I'd like to know what people this about this. What do people think about sketch card artist scarcity vs quality. Should we be paying more for a popular artist just because they are popular regardless of quality? For instance, I've seen a handful of cards on ebay, artist who are listed as scarce, like warren martineck but the sketch wasn't great quality and it was actually a pretty underwhelming sketch. It was bought for $110. I ended up purchasing another card for $125 of a much less popular artist, but it was a great peice of work, not just detailed but of what the sketch was of too.

Also I wanted to add, I've seen lots of sketches by popular artist sell for around $50-$75 and I feel like an idiot not getting them at a good price. I'm sure they could have sold for $200+, Then I see sketches by less popular artist sell at $100-$150, like I said, I've bought a few, but again, I felt they were better quality, plus I liked what the sketch is of.

Am I a fool?

I feel like I am missing out on some good flips, while I pay more to collect what I like.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ronin47,

Scarcity has never been that much of an issue with me for 1/1 sketches. Since each sketch is unique it doesn't matter to me how many sketches they drew. They may draw 1,000 sketches and still only have 10 I like.
Quality is the biggest issue for me. I would rather buy a nicer sketch by a lesser artist than pay top dollar for a weak sketch by a more popular artist.

quote:

Originally posted by Chrisahend:
Scarcity has never been that much of an issue with me for 1/1 sketches. Since each sketch is unique it doesn't matter to me how many sketches they drew. They may draw 1,000 sketches and still only have 10 I like.
Quality is the biggest issue for me. I would rather buy a nicer sketch by a lesser artist than pay top dollar for a weak sketch by a more popular artist.

You make a good point and you're right. Thank you for your input.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ronin47,

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin47:
I feel like I am missing out on some good flips, while I pay more to collect what I like.

Buying sketches for your pleasure and buying sketches for profit are two very different things. Ideally a quality sketch should always command top dollar, but as you said, lesser works by better known artists are often valued higher in the market simply because of artist demand.

You can have your private collection of what you like and your business of what you believe you can flip. Its hard to not come down on one side or the other though. As a card collector I don't think I would have the expertise necessary to try to know what sketches can be resold for a profit. With my luck I would be more likely to wind up with a sketch collection that I didn't even like.

And that's why I'm not in the business of selling cards.

Scarcity does play a part for me (within reason). If you're collecting a sketch from each artist of a series and the artist only did 20 sketch cards then I'd be willing to pay more than if the artist did 50 or 100. The more cards that are out there the less I have to be aggressive in buying one.

Some people are master set builders, some collect characters, some collect certain artists, some just randomly pick what catches their eye, etc. So, you can't pigeon hole everyone in one group and flipping cards can be risky. If it's an auction style and the card ends at a price you thought would have been more odds are you can't flip it. If it's a BIN (buy it now) style auction and you think it's a price that could be flipped don't do it if the auction has been up for more than 12-24 hours. If it's that cheap it would have been sold already. There's collectors that check ebay dozens of times a day and set up email alerts notifying them if a certain artist or character gets listed. Sketch cards are tricky and trying to flip is even harder.

quote:

Originally posted by Tattoox:

quote:

Originally posted by DeathStorm:

quote:

Originally posted by Tattoox:
I take that back. I do. The frenzy to get these cards have allowed me to collect the other chase cards and base sets for a fraction of what they were going for in the 90's.

It's not all about the cards for me. It's about the experience. Not going into that any deeper, again.

The point I'm trying to get across is because you have no interest in the official sketches/autographs (the big hits of any modern set) there's no real way for any company to cater to your tastes.

There's nothing wrong with that but there's also no way to please you when making these sets, your concern should probably be geared towards what will make those sets desirable to the other collectors paying for it otherwise you won't get your throwaway sets but clearly this isn't a set for you.

I've never said I have no interest. I think I've offended you, and now you're focusing on what's negative to your views. I said I collect at least one for every series that I'm interested in. You must not have seen my thread of my "official sketch cards." You totally missed alot of my points, so it's pointless for me to continue in this thread.

Since card companies do make me happy. I wouldn't be collecting if they didn't. I still collect, even though I don't like recycled art, but can see a positive aspect of it. Same with sketches.

What I'm growing weary of is you making statements to me saying "YOU" must and such.

Time we both let this just drop.

A conversation came up today that reminded me of this debate on autograph cards. And this is what I said, "A pack doesn't have a conversation with you that's a once in a lifetime thing."

quote:

Originally posted by Tattoox:

A conversation came up today that reminded me of this debate on autograph cards. And this is what I said, "A pack doesn't have a conversation with you that's a once in a lifetime thing."

I think I walked into the middle of this thread, but as an autograph card collector I love to have conversations about autograph cards.

If you said to me "A pack doesn't have a conversation with you that's a once in a lifetime thing", I would have no idea what you meant by it.

I think it means that it's much better to meet the person whose autograph you're getting than to find it in a pack of cards.

And that's true, but it's also lot easier to authenticate an autograph that comes from a pack of cards than one you got in person, which is important if you are ever going to sell or trade your autographs (and let's face it, someone will at some point, even if it's not you who does it).

I've met and spoken to a few famous people over the years, and while the resultant autograph is nice, the memory of meeting some of them (Stephen King in particular) is indeed pretty special to me 30 years down the line. Would an autograph of his be as special to me if found in a pack? Probably not, but I'd sure like one!

quote:

Originally posted by chesspieceface:
I think it means that it's much better to meet the person whose autograph you're getting than to find it in a pack of cards.

And that's true, but it's also lot easier to authenticate an autograph that comes from a pack of cards than one you got in person, which is important if you are ever going to sell or trade your autographs (and let's face it, someone will at some point, even if it's not you who does it).

I've met and spoken to a few famous people over the years, and while the resultant autograph is nice, the memory of meeting some of them (Stephen King in particular) is indeed pretty special to me 30 years down the line. Would an autograph of his be as special to me if found in a pack? Probably not, but I'd sure like one!

That's exactly what I'm talking about.
I would love to meet Stephen King. I have two items that would be great to have him autograph. Both being autographed by other famous people.
With so many specialists out there, authenticating any of my pieces would be easy.
My collection includes photos, cards, original art, busts, statues, drumsticks, and plates; to name a few items that come to mind. Oh yeah, and there's my TWD lunchbox.
I've had long conversation with Herb Jefferson JR, Yvonne Craig, Robert Englund, Dean Hagland, Doug Hutchison, William Sanderson, and Brent Spiner; and to many actors to name for short (1-5 minute) conversations.

OK, that makes sense, but you have to look at it from all angles. You guys are talking about the perfect experience, when you have the opportunity to meet someone you like, and they are going to say a few nice words to you, and they are going to be willing to sign something for you, and you are going to have a nice story to tell.

I have had a few of those encounters myself and they are great. I have also had a few of the other kind where you get to tell different stories and you come away very disappointed and with an altered opinion of those people you had previously admired.

A certified autograph card is not as good as a perfect personal encounter, but here in no order are its merits:

As mentioned, its authenticity is guaranteed.

You might never get the chance to ever meet this person or get a signature if you did meet him/her.

Paid autograph sessions are expensive. Most certified cards come off way cheaper if you buy them and even better if you pull them.

The fact that you go to an expensive paid autograph session does not mean that the person will look at you, speak to you, or in any way interact with you before the handlers shoo you off with your signed 8x10.

It takes a gutsy person to ask celebrities for free autographs and most of them will ignor you.

If they are nice enough to sign for free it will usually be a poor autograph, not the money signature that would be easily recognized.

You don't discover that the person, paid or unpaid, is really a nasty jerk.

I could come up with a few more, but you get my point. I'm not disagreeing that it's better to meet the person than get a card out of a pack, but thanks to modern card sets I have a few binders full of certified autographs. If I collected only those autograph cards that I got in person I'd probably have a few 9 pocket pages.

And come to think of it, I wouldn't even have that many because all my in person signings are on 8x10s. Signatures cost the same price on cards or photos, so I always go for the larger photo when attending a paid session.

True. I've had one or two bad experiences. But I also have more than a story to tell, I've shared stories with celebs. Robert Englund and I shared Henry Fonda stories. I have a 3in album full of artist signed cards. Full is an understatement. I have all sorts of things signed by celebs. The more unique, the better I like it.

BTW, I have an "autograph card" that's not autographed. So it could be forged.

Heh, it would be pretty hard to get that Hulk into a pack of cards. I think the pack searchers would be able to find it pretty easily if so.

But seriously, congrats on your collection. Clearly, it has some pretty unique pieces in it.

I've met some pretty big names myself over the years, and I always ask them to sign the same thing:

Clear stickers!

quote:

Originally posted by chesspieceface:

I've met some pretty big names myself over the years, and I always ask them to sign the same thing:

Clear stickers!

If that were true CPF you'd be a man ahead of your time.

Awesome pieces Tattoox, those kind of displays are truly 1/1 unreplaceable collections.

quote:

Originally posted by Raven:

quote:

Originally posted by chesspieceface:

I've met some pretty big names myself over the years, and I always ask them to sign the same thing:

Clear stickers!

If that were true CPF you'd be a man ahead of your time.

Awesome pieces Tattoox, those kind of displays are truly 1/1 unreplaceable collections.

Thank you. That's just a few. I'm trying to decide what to get Avery Brooks to sign. I think I'll by another plate, and just get Captains to sign it, although two Captains signed the plate above. But we've decided to limit it to just our DragonCon trip a few years ago. Couldn't afford all the Star Trek stars that were there, but got a few big names.