #29 – Buyers Love Hobby Correction!

Welcome to my Sports Illustrated/TIME magazine blog – Your collector’s guide to the latest hobby updates and insight into what’s trending now.

Graded mag buyers fell in love with the latest SI pricing hobby correction.  After two years of solid price escalation, the hobby decided to take a breather.  The hammer prices realized at the most recent Huggins auction were well below expectations leaving hobby enthusiasts questioning what’s in their future.  But visionary hobbyists take heart – with every hobby event there is always a silver lining or learning opportunity.  I am excited about the current hobby progress and believe our recent correction is more opportunity than setback.

These blogs are meant to bring expert hobby opinions to just such volatile times.  I remember in October 1987, the stock market crashed 25% in one day.  The next day, the guys with cash went on a buying spree scooping up tremendous bargains from jittery stock owners.  The rich guys got richer while those that panicked continued to lose.  As the stock market began to rise even above previous highs, it became abundantly clear who had won and who had lost.  Following this example, the graded mag hobby is in its infancy and has been growing at such an accelerated pace, I’m surprised a correction hadn’t taken place earlier.

The great news is – Corrections are Opportunities.  They also inspire different hobby reactions – sit on your hands and wait for prices to rise again and buy high or buy low now and sleep comfortably as prices rise and surpass previous highs.  I am not a guru or a market expert, but for graded mag collectors I believe these are fantastic times.  For a short period, I predict there will be great buying opportunities to those that stay the course and remain undeterred by the volatile nature of a burgeoning hobby.   You only have to follow the card or comic hobby for a history of similar corrections and growth spurts always followed by overall hobby expansion. Personally, I have already taken advantage of several graded auctions and internet sales that offered real value.

Because I’m interested in being a catalyst in the continued growth and expansion of the graded SI/TIME hobby, I have decided to tangibly participate in the movement.  Effective immediately, I am implementing my customer loyalty offer to all of my readers and only my readers.  It’s an offer you can’t refuse.  For the next 10 days ending Sunday, 8-26-18 (a hard ending), I am offering my entire ebay graded magazine line at 50% of auction price plus shipping.  That’s 300 items, no gimmicks, no exclusions, no hooks.  Jordan, Ali, Brady, Bird, Gretzky, swimsuits, LeBron, Mantle, old, new, none higher, POP 1, whole or partial registries – they’re all here.  Buy one item, buy 10 items, buy 100 items – it’s your time to take advantage of your customer loyalty.   All you have to do is write me at [email protected] and tell me what you want, I’ll send you an invoice, and the items will ship in one day after receipt of payment.  I’ve never made this offer before and don’t plan on making it again.  And Monday the 27^th will be too late.

 

Here’s why I’m making this offer;

1. This is a good time to promote interest in the hobby.
2. I have built an inventory sufficient for handling such an offer.
3. I want to continue to encourage my readership to build their favorite registries. I have the highest graded registry sets in existence.
4. I will be promoting hobby sales while helping out my readers at the same time.   Win.
5. I am following my own advice by encouraging hobby participation and suggesting that these purchases will be great long term hobby investments. That is consistent with the central purpose of my blog.

These are truly great times for the SI/TIME graded mag hobby.  I hope to hear from you.

 I hope you are enjoying the reads on the history of TIME and SI magazines as well as an insight into relevant magazine collecting.

Great collecting to you and best fortunes with Sports Illustrated/TIME!

 

Sports Illustrated/TIME Blog #26 – Home/Hobby Magazine Grading 101

Welcome to my Sports Illustrated/TIME magazine blog – Your collector’s guide to the latest hobby updates and insight into what’s trending now.

 

Have you ever tried to grade your own magazines before sending to CGC?  Even though most of us can’t duplicate the work of the grading professionals, it’s really the responsible thing to do because there are variables in cost and in outcome that determine the risk/reward balance.  Most of us like to fantasize our magazine grades pre-submission but before you get all excited about those 9.8 potentials, here’s why it doesn’t often work.

1. You’re biased in favor of you. The tendency is to look at your own mags thru beer googles instead of thru a magnifying glass.  We are too optimistic about overall condition because it’s natural to want and hope for the best which rarely occurs.
2. We don’t know or understand the grading calculation process and until we do, how can we accurately predict? What seems a minor downgrade to us may be major to the grader.
3. We don’t see all the downgrades. I think graders get more downgrade aware the more magazines they grade.
4. It is my opinion that as the graders and the grading process becomes more organized and more sophisticated, the tendency for graders is to become increasingly aware of any downgrades therefore, higher grades get tougher and tougher. I also believe the tougher grade phenomenon doesn’t level off but continues to get tougher as more product is evaluated.  That is why grades submitted one year ago on certain issues may end up being “none higher, POP 1” for a long time to come.  And today’s grades will be higher than tomorrow’s.  There will high grade submissions, but as the process gets more sophisticated the grades will get tougher.

If you’re really serious about estimating the grades of your pre-submissions, here are a few simple rules to follow

1. Be honest with yourself. Those minor downgrades will count against the grade so don’t overlook the obvious.
2. Compare your estimates with previous results.
3. Be conservative. Downgrade your overall estimate by one grade point.

I’d rather be pleasantly surprised than overwhelmingly depressed.  Few hobby events are worse than the elation of predicting a 9.0 and actually receiving a 7.5.  Happens to me all the time.

Lastly, I’d like to offer some insight on the grades themselves relating to pre – 1980 magazines.

We all love those 9.0’s+.  But there’s a reason why sellers are asking so much – and getting it.  They’re very hard to find and get quite exclusive the higher the grade.  Basically, a 9.0 mag is Mint with a very, very minor flaw that keeps it from grading 9.8.   If you operate solely in the 9.0+ arena, the action will be infrequent and the cost will be high risk/high reward.

But there is very good news for grades under 9.0.  Personally, I think there’s a great deal of opportunity in the 7.0 thru 8.5 sector.  Take a look at an 8.5 on Ebay or in your own collection.  It’s a pretty clean mag isn’t it?  Sometimes you can’t even find anything immediately wrong with it.  Four square corners, no creases, very little wear.  If you think about it, how many out of 100 newsstand copies would be this nice?  10?  5?  Maybe 1?  If you agree, then it follows that these magazines will eventually rise to top of the collector’s want lists as soon as finding and buying something higher becomes too difficult.  Try viewing a 7.0 and you’ll see almost the same thing – very nice magazine.  The lesson here is – don’t overlook the current 7.0 thru 8.5 grades.  They will be surprisingly collectable in the near future but remember, if you procrastinate on your purchases, you’ll be competing with everybody else when you finally decide.

There is one more group – the 5.0 thru 6.5.  If you pick the issue wisely, mags in this sector can be very rewarding.  Certain issues such as the 59 Unitas, 60 Brown, and 61 Maris (and many more especially in this era) are rare above these grades.  If you can find one or more in this range, be brave and scoop them up at bargain prices.

That’s personal home/hobby magazine grading 101.  Follow these tips and you’ll be ahead of the curve, exactly where you should be.

 

One more heads up – I will be submitting the first ever CGC Graded Magazine registry for auction in August.  It’s my best Clay/Ali graded series, 1963 thru present, most are “none higher, POP 1”.  I will be following this auction with the first Jordan Graded Magazine registry in September – most “none higher, POP 1”.  Jordan and Clay/Ali – great way to kick off the registry auction movement.

 

I hope you are enjoying the reads on the history of TIME and SI magazines as well as an insight into relevant magazine collecting.

Great collecting to you and best fortunes with Sports Illustrated/TIME!

 

 

 

 

Welcome to my Sports Illustrated/TIME magazine blog – Your collector’s guide to the latest hobby updates and insight into what’s trending now.

Really good news for graded magazine collectors – I am seeing more and more graded magazines hitting the public auction sites and more is better!  Many of the new submissions are very high grade or the highest grade to date of that issue.  Ask prices have ranged from $1000 – $5000 and these high grades have had no trouble selling out.  I know of 8 graded mags which closed sales this week with the lowest price going for $2000 and the highest $5000.  I saw no discounting either which is a sure indicator of strong business.  It seems like the hobby has caught up to the underlying movement.   Excitement and prices are following the exact model about which you have been reading here and has been predicted in these blogs.  As you are reading this blog, I’m sure you’re not surprised.  The only question is – did you take the risk?

More good news – we will see more new opportunities to capitalize on the market trend as hobby participation continues to increase.  Specifically, as more submissions become available, and they will, avid collectors will be trying to piece together sets and subsets of the very highest grades and most collectable athletes.  The registry trend WILL follow on the heels of increased demand and will lead to greater demand and higher values for the “set fillers”.   Issues such as Willie Mays’ second, third, and fourth covers will quickly sell out.  Issues like “Thrilla in Manilla” and “Rumble in the Jungle” will become must fills for any Ali collector.  Mantle has three covers in 1956.  Both the second and third covers are significantly more difficult to find in nice condition, over the iconic First cover.  Aaron’s first cover is 1969 but his third cover, the 1974 “715”, is on a par in value with his first.  There are hundreds of these examples if you pay attention and do your homework.  This blog is about educating SI/TIME graded collectors and the message here is “don’t overlook the set filler phenomenon”. 

Now is the time to be scouting these set fillers because next year everyone will be scouting them and you don’t want to be caught in a bidding war.  You can buy them now for cheap compared to what I predict you will pay next year.  Right now, graded collectors are competing for the highest grades.  Be smart.  Think a year ahead.  Buy those set fillers now.  Buy two and sell one next year for a price that will pay for both.

So given the upward hobby progression, it is time, not to consider, but to act by starting and registering your own personal registries.  You’ll be glad you did.

I hope you are enjoying the reads on the history of TIME and SI magazines as well as an insight into relevant magazine collecting.

Great collecting to you and best fortunes with Sports Illustrated/TIME!

 

 

 

 

Sports Illustrated/TIME Blog #24 – It’s Time to Start Your Registry.

Welcome to my Sports Illustrated/TIME magazine blog – Your collector’s guide to the latest hobby updates and insight into what’s trending now.

 

Seems every group, organization, team… recognizes their best and brightest stars of the past year and graded magazines are no exception.   June is the month CGC presents their annual registry awards for comics and magazines.  For those that might not be familiar with what the hobby calls a “registry”, a registry is a set, run, collection, vignette, set within a set, or otherwise recognized collection of graded items which has been submitted to and recognized by CGC (or others), assigned a grade, and judged against other submissions in the same category.

For example, magazines are a major category from which any number of sub-sets or registries may originate.  Sports Illustrated falls within the magazine category and may include such registries as the first ten swimsuits or all swimsuits, all Willie Mays covers, complete set of 1954 issues, complete collection of Jordan or Ali covers and so on.  Your registry must be submitted, accepted and published by CGC.  From those recognized submissions, CGC awards the highest valued registry in each category.  A registry value is weighted by grade and value.  The graded magazine hobby is still in its infancy, so there are significantly fewer submissions (and categories) to date, increasing a magazine submission’s odds of winning.  Owning a registry is a rewarding piece of the hobby and should be explored by all interested subset collectors.

In addition to the recognition and bragging rights that come with winning a registry award, there are many other significant benefits which may enhance your collection or hobby business.

A few of the benefits are:

1. Your collection will receive worldwide exposure.
2. Other collectors that may have an interest in buying some or all of your registry items will be able to locate you to make offers.
3. Sellers may want to contact you to offer enhancements to your registry.
4. Registry commons become more valuable.
5. More registries serve to better organize the hobby which in turn elevates interest and value.
6. Registries stimulate completion which also drives up values.

Because this is a Sports Illustrated/TIME blog, below I’ve listed a few of the possible registries from those publishers that may peek your interest or give you an idea of your own.

1. Jordan covers – 50
2. Ali covers – 39
3. Mantle covers – 13
4. Swimsuits – many variations
5. Bird, Johnson, Gretzky, Montana covers
6. Sportsman of the Year covers
7. World Series or Super Bowl covers
8. Derby Winning Horses
9. Complete years
10. Team covers – Yankees, Cardinals, Lakers, Steelers, Canadiens
11. Batting Champions
12. Top 10 Home Run Hitters
13. Olympians
14. Single sport covers i.e., baseball, football, etc.

Registries are a big part of the Comics and Sports Card hobbies and will grow to be the same in graded magazines so don’t get left behind.  Turn that prized subset into a Registry Award Winner!

I hope you are enjoying the reads on the history of TIME and SI magazines as well as an insight into relevant magazine collecting.

Great collecting to you and best fortunes with Sports Illustrated/TIME!

 

 

 

 

Welcome to my Sports Illustrated/TIME magazine blog – Your collector’s guide to the latest hobby updates and insight into what’s trending now.

 

Congratulations to all those winning at least one Graded Sports Illustrated in the recent Huggins SI Auction.  Hammer prices were 75% to 100% over private auctions one year ago.  We knew this trend was coming, didn’t we?

 

The Heritage TIME auction ends this Friday May 18 and for the first time, Graded TIME magazines are being made available in a public auction forum.  There are a number of significant differences between these TIME mags and last week’s SI’s.   The first difference is age.  TIME is the precursor of SI and some of these high grade mags are approaching 100 years old – and that is old in magazine years.  But these issues have beaten the odds with grades as high as 9.8 and most are the highest grade of that issue.  The second is high grade population.  High grade population numbers on WWII era and pre WWII era magazines are extremely rare.  With very limited exception, these magazines are only sold out of private collections and not on Ebay or the internet.

Here are a few examples of the biggest names in sports memorabilia with “None Higher” FIRST COVER items up for auction:

1. 1928 – CGC 8.5 HOF Rogers Hornsby
2. 1936 – CGC 6.5 Lou Gehrig
3. 1953 – CGC 6.5 Mickey Mantle  
4. 1954 – CGC 9.0 Willie Mays
5. 1982 – CGC 8.0 Wayne Gretzky
6. 1982 – CGC 8.0 Larry Bird
7. 1949 – CGC 9.8 Ben Hogan
8. 1960 – CGC 7.0 Arnold Palmer
9. 1998 – CGC 9.6 Michael Jordan
10. 2008 – CGC 9.6 LeBron James
11. 1937 – CGC Signed (Gem Mint 10 Auto) Bob Feller

Complementing the above, below are just a few of the first cover Hall of Famers with very high grades:

1. 1950 – CGC 9.6 Ted Williams, Two Higher
2. 1936 – CGC 9.0 Joe DiMaggio, Three Higher
3. 1963 – CGC 9.4 Cassius Clay, One Higher
4. 1947 – CGC Jackie Robinson, Three Higher
5. 1948 – CGC Joe DiMaggio (2^nd Cover), Two Higher
6. 1949 – CGC 9.2 Stan Musial, Three Higher

There are 7 more, high grade, SI’s included but not mentioned here.

There are two Heritage auction links –  

https://sports.ha.com/c/my/consignments.zx?saleNo=50002&auctionStatus=current

https://sports.ha.com/c/my/consignments.zx?saleNo=151820&auctionStatus=current&domain=all

 

I have consigned 24 of the most popular, highest graded TIME Magazines in existence.  Nearly all submissions are first covers or special events with the highest grade, or one of the highest grades, of that issue.  My last blog (#21), covered the current grading situation which is moving toward lower and lower grades on comparable items allowing older graded items an increased chance of being and staying the highest grade.  The 5-18-18 Heritage auction offers some of the most difficult, hardest to find, high grade, newsstand TIME Magazines known to the hobby.   Search Ebay “TIME Magazine” and you will find 72,000 auctions – but NOT ONE will have a higher grade of that issue than ANY of the 24 items in this Huggins auction.

My opinion – I know the population of graded TIME issues and this auction will not be duplicated in its breadth or depth of quality and value perhaps ever again.  If you are like me and you research past auctions, you find unbelievable deals that you missed.  Don’t miss this one.

 

Take a look at these auctions and try to remember any previous auctions, recent or long ago, where you have seen TIME grades this high and best of luck bidding.

I hope you are enjoying the reads on the history of TIME and SI magazines as well as an insight into relevant magazine collecting.

Great collecting to you and best fortunes with Sports Illustrated/TIME!

 

 

 

 

Welcome to my Sports Illustrated/TIME magazine blog – Your collector’s guide to the latest hobby updates and insight into what’s trending now.

 

May, 2018 is proving to be the Graded validation month for Sports Illustrated and TIME magazines.  First, the international publication of Sports Collector’s Digest has chosen to print a feature on the graded phenomenon, propelling Graded SI’s into the national spotlight.   Second, the two largest Graded SI and TIME auctions ever, close for bidding 5-10-18 and 5-18-18 respectively.  And third, Graded SI’s are featured on the cover of Huggins’ May 10^th auction catalog.  Not bad for the graded neophyte!

In advance of presenting my opinions on the two upcoming May graded auctions, I’d like to briefly re-state my cause behind all the blogs, pubs, auctions, etc.  I began blogging one year ago in an effort to bring fellow SI collectors together and to establish a forum for questions, insights, stories, as well as exposing hobby trends and nuances.  I wanted to communicate the stuff I learned the hard way.  This is blog #22 and if you are new to the site SportsIllustrated.com, I invite you to go back and catch up on where the hobby has been, where it’s headed, and the accuracy of my hobby predictions.  Regarding my blog opinions and advice, the best verification of my sincerity is that I follow my own advice.  I also buy, sell, and trade SI’s and TIME mags as a business.  In the past year, my business has grown in large part because I live my advice.

I have developed a sincere interest and desire on the part of the two auction houses who are now not only interested, but anxious for my consignments.  I promote my consignments because they are consistent with every word of every blog I have written.  I want my followers to be presented with the hobby trends ahead of the curve – which brings me to today’s subject – The Huggins Graded SI auction.

I have consigned 36 of the most popular, highest graded SI’s in existence.  Nearly all submissions are first covers or special events with the highest grade, or one of the highest grades, of that issue.  My last blog (#21), covered the current grading situation which is moving toward lower and lower grades on comparable items allowing older graded items an increased chance of being and staying the highest grade.  The 5-10-18 Huggins auction offers some of the most difficult, hardest to find, high grade, newsstand Sport Illustrated known to the hobby.   Search Ebay “Sports Illustrated” and you will find 117,000 auctions – but NOT ONE will have a higher grade of that issue than ANY of the 36 items in the Huggins auction.

My opinion – I know the population of graded issues and this auction will not be duplicated in its breadth or depth of quality and value perhaps ever again.  If you are like me and you research past auctions, you find unbelievable deals that you missed.  Don’t miss this one.

Here are a few examples of the “None Higher” FIRST COVER items up for auction:

1. 1954 #1 – 9.8 w Baseball Cards
2. 1954 #2 – 9.4 w Baseball Cards
3. 1955 Al Rosen – 9.0 w Baseball Cards
4. 1969 Hank Aaron – 8.0
5. 1956 Paul Hornung – 9.4
6. Wilt Chamberlain – 8.0

Here are just a few examples of very high grade first covers included:

1. Willie Mays
2. Jim Brown
3. Cassius Clay
4. Bart Starr
5. Roberto Clemente
6. Henry Aaron
7. John Elway
8. Tom Brady
9. Peyton Manning
10. Rocky Marciano
11. Joe Namath
12. 1980 Olympic Hockey
13. Gary Player
14. Duke Snider
15. Yogi Berra
16. Carl Yastrzemski

There are 14 more, high grade, SI’s included but not mentioned here.

Here is the Huggins auction link https://hugginsandscott.com/cgi-bin/consign.pl

Take a look at these auctions and try to remember any previous auctions, recent or long ago, where you have seen grades this high and best of luck bidding.

I hope you are enjoying the reads on the history of TIME and SI magazines as well as an insight into relevant magazine collecting.

Great collecting to you and best fortunes with Sports Illustrated/TIME!

Sports Illustrated Blog #21 – SI and TIME Grade Trends.

Welcome to my Sports Illustrated/TIME magazine blog – Your collector’s guide to the latest hobby updates and insight into what’s trending now.

Congratulations!  We’ve come a long way in one year – we’ve established real creditability to our newest passion in collecting – Graded SI and TIME magazines.  As our collections have evolved in this short year, so have a number of very important trends in our hobby – trends effecting the very core of our collections and/or investments.  

 I have sent many raw SI and TIME newsstand issues for CGC grading over the past 24 months and I have noticed a consistent, changing trend in the grading process as well as the resulting grades themselves.  I have noticed that comparably conditioned magazines over the past two years seemed to be grading lower, and lower, and lower.  In the beginning, with a fair amount of accuracy, I could predict the grade results of my submissions within plus or minus one grade level.  The grading process has evolved to be so specific and detailed to date that I cannot accurately evaluate submission grade returns even within 2-3 full grade points.  As grade processes get more organized and incorporate more technical equipment, grades go down.

 Why am I blogging this and why do you care?  You care because the grading process can be expensive especially if you are submitting mags which will grade too low for your interests.  But thinking a bit outside the box, this phenomenon also is creating a unique opportunity for those who care to capitalize on the increasing difficulty of obtaining the highest grades.  Many of the highest grades in existence today have the potential to remain the highest or among the highest over the long term.   If this premises proves to be true, then current high grade issues are a bargain at today’s prices and….

 The longer a graded mag maintains the highest grade, the more likely it will always be the highest grade.

Some might think my advice on this subject could be self-serving because I am a seller, but I started this blog with the intention to “advise” regarding hobby trends and nuances and this fits the criteria.   I have asked several avid card collectors about any trends in card grades over the past decade or two.  The answer I received was that many (not all) of the highest graded cards on record over many 1000’s of submissions, were graded 10-20 years ago.  It seems that with mags as well as cards, as the grading process matures and evolves, the high grades get tougher and tougher.

In my next blog, I will detail two of the largest ever SI and TIME graded magazine auctions coming up in May but, for now, I want to draw attention to the opportunity created by these auctions.  Many of these graded mags (Huggins –SI, Heritage – TIME) are the highest or among the highest ever graded and may remain so long term (exactly what I am blogging about).  Most of these mags were graded 1-2 years ago (when CGC SI grading was just getting started and my TIME issues were the first ever graded by CGC) and represent very difficult, None Higher grades.  If you follow magazine auctions on ebay, you know it is extremely rare to find even one magazine which would challenge any one of these items.  There are 36 SI and 24 TIME mags in the upcoming May auctions.  In my professional opinion, these two auctions represent a rare opportunity, perhaps the last opportunity, to obtain one or more of these None Higher, POP 1, POP2, items in such a large variety at one time.  I believe future auctions with grades this high will be fewer in quantity and less opportunistic.

 Remember, only those reading this blog have this insight.  Visit these two sites and decide for yourself. 

In Heritage there are two links https://sports.ha.com/c/my/consignments.zx?saleNo=151820&auctionStatus=current&domain=all; and https://sports.ha.com/c/my/consignments.zx?saleNo=50002&auctionStatus=current

In Huggins and Scott there is one link https://hugginsandscott.com/cgi-bin/consign.pl

Take a look at these auctions and try to remember any previous auctions, recent or long ago, where you have seen grades this high and best of luck bidding.

 I hope you are enjoying the reads on the history of TIME and SI magazines as well as an insight into relevant magazine collecting.

Great collecting to you and best fortunes with Sports Illustrated/TIME!

Sports Illustrated Blog #20 – August National Sports Collector’s Convention Signers – Cleveland

 

Welcome to my Sports Illustrated/TIME magazine blog – Your collector’s guide to the latest hobby updates and insight into what’s trending now.

 

If you are planning to attend the NSC Convention this year, August 1-5 in Cleveland, it’s not too early to start thinking about getting those coveted autographs.  There are over 80 signers already committed and that total is sure to grow as we near the show date.  With so many of our favorite athletes attending, this is a great opportunity (in a number of cases likely your last opportunity) to have your treasured piece signed, commemorated, personalized (only in certain circumstances), dedicated with achievements/records and unconditionally authenticated.

Although there are those that prefer pure, raw, original condition magazines, I strongly contend that there is a significant audience for signed magazines, especially hard to find, high grade SI and TIME covers.  I have personally seen signed, authenticated covers outperform their unsigned equivalent in select instances.  Remember, on high grade or graded copies, there is always the risk of handling degradation before, during and after the signing process so be careful.  For what it’s worth, I will be taking that risk this year in Cleveland.

Don’t you be disappointed after spending the significant signing fee for a signature on a printed photo that is exactly the same as everyone else.  Be original – bring a high grade SI or TIME rookie cover to have autographed.  You’ll be very glad you did.

Below I have posted a coded list of committed signers for this year in Cleveland.  Bold print means I have a very high grade or the highest CGC grade of this rookie SI or TIME cover.  Italics print means I have a high grade (ungraded) newsstand rookie copy for sale. I have multiples of quite a few covers, all newsstand, all rookie appearances, all copies worth a signature.  Not all my magazines are listed on eBay, so if you see a player of interest and can’t find an auction, just email me and I’ll send you pictures and prices.

Also below, I’ve included some samples of the many 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s SI mag covers available from my eBay store so you can visually inspect the ones of interest.  Again, just let me know if you need more info.

2018 National Signers
Alomar	Rice, Jim	Lambert
Bench	Ripkin	Lilly
Boggs	Rodriguez, Ivan	Reed, Andre
Carew	Rose, Pete	Russell, Andy
Carlton	Santiago	Sanders, Barry
Clemens	Smith, Ozzie	Shell, Donnie
Cordova	Sutter	Smith, Bruce
Dawson, Andre	Trammell	Smith, Troy
Eckersley	Winfield	Taylor, Jason
Evans, Dwight	Yount	Taylor, L.T.
Gibson, Bob	Anderson, Ken	Theismann
Gossage	Bettis	Thomas, T
Grace	Bleier	Wagner, Mike,
Henderson, Ricky	Brazile	White, Charles
Jackson, Reggie	Butkus	White, Randy
Jefferies	Campbell	Youngblood, Jack
Johnson, Randy	George, Eddie	Berenger, T
Kaline, Al	Greene, Joe	Benson, Corbin
Kluber, Cory	Greise, Bob	Eden, Barbara
La Russa	Griffin	Tyson
Lynn, Fred	Ham	Gilmore
Morris, Jack	Harris Franco	Laettner
Murry	Kelly	Bourque
Perry, Gaylord	Kosar	Craig, Jim
Raines	Kramer	Esposito

 

I hope you are enjoying the reads on the history of TIME and SI magazines as well as an insight into relevant magazine collecting.

Great collecting to you and best fortunes with Sports Illustrated/TIME!

Welcome to my Sports Illustrated/TIME magazine blog – Your collector’s guide to the latest hobby updates and insight into what’s trending now.

Sports Illustrated Blog #19 – Sports Illustrated’s First Graded Price Guide.

Today is a big day in SI collecting.   With this blog, I am introducing the first CGC SI graded price guide.   Every collectable had to start somewhere, from cards, to comics, to raw magazines and now to graded magazines.  The first caveat I will make is yes, I know, I’m a seller of graded magazines which is a conflict.  My answer to that is who better than me.  I have firsthand knowledge of the selling points of most of the higher valued items in the list.  I know where most of the 9.8’s, 9.6’s, and 9.4’s are because, for the most part, I bought the raw magazine, had them graded and sold them personally.  And finally, in an effort to back up what I print, I am definitely interested in listening to any (wholesale) offer of the retail selling price listed in my guide.

Let’s also treat this list as a guide, a beginning – something to build on.  In my pursuit of High Grade Newsstand SI’s, I often sense the indecision and sometimes fear that a seller experiences when they have no guide by which to base their selling price.  With this guide, the seller will at least be informed as to what I have experienced.  He/She will have a starting point on which to base negotiations.  Valuing graded collectables is much easier than non-graded simply because the grade itself (assigned by a recognized grader – CGC) is a form of value.  In the same way that we recognize a dollar bill to have a value, so do we recognize 9.8, 9.6, or 9.4.

First glance at some of the guide values will surprise some readers so I sent a preliminary version of this guide to several of my SI buyer contacts to gain a perspective from their angle.  Without exception, each contact expressed a form of excitement regarding where the hobby was headed, recent auction results and universal support for the guide itself and the content.

Evolving guide prices will be always be driven by cover popularity and the difficulty in finding a high grade newsstand SI.  I hope this effort will result in more magazines being graded so the census numbers grow and in turn become more statically valid.  Small and large collectors and investors will experience firsthand the probability of finding vintage (pre-1980) magazines above the grade of CGC 7.0 not to mention CGC 9.0!  And we all will begin to better understand the price points on the highest of CGC graded issues.

I predict that some SI issues will never achieve a 9.8 while others will top the charts in multiple cases.  I am the largest purchaser of CGC graded SI’s and have never received a 9.9 or 10.0 which gives you some idea of your chances for one of these grades.  It seems these grades have been reserved only for comics.

Note that I have included a value designation of “Open” in a number of places.  I have chosen to use this designation because no magazine of this grade has ever been transacted and the price will be determined at the first auction.  Also, top grade values are tougher to predict because when multiple bidders are vying for the highest grade item with a POP 1, no one knows the summit.

So here you have it.  Feel free to write me with any questions or opinions.  Any experiences you have had are openly welcomed as well.

Ranking – Top 100 Hardest to Find Sports Illustrated Issues
Rank	Year	Newsstand Cover	CGC Grade 9.8	CGC Grade 9.6	CGC Grade 9.4	CGC Grade 9.2	CGC Grade 9.0	CGC Grade 8.0	CGC Grade 7.0
1	1961	Roger Maris	Open	Open	Open	Open	$5,000	$2,500	$1,000
2	1956	Mickey Mantle (all pages)	Open	$25,000	$10,000	$7,500	$5,000	$2,500	$1,000
3	1959	Johnny Unitas	Open	Open	Open	Open	$5,000	$3,000	$1,500
4	1967	Roberto Clemente	Open	Open	Open	Open	$5,000	$2,500	$1,000
5	1969	Reggie Jackson	Open	Open	Open	Open	$5,000	$2,000	$1,000
6	1961	Fran Tarkenton	Open	Open	$5,000	$2,500	$1,500	$1,000	$500
7	1968	Pete Rose	Open	Open	$5,000	$3,000	$2,000	$1,000	$500
8	1969	Hank Aaron	Open	Open	Open	Open	$10,000	$2,000	$1,000
9	1963	Cassuis Clay	Open	$25,000	$10,000	$5,000	$2,500	$1,500	$1,000
10	1960	Jim Brown	Open	Open	Open	Open	$5,000	$3,000	$1,500
11	1962	Mickey Mantle	Open	Open	Open	Open	$2,500	$1,000	$500
12	1961	Bart Starr	Open	Open	Open	Open	$5,000	$2,000	$1,000
13	1955	Ted Williams	$15,000	$7,500	$5,000	$2,500	$1,500	$1,000	$500
14	1964	Swimsuit	Open	Open	$5,000	$2,500	$2,000	$1,000	$500
15	1965	Joe Namath	Open	Open	Open	Open	$5,000	$2,500	$1,000
16	1965	Swimsuits (1965-1969)	Open	Open	$10,000	$5,000	$3,000	$2,000	$1,000
17	1974	Hank Aaron 715	$10,000	$4,000	$3,000	$2,000	$1,000	$500	$250
18	1970	Swimsuit	Open	$10,000	$5,000	$4,000	$3,000	$2,000	$1,000
19	1960	Jack Nicklaus	Open	Open	Open	Open	$5,000	$2,500	$1,000
20	1971	Swimsuits (1970-1979)	Open	$5,000	$4,000	$3,000	$2,000	$1,000	$500
21	2002	Tom Brady The Natural	$3,000	$1,000	$400	$250	$100	Common	Common
22	1954	Issue #2	Open	$10,000	$5,000	$2,500	$1,500	$1,000	$500
23	1956	Warren Spahn	Open	Open	Open	Open	$1,000	$500	$250
24	1981	Wayne Gretzky	$25,000	$10,000	$5,000	$2,500	$1,000	$500	$250
25	1977	Larry Bird	Open	$10,000	$5,000	$2,500	$1,000	$500	$250
26	1970	Steve Prefontaine	Open	Open	Open	$2,000	$1,000	$750	$500
27	1955	Yogi Berra	Open	$2,500	$1,500	$1,000	$750	$500	$250
28	1980	Olympic Hockey	Open	$5,000	$2,500	$1,500	$1,000	$500	$250
29	2002	Tom Brady Amazing	$2,500	$1,000	$500	$250	$100	Common	Common
30	1955	Al Rosen	Open	Open	$3,000	$1,500	$1,000	$500	$250
31	1956	AllStar Game	Open	Open	Open	$3,000	$1,000	$500	$250
32	1955	Willie Mays	$25,000	$10,000	$5,000	$2,500	$1,000	$500	$250
33	1983	Michael Jordan	Open	$25,000	$10,000	$5,000	$2,500	$1,000	$500
34	1975	Ali Frazier	Open	$5,000	$3,000	$2,000	$1,000	$500	$250
35	1974	Ali Foreman	Open	$5,000	$3,000	$2,000	$1,000	$500	$250
36	1971	Ali Frazier	Open	$5,000	$3,000	$2,000	$1,000	$500	$250
37	1955	Hogan	Open	$5,000	$2,500	$1,500	$1,000	$500	$250
38	1956	Mantle WS	Open	Open	Open	Open	$2,500	$1,000	$500
39	1996	Derek Jeter	$2,500	$1,000	$500	$250	Common	Common	Common
40	1962	Tarkenton	Open	Open	$5,000	$2,500	$1,000	$500	$250
41	1967	Yaz	Open	Open	Open	Open	$2,500	$1,000	$500
42	1957	Mantle	Open	Open	Open	Open	$1,000	$500	$250
43	1965	swimsuit	Open	Open	$10,000	$5,000	$2,500	$1,000	$500
44	1967	Orr	Open	Open	Open	$5,000	$2,500	$1,000	$500
45	1965	Oliva	Open	Open	Open	Open	$1,500	$1,000	$500
46	1962	Gifford	Open	Open	Open	$1,500	$1,000	$500	$250
47	1973	Secretariat	$25,000	$10,000	$5,000	$2,500	$1,000	$500	$250
48	1970	Butkus	Open	Open	Open	Open	$1,000	$500	$250
49	1959	Mays	Open	Open	Open	Open	$1,000	$500	$250
50	1962	Mays	Open	Open	Open	Open	$1,000	$500	$250
51	1976	Brett	Open	Open	Open	$2,000	$1,000	$500	$250
52	1976	Schmidt	Open	Open	Open	$2,000	$1,000	$500	$250

I hope you are enjoying the reads on the history of TIME and SI magazines as well as an insight into relevant magazine collecting.

Great collecting to you and best fortunes with Sports Illustrated/TIME!

 Welcome to my Sports Illustrated/TIME magazine blog – Your collector’s guide to the latest hobby updates and insight into what’s trending now.

 

In previous blogs, I have eluded to a really cool way of organizing and presenting your magazine collection especially if you are interested in both TIME and SI (Newsweek works too).   Let’s call this idea “a collection within a collection” (CWC).   As a high grade seller of SI, TIME and Newsweek, I am getting more and more requests for athletes that have graced the cover of each magazine at least one time.   For example, Secretariat appeared on the cover of all three major magazines in 1973.  A collection consisting of these three issues in graded or ungraded high grade condition really attracts the attention of those looking for a unique collecting edge.  Obtaining the highest grade of all three issues is a very solid collection or “registry” all by itself.    Now multiply this opportunity by at least 50 – 100 multi-cover appearances and you have a very interesting, diverse playing field from which to choose your passion.  Collecting in this way gives you the opportunity to highlight your collection with your favorite player without having to buy tens or hundreds of covers at a much greater expense.

Next time you’re thinking about new ways to collect or display, consider a CWC and watch the value and display appeal of your collection upgrade.

Below I have illustrated a few examples of some really neat CWCs as well as the Collector’s Guide to the 26-50 ranking of TIME Magazine covers.  If you are interested in learning more about any one of the mags below, just shoot me a note with your questions.  Thanks and enjoy the show.

       

	Ranking – Top 100 Hardest to Find Sports Illustrated Issues
				0.5	1	0.6	0.9	1
	Rank	Year	Newsstand Cover	Newsstand Population Scarcity	Condition Scarcity	Cosmetics	Collectability	Investment Potential	Total	Weighted
	26	1947	DiMaggio	9	10	8	9	8	44	13997
	27	1954	Snead	8	10	10	8	8	44	13824
	28	1934	Gomez	9	10	8	8	8	43	12442
	29	1977	Carew	7	9	9	10	8	43	12247
	30	1962	Robertson	8	10	8	10	7	43	12096
	31	1964	Parseghian	7	10	10	8	8	43	12096
	32	1955	Campanella	8	10	8	8	8	42	11059
	33	1960	Rafer Johnson	8	10	8	8	8	42	11059
	34	1982	Montana	7	9	8	10	8	42	10886
	35	1972	Bench	7	10	7	10	8	42	10584
	36	1955	Stengl	8	10	8	8	7	41	9677
	37	1966	Marishal	7	10	8	8	8	41	9677
	38	1952	Stanky	8	10	8	7	8	41	9677
	39	1998	Jordan	5	7	10	10	10	42	9450
	40	1968	Hull	7	10	8	8	7	40	8467
	41	1972	Shula	7	9	7	10	7	40	8335
	42	1985	Bird/Gretzky	6	7	8	10	8	39	7258
	43	1968	McClain	7	10	7	7	7	38	6483
	44	1964	Bauer	7	10	8	6	6	37	5443
	45	2008	James	5	6	8	10	8	37	5184
	46	1985	Rose	6	7	8	8	7	36	5080
	47	2001	Earnhardt	5	6	9	8	8	36	4666
	48	1985	Tiegs	5	7	8	8	7	35	4234
	49	1972	Spitz	5	7	8	8	7	35	4234
	50	1945	Ott – Pony Edition	8	10	3	8	8	37	4147

 

I hope you are enjoying the reads on the history of TIME and SI magazines as well as an insight into relevant magazine collecting.

Great collecting to you and best fortunes with Sports Illustrated/TIME!