[QUOTE]Originally posted by Raven:
I saw most of "The Fall" and I still wouldn't know which part she played. One of the victims? Geez, that was a depressing series to watch.

She played Katie Benedetto , the teenager Jamie Dornan's character has an affair with and is in all but one of the episodes .

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Originally posted by Triple-Frog:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Raven:
I saw most of "The Fall" and I still wouldn't know which part she played. One of the victims? Geez, that was a depressing series to watch.

She played Katie Benedetto , the teenager Jamie Dornan's character has an affair with and is in all but one of the episodes .

Raven should have gone to Specsavers. (Probably need to be British to get that )

Looks like this thread needs some attention.

Robert Aramayo just won the BAFTA as Best Actor today for something called "I Swear". Now I don't know the film and he has not been nominated for the Academy Awards Oscar, but he did beat out the same BIG names, having home court advantage naturally. He has a good resume.

He also has two Game of Thrones autograph cards, one from each Season 6 (B) & 7 (FB) as Young Ned Stark. As these cards have been in the common stage for quite some time, I can only think that a BAFTA will increase their appeal and future value. It can't hurt.

Aramayo is prominently featured in the expensive ongoing Amazon Prime Lord of the Rings series, "The Rings of Power", the 3rd season of which is in post-production.

I hope many of you had the forethought to pick up at least a couple of those Michael B. Jordan Leaf/Pop Century autograph cards before they made the jump. He was already an underrated star and now he has a Best Actor Oscar. It would be nice if his autograph were better looking, but that can't be helped.

Because there are several cards in different number ranges, and because who knows how many stickers are on ice, I would not expect rarity, but an increase in demand may make them scarce. He has also appeared as a signer in a few sports card sets, as he apparently played basketball at one time.

On a side note, watch "Sinners" if you haven't already. I didn't think I would care for it because I knew it was a blended horror film with social and historical commentary. I generally like my vampires straight up with a little comedy. However, "Sinners" works on all levels. The music is impressive and it is much better than "From Dusk Till Dawn" in storyline and acting. If he continues at this pace Michael B. Jordan will be in a lot of popular films.

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Originally posted by Raven:
He has also appeared as a signer in a few sports card sets, as he apparently played basketball at one time.

Are you confusing the actor Michael B. Jordan (b. 1987) with the basketball player Michael Jordan (b. 1963)?

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Originally posted by Bill Mullins:
Are you confusing the actor Michael B. Jordan (b. 1987) with the basketball player Michael Jordan (b. 1963)?

No, although I'm sure that confusion is why he left the B. in his name.

Michael B. Jordan played some high school basketball and those enterprising sports card makers included his certified autograph cards in at least a couple of sports related sets. He is pictured in a basketball uniform on signed cards in the 2024 Keepsake Sports Edition and the 2024 Leaf Metal, The Immortals. There are possibly more such hybrid products available on eBay, I didn't check, but I guess he picked the right career.

Michael B. Jordan is also of course a signer in the Black Panther sets, but I didn't mention those because they are pricing high and are not good buys compared to his secondary off-title cards.

The thing about "Cards To Watch" to me is that they should be bargains that will go up. "Best Cards" are usually selling at peak value all the time. If I am buying for the authentic autograph, as I do, any reputable certified card provides that guarantee. It's why I prefer generic Pop Century/Leaf autograph cards to the expensive signatures from UD Marvel or Topps Star Wars products. The genuine signature is still the same.

In conclusion, Michael B. Jordan did play basketball, but not a pro.

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Originally posted by Raven:
If he continues at this pace Michael B. Jordan will be in a lot of popular films.

He's already been at that level. I'm surprised his autos have been so low for so long.

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Originally posted by Ted Dastick Jr.:

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Originally posted by Raven:
If he continues at this pace Michael B. Jordan will be in a lot of popular films.

He's already been at that level. I'm surprised his autos have been so low for so long.

Yeah, he's been a working actor since 1999 as a teen but only got really noticed as the villain of "Black Panther". Even than he wasn't the star. It took the "Creed" series for that, and being an offshoot of "Rocky", not everybody likes those types of movies.

"Sinners" is a well-made horror film. Don't let the fancy stuff fool you, it's about vampires. It made a lot of money and will do great streaming. He is doing a remake of "The Thomas Crown Affair" next. That was Steve McQueen originally. If he stays on track, Jordan is the next Tom Cruise.

In sports cards, nothing is more valuable or riskier than the hot rookie card, especially with an autograph. People will sell cards of star players and retired Hall of Famers to fund the hot new prospect. And more than 90% of those rookie cards will come out at peak and drop like a stone within 3 years.

It's backwards thinking that potential is better than actual achieved success, but that's how it goes in the sports card racket. Non-sport cards are not so different. Would you want Maggie Smith's signed Harry Potter card or Millie Bobby Brown's signed Stranger Things card? I rest my case.

P.S. My answer would be Maggie Smith. She's deceased. Her autograph cards are very limited and now finite. And she is renowned as being one of the finest actresses to ever grace the theatre or films.

Millie Bobby Brown will be signing autographs for decades to come, no matter where her career goes from here. And she can't act her way out of a wet paper bag, but that is purely my opinion. Nevertheless, you would not be wrong if you wanted to go with her for the money.

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Originally posted by Raven:
P.S. My answer would be Maggie Smith. She's deceased. Her autograph cards are very limited and now finite. And she is renowned as being one of the finest actresses to ever grace the theatre or films.

Millie Bobby Brown will be signing autographs for decades to come, no matter where her career goes from here. And she can't act her way out of a wet paper bag, but that is purely my opinion. Nevertheless, you would not be wrong if you wanted to go with her for the money.

MBB was fine in most of Stranger Things, although I think she was at her worst in the last couple of seasons. My feeling is that she will have Emma Watson syndrome. Never really progressing from child actor into being a believable adult actor. However, she will still have inflated card prices, like Watson does. I was recently quoted an eye-watering 4-figure total for my Watson card(eye-watering to little peasant me!). I'm keeping it for a rainy day. It would be interesting to see whether MBB's cards hold their value or not.

It's definitely not about talent and legendary status when it comes to values of cards, sadly. It should be, with cards for the likes of Maggie Smith and Michael Gambon, who are both no longer with us.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Hedgehog Witch:
I was recently quoted an eye-watering 4-figure total for my Watson card(eye-watering to little peasant me!). I'm keeping it for a rainy day./QUOTE]

Here's some free advice if you are thinking of parting with a four-figure card.

If your Watson is in mint condition and will grade 9 or better, get it slabbed from PSA or Beckett first. It will increase the number of potential buyers, which will drive up the price. When you get into that range, buyers really are looking for slabbed cards to provide investment assurance.

If you think the card won't grade at 9 or better, then don't waste the time or money. Just hope your buyer is still around when it's raining.

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Originally posted by Raven:
It's backwards thinking that potential is better than actual achieved success, but that's how it goes in the sports card racket. Non-sport cards are not so different. Would you want Maggie Smith's signed Harry Potter card or Millie Bobby Brown's signed Stranger Things card? I rest my case.

I don't know that this example is about potential in my eyes. MBB's character in Stranger Things is pretty iconic at this point. Even if she never does anything else, in 25 years I think the character of Eleven will still be known. I'd prefer her auto for that reason. I also couldn't tell you a thing about Maggie Smith, which makes that decision easier for me.

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Originally posted by Ted Dastick Jr.:

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Originally posted by Raven:
It's backwards thinking that potential is better than actual achieved success, but that's how it goes in the sports card racket. Non-sport cards are not so different. Would you want Maggie Smith's signed Harry Potter card or Millie Bobby Brown's signed Stranger Things card? I rest my case.

I don't know that this example is about potential in my eyes. MBB's character in Stranger Things is pretty iconic at this point. Even if she never does anything else, in 25 years I think the character of Eleven will still be known. I'd prefer her auto for that reason. I also couldn't tell you a thing about Maggie Smith, which makes that decision easier for me.

Your reply is perfect to illustrate how the card market works and just what I would expect. You are quite right to prefer MBB's Stranger Things autograph card over Smith's HP card because of the greater demand and its monetary value. But the fact that you, and probably a whole lot of other people, don't remember Maggie Smith doesn't take away her legacy as a great artist. Something I don't think MBB will ever be called.

All of these celebrities that we chase in cards and are willing to pay so much money for now will eventually fade from the collective memory, as the next best thing arrives. That's why our collections are special to the individual collector only and no one can tell you what to keep, or buy, or sell.

But keeping is different from selling, and selling is different from investment buying. So are you buying to flip short term? Are you buying to hold as a longer-term investment? Are you buying to keep because it's your passion and you just want to own it? The objective determines the choice of cards.

MBB autograph cards have come out at peak prices, even the secondary ones. Stranger Things is over. Hedgehog compared her to Emma Watson. Maybe, I would say SMG too. If she does nothing more than Eleven, as SMG has done nothing more than Buffy, her best cards will hold for a long while but not increase in price. Her secondary autograph cards will increase in supply as she continues to sign but decrease in value as demand is met and then surpassed by the supply.

Of course she could also turn into another Maggie Smith, but I kind of doubt it.

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Originally posted by Raven:


Here's some free advice if you are thinking of parting with a four-figure card.

If your Watson is in mint condition and will grade 9 or better, get it slabbed from PSA or Beckett first. It will increase the number of potential buyers, which will drive up the price. When you get into that range, buyers really are looking for slabbed cards to provide investment assurance.

If you think the card won't grade at 9 or better, then don't waste the time or money. Just hope your buyer is still around when it's raining.

No thanks! I hate the world of ugly slabs(I scroll right past any slabbed cards when I'm buying and I know a lot of others do too) and it's all decided upon by someone's opinion, sitting on their backside in an office somewhere. I wouldn't get a card slabbed on principle. Besides the point I would have to send to the USA for a PSA slab, and I don't trust the postal service, once it gets to the USA, with my valuable card for that, not even with the highest registered post.

Also, I'm not putting money into any US company these days until certain things change. I wouldn't sell in the usual evilbay way for something like that. I'm not keen on the weirdoes, non-paying-buyers and scammers lining up. It's always nice to have a network of friendly trustworthy dealers and pro auction houses instead. One cuts out the middle man, and both cut out the hassle.
Slabbing is just another ugly trend to come out of the US and one I leave well alone. If it loses a few hundred or more, so be it, it won't make me lose sleep over it.

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Originally posted by Hedgehog Witch:
No thanks! I hate the world of ugly slabs(I scroll right past any slabbed cards when I'm buying and I know a lot of others do too) and it's all decided upon by someone's opinion, sitting on their backside in an office somewhere. I wouldn't get a card slabbed on principle.

I absolutely agree with you for my own card collection too, but selling high-end, high-grade cards for maximum value is a different animal. It's wonderful to finally have some cards worth selling, but the average card collector only has access to the average buyer. Go find a buyer for that $8,000 card willing to pay $8,000. I don't know any personally. They are out there for sure, but you have to link up to the right market to find them. Otherwise, all you get is low ball offers from people who think they are slick.

High dollar cards, I'd say over $3G as a benchmark, will do better if you grade and consign in an auction that has regular bidding customers and may go over the expected price. It used to be just for sports cards, but now the big non-sport cards have gotten popular enough too. Where average collectors don't want or need PSA slabs, people with the cash to spend want the assurances they may not have themselves.

The caveat is that the grade must be a 9 or better on recently made cards. 10s will garner a real premium, but 8.5 will turn buyers away. Older or vintage cards can have grades under 7 and may still be desirable if it's an average for the product. Don't forget that grading is also to ensure that counterfeiting and/or card repair is not present. That's even more important with vintage cards.

So, no one has to take my advice, but I will say that it has worked for me on some big cards. It becomes a different game when you try to turn profits on paper into real cash.

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Originally posted by Ted Dastick Jr.:
I also couldn't tell you a thing about Maggie Smith, which makes that decision easier for me.

Two Oscars, four Emmies, a Tony, seven Baftas, three Golden Globes. One of the greatest actresses ever.

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Originally posted by Bill Mullins:

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Originally posted by Ted Dastick Jr.:
I also couldn't tell you a thing about Maggie Smith, which makes that decision easier for me.

Two Oscars, four Emmies, a Tony, seven Baftas, three Golden Globes. One of the greatest actresses ever.

......and can turn herself into a cat.

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Originally posted by Raven:

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Originally posted by Hedgehog Witch:
No thanks! I hate the world of ugly slabs(I scroll right past any slabbed cards when I'm buying and I know a lot of others do too) and it's all decided upon by someone's opinion, sitting on their backside in an office somewhere. I wouldn't get a card slabbed on principle.

I absolutely agree with you for my own card collection too, but selling high-end, high-grade cards for maximum value is a different animal. It's wonderful to finally have some cards worth selling, but the average card collector only has access to the average buyer. Go find a buyer for that $8,000 card willing to pay $8,000. I don't know any personally. They are out there for sure, but you have to link up to the right market to find them. Otherwise, all you get is low ball offers from people who think they are slick.

High dollar cards, I'd say over $3G as a benchmark, will do better if you grade and consign in an auction that has regular bidding customers and may go over the expected price. It used to be just for sports cards, but now the big non-sport cards have gotten popular enough too. Where average collectors don't want or need PSA slabs, people with the cash to spend want the assurances they may not have themselves.

The caveat is that the grade must be a 9 or better on recently made cards. 10s will garner a real premium, but 8.5 will turn buyers away. Older or vintage cards can have grades under 7 and may still be desirable if it's an average for the product. Don't forget that grading is also to ensure that counterfeiting and/or card repair is not present. That's even more important with vintage cards.

So, no one has to take my advice, but I will say that it has worked for me on some big cards. It becomes a different game when you try to turn profits on paper into real cash.

No thanks! The figure I was offered by someone, who is also a hater of slabs, was on par with a valuation I had from a dealer, who actually offered a similar figure, despite them having overheads to deal with. So it most definitely doesn't need to be slabbed and shakily graded by some jerk in a US office. Certainly not on this side of the pond where we don't deal in dollars and are not so hung up on grades and slabs.
As I said, I'm not chasing the last pound and penny when the time comes. I'm not American.
I also did VERY well on a sports card recently, which was not slabbed and made a couple of hundred pounds over the average value and a hundred more than a similar slabbed version of it, which throws out the argument that slabbed and graded cards always out perform non-slabbed on values. And it was sold to the Far East, where the buyer was very happy with it. Non-slabbed cards are making money, you just have to find the right place. The money is there, believe me and you're more likely to move the card than waiting around with an overpriced ugly piece of plastic. And non slabbed cards immediately draw in everyone, because of the type of buyer that normally has no chance at that type of card as well as buyers who will then choose the ugly option of getting it slabbed themselves. Providing you have clear photos and a good reputation or sell with a reputable place that advertise it well, then the buyers will come.
I've been buying and selling all kinds of things for 25+ years, be it medals, cards, coins, hallmarked silver, other antiques. I know the game and the alternative options that also work.

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Originally posted by Hedgehog Witch:
As I said, I'm not chasing the last pound and penny when the time comes. I'm not American.

You really do have to get over losing that Revolution.

Seriously I didn't realize that there are no local offices in the UK for grading services like PSA. That would make a difference in time spent, as well as maybe custom charges and mailing risks. And if you have access to high end buyers that will take the raw card over the slabbed one for the same price, well then there is no purpose to grading.

I have run into buyers that only want to see graded copies for certain high dollar cards. Funny thing is that any high value card I ever had either aged into the price or I just got lucky and pulled it. I would never drop four figures on any card myself; I don't care what it is. It's kind of obscene that very wealthy people can't think of anything better to spend their money on. I know they say it's the investment angle, but come on, better to buy gold than Harrison Ford's Indy autograph card.