Jeffrey D. Mullen Presents Vintage Basketball Cards
A GUIDE TO THE HOBBIES' WEB PRESENCES
If you are interested in collecting pre-1970 basketball cards (especially non-major issues) then it is in your best interest to visit each of these sites at least once.
Collector's Websites
Rob Lahammer is the only other vintage basketball collector with a website worth visiting (that I am aware of). Rob and I are currently working on a vintage basketball guide.
Dealers & Auction Houses
Clean Sweeps occasionally finds quality pre-1970 basketball to auction off. In the last year alone, they have auctioned off about 50 Ashland/Aetna Oil cards, a few Post Cereals, a Partridge Meat card (probably the rarest card I've seen them auction off), and a slew of other more common cards (e.g., Berk Ross).
Sports Cards Plus is one of my favorite auction houses because they usually have rare pre-1970 issues in their auctions. In the last year, I've seen about 15 Topps Test go on auction as well as the nicest Kahns card I've ever seen (and it was graded PSA 8).
Mastronet is the most recognized and significant sports collectible auction house. Mastronet by far auctions off the best pre-1970 basketball cards. If you have not yet spent the $100 to get a bidding number and receive mastronet full-color catalogs (that is where the $100 goes to) you need to. In the few years, Mastronet has auctioned off the only Topps Test set ever publicly auctioned, a Scott's Potato set, a Hamilton King Basketball Girl Leather, and a Bread for Energy Fulks and Davies.
Superior Sports is another major auction house. I can't recall one of their auctions with a notable pre-1970 non-major issue card, but I have seen them auction off numerous major issue, high-grade, PSA cards.
If you are looking for PSA graded 1969/1970 Topps, Rick Snyder of Mint State Inc. can fill most want lists. Check his site if you are looking for any card from a mainstream issue in a high grade. His PSA graded "for sale" list in this category is the best on the web.
Other
PSA started the grading phenomena. PSA and their set registry is also the reason for the recent collecting search in high quality material. If you have a card, you may want PSA to grade it. I would suggest using PSA over any other grading company because of their reputation. Now, PSA also posts really informative articles about once a month.
If you are looking for a specific major issue pre-1970 card, it may be worth a few minutes to search this site for it. I was able to find a PSA 8 1969 Topps card that I needed for my set on this site.
I've written a few articles for hobby insider. Check them out!!
Beckett has a great site to buy modern cards. If you are looking for certified HOF autographs from the major card companies ... this is the place to go.
© 2003