Auction Watch - Hunt Auctions, January 2015
Lot # 129 - 1948 Richie Ashburn Signed Postcard
1948 Richie Ashburn Autograph
This lot struck me as familiar... I vaguely remembered seeing a recent eBay auction for a Richie Ashburn "rookie year" signed postcard. And, viola! Through the magic that is Google I was able to find it again (November 2014)! The eBay auction ended at $20.50 - far below what you would pay for an autographed ball, but surprisingly, not that different than what his signed cards typically sell for...
I am not a collector of government postcards - but, do see this as an interesting look at Ashburn signed his name during the 1948 season. Turns out it was pretty much the same throughout his lifetime. Cool piece, but think it would be wiser to wait for another to show up on eBay (sans buyer premium)...
Results: The postcard ended at $50 - which is more than the eBay auto but not a ridiculous stretch. It would be perfect for a collector of vintage signed government postcards, or Ashburn super-collector.
Lot # 391 - Assorted Phillies Glassware
One of the things I love about the monthly auctions are the lots with a bunch of odds and ends pushed together. Some people probably bid on them, break 'em down into individual pieces and resell them for twice the amount they just paid. That's the way I would do it if I had more disposable income and a desire to get into memorabilia sales for a living.
This lot is one of those that begs someone to make money. It includes, among other things: two 9" 1966 logo pitchers, two 1958 glasses with facsimile autographs, 16 1950s-60s logo drinking glasses and two 1950s-era logo ashtrays. These are all multifunctional items: display worthy, and valuable. Based on previous auction results, you could easily pencil in $100 for each pitcher and $20 per logo glass.
Results: Not surprising, bidding on this lot extended well past 10 PM - finally ending at $264 (with buyers premium taking it slightly over $300). There is enough value in the lot to justify the price - good buy for some lucky guy...
Lot # 637 - Eagles Yearbooks (22 Count)
Vintage Philadelphia Eagles Publications
I don't have a lot of vintage Eagles memorabilia. Most of my focus has been around the teams I grew up watching in the 1980s and 90s. This lot is for someone like me - in one fell swoop you can fill in a big hole with a nice collection of vintage publications, spanning the 1958-1981 seasons. Some of the seasons represented in this collection can also be found on eBay with an asking price of $75 each. Beyond monetary value, these vintage yearbooks and media guides are convenient reference guides when researching players for TTM requests or easy ways to learn about seasons past. In it's current price range, each publication would be only $5 each!
Results: Not much bad you could say about this lot. Ending at $145, it breaks down to $6.50 per publication - something you definitely will not find better individually on the secondary market. For those who are either looking to fill holes in their own vintage Eagles collection, or breaking down the lot to sell - this was a bargain!