Market Update: Sports Cards

When I was a kid, Sports cards were king. Everyone I knew collected them. Baseball cards were my particular passion. My father, my brother, and I all had collections. I remember the joy of opening a pack and finding a Barry Bonds rookie card or perhaps a cool insert! I remember going to the big card shows and standing in line for hours to get an autograph from big stars. One of the best memories I have from those years was getting to meet Brooks "The Human Vacuum" Robinson. We had been in line for a long time, but when we finally got to the front, it was well worth it. Mr Robinson picked me up and put me in his lap and signed my card (keep in mind I was about four years old). I would never forget it and I still have the card to prove it!

Little did I know at that young age that almost all of the cards I collected during the late 80s and early 90s would be rendered next to worthless by mass production. There are certainly some cards that escaped this phenomena and a few of the graded rookies are worth good money (read Ken Griffey Jr. 1989 Upper Deck Rookie - upwards of $900 when graded 10/10).

Eventually collectors began to see that their investments were not paying off and the hobby nearly died. Companies like Pinnacle were absorbed into larger ones like Donruss until there were really only 3 major companies: Paninni/Playoff/Donruss, Upper Deck, and Topps.

Over the last ten years, the Sports card hobby has seen a comeback. Innovative card types like serial numbered short prints, jersey swatches, and autographs have made their way into a lot of packs. The card companies have discovered how to limit their production runs and create multiple tiers of products. Younger collectors can still buy a pack for $1.99, while older collectors with deeper pockets can splurge on some of the high end releases. The downside is of course that some of these high end sets are very, VERY expensive. The recently released Playoff National Treasures costs an average of $350 for one pack of eight cards. The trade off is lots of big name players from throughout the history of sports are appearing in these packs. Some are hand signed and other rarer cards include cut signatures from legends like Babe Ruth, Cy young, Etc.

Still, there are many medium level products that can be purchased by the box for around $100. 2009 Upper Deck Sp Authentic Football was just released and is producing some very good pulls for a $115 hobby box. 2009 Upper Deck Sweet Spot was one of the hottest releases of the year because every pack contained a hit. The box was around $100 and you got at least 2 autographs, 3 memorabilia cards, and one sweet spot signature (which could be a piece of a ball, bat, or glove).

These innovations have really spurred a renewed interest in the hobby, especially from those who can afford the higher priced sets. There is definitely an element of gambling in this hobby, but your chances of getting your moneys worth are pretty good (far better than Vegas, I would imagine). A lot of collectors are asking what is the next step for the card companies. What new innovations will keep the momentum going? For my part, I think the hobby is currently stronger than ever. It has certainly reignited my interest in collecting and selling. The Tabletop Shop has a lot of cards to sell from a variety of years, so if you are interested in a particular player or release, please email me at thetabletopshop@gmail.com. You can also check out the cards we have for sale on Ebay http://sports-cards.shop.ebay.com/Cards-/212/i.html?_catref=1&_fln=1&_ipg=&_ssn=imp4337&_trksid=p3911.c0.m282

As always, if you are looking to buy or sell something else, you can send your want/sale lists to thetabletopshop@gmail.com to be added to our lists. We just ask that you include a price range you are willing to pay or sell for.

Thanks for reading and remember always let your curiosity get the better of you!

The Curious Collector.

Fairgrounds!

Come and see us this weekend at the Birmingham Area Fairgrounds! We will be selling all kinds of things from vintage jewelry to stamps to glass and china! It's a great market with lots of booths and plenty of stuff to pick through. Come and see all the junk and all the hidden treasures.

The Cutler Desk Company

In 1850 the US Patent Office issued a patent for the first American made roll top desk to Abner Cutler of Buffalo, NY. The roll top had existed in Europe prior to Mr. Cutler, but not in quite the same form. The Cylinder desk was probably the earliest version of a roll top, having come into use in France in the 1700s. This type of desk suffered from warping because the roll top was made from a single piece of wood. The Tambour desk, which closes across instead of down, could also be considered an early form of the roll top even though only the back of the work surface was covered when the top was closed. With the advent of the roll top, these other desks became largely obsolete. The Cutler Desk Company, along with many other similar companies, made the roll top into a staple of the Victorian office. Cutler's company lasted until around 1919, by which time the roll top had begun to lose its appeal. The styles were changing. Cutler's beautiful and stately desks seemed massive and ponderous when compared with the sleek lines of Art Nouveau and the early Art Deco designs of the period.

Cutler's company will always be known as the grandfather of the roll top desk. Some of his earlier works in mahogany and oak are breathtaking. The finer desks have been known to sell at auction in the $10,000 range.

I recently had the great fortune to come across one of these desks. It is on display at our booth at the Hoover Antique Gallery. I believe this one dates to the late 1800s. It is made entirely of oak. It is massive in size and in good condition overall. There is some damage to the handles of the drawers. It has two secret compartments and the original wooden filing system built into one of the bottom drawers. The asking price is $1850, but reasonable offers will always be considered.

The shop is open!

Hello collectors,

Welcome to The Tabletop Curiosity Shop Blog. From time to time we will be posting photos and information about all the neat things we find on our outings. For now you can check out the beginnings of our online store at www.thetabletopcuriosityshop.com and our ebay items at http://shop.ebay.com/imp4337/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=

We also have a booth and a showcase at the hoover antique mall with plenty of great furniture and collectibles.

Please email us at thetabletopshop@gmail.com and tell us what you collect and we will keep an eye out!

Have a great day!