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Super Heroes Can Hold Super Value

We never know what the next phone call may be about.  It could be a huge collection of vintage baseball cards or it could be someone trying to sell us cemetery plots.  In most cases, it is someone calling us about a collection that they have and they're trying to figure out if it has any value.  Almost any collection has some value, but value is relative.  In some cases, a collection may be worth hundreds or thousands of dollars.  Other times, it may be worth enough to get cheese on your Happy Meal, but it still has value.

One of the more interesting questions that we get asked quite regularly is, "Do you buy non-sport cards?"  The simple answer to that is, "Yes, we do!" But  like many of the vintage sports cards that we are interested in, we are most interested in vintage non-sports cards produced prior to 1980.

Recently, Just Collect purchased a sizeable collection that consisted of many non-sports sets from the mid 1960s through the early 1970s.  These cards were featured television characters and programs, super heroes and action stars that most Baby Boomers grew up reading and watching!  Luckily, some held on to them.

Up, Up and Away!

While this collection featured 1960's issue, including the 1965 Topps Superman set, we are always on the lookout and wanting to purchase most of the WWII and Pre-war issues.  One of the original releases of  Superman in card form was issued by Gum, Inc. in 1940 and is one of out favorite non-sports sets to buy and sell.  Issued around the time of Horrors of War, Lone Ranger, War Gum and Uncle Sam cards, Superman is still one of the most popular issues from the era and still has great demand in the hobby.

Not just a comic book hero, Superman holds a special place in the hobby for card collectors as well.  

Who Is That Behind The Mask

We're not talking about the Lone Ranger, but the sidekick of The Green Hornet in the television series.  Most people have heard of Bruce Lee, but many are not aware that he played Kato, Britt Reid's valet, who doubled as The Green Hornet's masked driver and vigilante partner and was featured in both the Green Hornet and Green Hornet Sticker sets.

Issued in 1966, The Green Hornet has two suitors.  Topps issued a sticker set that is very difficult to find in top condition.  Additionally, Donruss issued a standard card set that boasted numerous cards depicting Lee years before he starred in the Enter the Dragon.  Lee also appeared as Kato in 3 episodes of another Super Hero, Batman, on the television series in 1966 and 1967.

Shaken, Not Stirred

"Shaken, not stirred," was the specific and now iconic instruction given when the movie version James Bond finally ordered a martini in Goldfinger.  This was several years after Dr. No presented Bond with "a medium dry martini, lemon peel. Shaken, not stirred," 

Bond has been a staple of movie goers for nearly 60 years.  Derived from the series of books by Ian Fleming, the silver screen character has become legendary, as have the actors that have portrayed the British MI6 Agent.  While the Sean Connery and the late Roger Moore are two of the most well known to have played the Bond role, George Lazenby, Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Dalton and Daniel Craig have also been cast as the debonaire 007.

Despite conflicting reports, it appears that two of the leading card competitors of the early 1960s (Topps and Phildelphia) did not release competing sets.  Issued in 1965 and 1966 by Philadelphia Gum (in 1965 under the Swell logo), the James Bond:  007 Sets confused collectors and many still have a difficult time deciphering the difference between the two similar but different issues.

The 1965 issue features a black and white set featuring 66 cards (a sample is shown to the left).  The cards featured scenes from multiple James Bond 007 releases; "Dr. No," "From Russia with Love," and "Goldfinger."  The easiest way yo determine them is by the scene description on the reverse.

Philadelphia Gum Company also issued the own black and white set of another 66 cards (a sample is shown to the right).  These cards featured scenes from the Thunderball movie release. Many often refer to the Philly issue as Thunderball or TB.

There are some that argue that the 1965 release is a Topps issue, but having scene rack packs with the Swell logo on them, that would prove somewhat difficult.

Super Heroes or Super Villains

Just Collect is known for being the country's top buyer of vintage sports cards, but we also want it known that we are one of the largest buyers of vintage non-sprts cards as well.  If you have a collection of cards, please do not hesitate to call us.  You might have some super value in that cardboard!

Schedule an Appointment to Meet Just Collect at a Show Near You

Just Collect travels to several shows on a regular basis. In the New York area, we often attend the White Plains Show at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY. If you're in the New England area, you can make an appointment to meet with one of our specialists when we're in the area for the Shriner's Show at the Aleppo Auditorium in Wilmington, MA. We also visit the Metro-DC area when we attend the CSA Show in Chantilly, VA. If you're in the South Jersey or Delaware area, you can also schedule appointments while we're in the Philadelphia area when we do The Philly Show in Valley Forge, PA.

We set up at The National Sports Collectors Convention every year and this year, it will be at the Stephens Convention Center in the Rosemont section of Chicago, IL and it has also been in Cleveland, Atlantic City and Baltimore in recent years. Additionally, we travel to the Sports Card and Memorabilia Expo in Mississauga, Ontario for those of you in the Toronto area that want to meet with us in Canada.

We would love to meet with you and schedule a private appointment to assess and value your collection while we are in your area, so please check out our show and travel schedule to see when Just Collect will be in your area!

Our Buying Philosophy

We've run into a wide range of people and collections over the past decade. Although we are known for buying vintage sports cards and especially vintage basketball cards, we are also extremely interested in buying non-sports cards, also!

Every collection and every collector is different and we treat EVERY collection with the respect and attention that we show for our own collections. We understand that many have put their heart and soul into building their collection. So when you're ready to sell, Just Collect understands the feelings that you're going through and we will work with you to help you reach a decision that is a WIN/WIN, because if you're not happy, we're not happy.

Won't They Be Worth More if I Grade Them Myself

We discuss all of the selling options with everyone that we meet with. In most cases, selling the collection on their own will put the most money on the bottom line, but it will also take an large commitment of time and energy and one that most are not ready or able to undertake. Another misconception is that grading the collection will return more money. When I hear people say, "You're just going to grade them and get ten times the money," I almost cringe. Grading a collection can be a money losing proposition, especially if you don't know what you're doing. And most times, we grade very few, if any cards, from average collections that we buy.

We value a collection based upon the condition and the value. If a card is worth $100 in a PSA 7 NM, we're going to value it at $100 whether it is ungraded or graded. You can spend hundreds or thousands of dollars grading your cards, but we're still valuing them the same and paying the same regardless of how much you've invested in grading them.

We Are Always Buying

Just Collect is always buying vintage sports and non-sports cards from 1879 to 1979 as well as select modern cards. If you have a collection that you are considering selling, contact us today to discuss your collection and get our industry leading purchase offer. If you have a collection that you want appraised, please contact us and we would be happy to discuss your collection and help you understand the real cash value of your collection in the current marketplace.

Don't hesitate to check out our Google Reviews left by many of the great people that have considered selling collections to Just Collect.