Having bought and sold sports cards on a part-time basis for nearly 20 years, Curt Schmidgall is used to getting calls from people who hope he can put some money in their pocket. Unfortunately, most are looking to sell him their 1980s and 90s collections. Earlier this year, his phone buzzed again. An older woman from Delaware was on the other end of the line, … [Read more...]
Three Sets Make Up E254 / E270 Colgan’s Chips Issues
From 1909-13, Colgan's Chips produced three separate baseball card sets classified as E254 and E270 by Jefferson Burdick in his American Card Catalog. They were originally issued as a bonus incentive inside small nickel tins of gum sold by Colgan's. Here's a closer look at the three issues. E254 / E270 Colgan's Chips Overview Colgan's Chips were little … [Read more...]
5 Inexpensive Cy Young Cards
Cy Young is one of the most celebrated pitchers in major league history. So dominant, in fact, he would have the league's most prestigious pitching award named after him. With his contemporary cards more than 100 years old, most of his issues are pricey ones. There are a few, however, that may not cost as much as you think and date from his time as an active player. Cy … [Read more...]
1933 Butter Cream HOFers Lead Sterling Sports Auction
Several cards from the rare 1933 Butter Cream set are among 563 lots in the new Sterling Sports online auction. Only a few hundred cards from the set issued by Union City Confectionery in New Jersey 83 years ago are known to exist and seven are in the Sterling catalog including Jimmie Foxx, Lefty Grove, Fred Lindstrom, Pepper Martin, Lloyd Waner and Gabby Hartnett. All have … [Read more...]
A Honus for the Rest of Us: Affordable Wagner Cards
You couldn’t blame a novice collector for thinking every Honus Wagner card is out of reach. Anytime one of the few dozen T206s sells at auction, the headlines scream as the price soars into six or even seven figures. Yet one of baseball’s most famous faces has plenty of affordable, original cards you can own without seeing a loan officer. In no particular order, here are … [Read more...]
2013 Panini Cooperstown Sparks Interest in 1909-13 Colgan’s Chips
Collectors opening 2013 Panini Cooperstown were treated to an assortment of cards featuring some of baseball's greatest names. However, one insert set included the product might have come as a surprise to even knowledgeable collectors: Colgan's Chips. These circular discs were based on a set originally issued between 1909 and 1913. The original set contains several hundred … [Read more...]
Colgan’s Chips Rarities Should Star in Auction
Mastro Auctions will offer a newly discovered collection of rare, high grade 1910-1913 E270 Colgan’s Chips Tintops in its December 2007 Premier Auction. The Tintops were part of a collection of vintage cards that were consigned to Mastro recently. It includes a large quantity of T206 cards as well. Nicknamed the “Skydash” Collection by its owner, who inherited them from his … [Read more...]