Selling a collection of 80 to 90 baseball cards can be a great way to make some extra money, but it takes some work and strategy to get the best value for your cards. In this article, we will go through the entire process of evaluating your cards, preparing them for sale, determining a pricing strategy, and various selling options.
The first step is to carefully go through each card and assess its condition and potential value. Remove any cards that are in very poor condition, as these will be difficult to sell. For the remaining cards, you’ll want to evaluate factors like centering, edges, corners and surface for signs of wear that could decrease their grade and value. Also check for any gum stains or other defects.
It’s best to assign each card a numerical grade based on the widely used 1-10 scale. Card graders like Beckett, PSA and SGC have detailed descriptions of each grade level to help you evaluate objectively. Taking the time to properly grade each card will help you price them accurately. You should also research recent sold listings on platforms like eBay to get a sense of the current market value for each card in the corresponding grade.
With older vintage cards from the 1950s-80s in particular, it’s important to carefully check for any signs of doctoring like trimmed edges or alterations. Altered vintage cards will have no collector value. You’ll also want to make sure each card is authentic and not a fake reproduction. Part of properly researching value involves verifying attributes match an actual produced card from that year/set.
Once evaluated, it’s time to carefully organize the collection. Place each card in a penny sleeve to protect the surface, then store in a sturdy box divided into rows. Consider getting magnetic sheets to keep the cards neatly organized by player, team, year or other category. Proper storage and organization will keep the cards in the best condition and make presentation nicer for potential buyers.
When pricing cards to sell individually or in smaller lots, be sure to account for the costs of materials needed like penny sleeves, toploaders, team bags. Also factor in the fees charged by platforms like eBay when setting your asking price. For cards valued under $10-20, it may not make financial sense to sell individually due to these fixed costs. Instead, group them into themed lots by player, team, year etc for better efficiency.
Larger valuable singles worth $50+ you’ll likely want to sell independently. Research recent sold prices very thoroughly for these to ensure you don’t overprice and miss out on a sale. You may also want to consider professionally grading high end vintage cards to add authentication and boost perceived value for serious collectors. Grading fees usually only make financial sense if the expected post-grade market value is significantly higher.
There are several good options for actually selling your baseball cards. Platforms like eBay, Comc.com and Collector’s Universe’s CollectAuction site all allow you to list individual cards/lots for 7-10 day auction sales. Make sure to take clear, well-lit photos showcasing the card front and back to give buyers confidence. Thoroughly describe condition details and grades if applied.
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