Gavel Chat with Chris Nerat

I still wanna see how this book is 80 pounds

Chris — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:45:49 GMT

About two years ago I started hearing about this book and I still have never seen one in person.

Premier Auctions is offering a Super Bowl XL Opus (MVP Edition, No. 140 of 400) limited-edition autographed book available from the publisher, KrakenOpus, in its latest auction that ends May 29.

The retail price was $40,000. The lot carries a minimum bid of $25,000.

The Opus also includes an in-depth analysis and story of every Super Bowl played, illustrated with more than 1,200 astonishing images. The 20-by-20-inch book weighs more than 80 pounds.
The MVP Opus also contains a page that is personally signed by the 34 of the 35 Super Bowl MVPs.

All I wanna know is, how the heck is a book 80 pounds?!!

Are the pages made out of lead? No question that's a hefty minimum bid for a killer modern-day football piece, but I would compare it to the NBA 50 Greatest players lithograph and those go for up near $70k.

I just got off the phone with Walter Cerini from Premier auctions and he said that this was the last example of the Opus book available and they will now be all sold out.

Montana sues Heritage, ex-wife

Chris — Thu, 15 May 2008 13:46:55 GMT

According to a report from the website thesmokinggun.com and a chat that Gavel Chat had with auction officials, former NFL quarterback Joe Montana is suing Heritage Auction Galleries for the sale of assorted items including love letters to his former wife Kim Moses. Montana is also suing Moses, who consigned the pieces to Heritage's May 2008 Signature sale. Montana, 51, claims that the sale of the assorted items violated his copyright and privacy rights.

Chris Ivy, Heritage sports division auction director said he hasn't seen a copy of the complaint yet.

"We're kind of stuck in the middle of this," said Ivy. "It's just a question of ownership and title. We're just kind of stepping back and letting their attorneys hash it out.

The total of the nine lots that Heritage sold for Moses tallied $20,972.

-Chris Nerat

Heritage sells the world's most expensive peanut butter jar

Chris — Wed, 14 May 2008 21:42:46 GMT

A couple Saturdays ago I decided to watch Heritage Auction Galleries live sale via my computer. By no means was it as exciting as attending the actual event, but when this 1961 Phil Goyette York Peanut Butter Glass sold for nearly $18,000, it got a lot more interesting! I talked to Chris Ivy of Heritage today and he was as surprised as I was.

"Mark Jordan is handling a lot of our hockey material up in Canada," said Ivy. "We're concentrating on that particular area more. He came back and we're doing the descriptions and I had my doubts if we were even going to put it in our auction. Mark told us that it was really rare and I guess he was right.

"Examples of this glass have sold for $2,000 and $3,000, but it's just an example of how we can reach the right crowd of collectors."

I can relate to what Ivy told me. I know nearly nothing about hockey, but I can really appreciate when an item that I know very little about turns the auction world upside down.

I don't know if I have ever bought a jar of peanut butter for more than $5, let alone $18k.

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Below is another segment from my Lou Lampson interview.

Gavel Chat Newsbreak for 5/13

Chris — Tue, 13 May 2008 19:54:29 GMT

Time to start participating

Chris — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:42:25 GMT

II'm not going to beat around the bush here. Just wanted to vent my frustration with Gavel Chat nation a little bit, because it's Monday and I'm a bit ornery. I get more than 1,000 unique visitors on my blog every day and rarely do I see anyone contributing by using the "Comment" field.

Well, I think it is time to start. Nobody wants to hear from me every single day and definitely don't want to hear just my opinion, so lets hear it people!

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Just one quick topic for today. I have actually noticed some killer prices on eBay this week. Is it because of users will always spend their hard-earned cash on collectibles, or did the IRS Economic Stimulus checks really make that big of a difference? I think it's a little bit of both. What did Gavel Chat nation do with their checks?? We would like to know!!! Hit that "Comment" button folks.

The Gavel Chat Time Machine

Chris — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:02:57 GMT

Do you remember during the mid-90s when eBay listing rarely had pictures with the item’s description? Remember what it was like before GOOGLE and Wikipedia? Do you remember the card grading company SCD Authentic (I do because I worked for it).

Well, the reason I bring all this up is because Gavel Chat got a hold of a trusty time machine today, and rather than taking the time machine to a tobacco store and going back to open up some old Sweet Caporal packs in search of some T206 cards, stupid, old me decided to go back to the mid-90s to check out what some of my favorite home pages looked like around 10 years ago.

What you are seeing is the actual home pages from the sites GOOGLE, Upper Deck, Robert Edward Auctions, SCDA, PSA and ESPN.com. I really have no point to this blog entry other than that fact that I thought seeing these were really neat and it brought back to some cool memories of when I used to struggle with computers during my early college years.

Hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

Have a great weekend!

Also, here's another Lou Lampson video... In this selection, the game-worn jersey guru is talking about the way he prefers to display his collection. >
-Chris

One last fun thing for Friday: >

Are you one of the culprits?

Chris — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:12:53 GMT

Filling out your Super Bowl pool sheet, checking eBay, bracket time during March Madness, going through personal email, visiting blogs and message boards that have nothing to do with your line of work.

How much time do you spend using online features that seem to be more interesting than what you're "supposed to be doing" while on the job?

Now, don't get me wrong... I'll take my Gavel Chat readers any way I can get them, and I will say that I can't beleive how popular this blog has actually gotten, but I thought this was an interesting topic that I'm sure your bosses might not be too thrilled about.

Have you ever listed or bid on an eBay auction at work? How bout visit the various sports memorabilia message boards at work? Heck, you might be Gavel Chatting at work right now! If you are a die-hard, like most of us are, it's hard not to venture away from the daily grind once in a while, but be careful guys ... Gavel Chat is almost more important than work, but not quite.

Authentication takes time

Chris — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:18:39 GMT

In my multi-part interview with Lou Lampson the world-famous jersey collector talked about the steps involved in the authentication process. This is a very big business and everything has to be taken into consideration when analyzing the work of an authenticator. I would never want to be an authenticator ... The demands, the stress and the headaches would really wear on the hobby that I love. Click below to listen to Lampson's take on this "sometimes controversial" topic.

Every Tuesday will be Gavel Chat's Video Newsbreak

Chris — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:59:14 GMT

Hello Gavel Chatters ... I am very pumped to announce that every Tuesday, Scott Kelnhofer, the host of Sports Collecting Radio's, will also host Gavel Chat's News Break show. This new card and memorabilia feature will showcase the latest that is happening in the industry that we all love. Please tune in every Tuesday evening on Gavel Chat to watch this exciting new segment.

Also, I just read about this tragic story... Found this on Game Used Forum

Keith Olbermann visits Gavel Chat... Well, sort of

Chris — Mon, 05 May 2008 20:59:05 GMT

I know I already posted once today, but I wanted to get this video posted because it is actually a big deal.

Keith Olbermann just sent us a fantastic series of articles about rare Topps proof cards, and even if this isn't your cup of tea, you should read the series. Very, very interesting stuff.

Click on the video link below to hear SCD editor talk about the sweepstakes that will accompany Olbermann's articles. Also, as promised, here is the URL for the plaques T.S. talks about:

http://www.philadelphiaathletics.org/cgi-local/cart.pl

Lou Lampson video Part II and lots of weekend sales

Chris — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:24:42 GMT

Make sure to click on the video link below to hear Lou Lampson chat with me about his favorite jerseys in his famed collection.

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As for the auctions that ended over the weekend, Mastro, Robert Edward, Heritage etc., some items sold for way more than expected and lots sold for less. I never quite understood why these auction powerhouses all seem to end their Spring sales on the same week.

With the economy the way it is and literally thousands of dollars to choose from, wouldn’t it make logical sense to spread them out a little bit?

I know… I’m sure these companies don’t check with each other on a regular basis, but I think the argument is at least a valid one.

Gavel Chat to stick with video

Chris — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:16:46 GMT

Due to an overwhelming response to the recent videos I put on the blog, Gavel Chat will be transformed into a video/editorial blog. Now readers will have the best of both worlds. Not only will you continue to read my thoughts nearly every day about the hobby we all love, but the blog will feature many exclusive video interviews and my ugly mug from time to time.

Today's video features Super Collector Nicholas DePace. DePace usually flies under the radar of the hobby world, but I was fortunate enough to catch up with him a year ago at Heritage's Signature auction. Enjoy.

True collectors talking about their game-worn equipment video

Chris — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:52:11 GMT

The folks at SCD are in the process of coming up with its latest online innovation, which has temporarily been delayed. So, instead of waiting for it to get finished, I wanted to share these videos that my friend Scott Harpt and Lou Lampson were part of, and added them to Youtube.com.

Scott has been collecting Brewers memorabilia for years and has compiled quite the collection.

Lou Lampson is one of the largest game-worn jersey collectors in the world. This video is one of about ten parts to the 30-minute long interview I did with him at Heritage Auction Galleries sale in May of 2007.

If anyone has any other collecting videos they would like featured on Gavel Chat, please let me know!

For those of you who don't want to wait

Chris — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:16:31 GMT

You might not have known this, but many auction houses offer a retail outlet on their websites. Auctions can be fun, but sometimes collectors don't want to wait weeks in order to purchase something for their collection.

I honestly don't think that most of these venues do a very good job of promoting this retail section of their company. Maybe that's on purpose, but the blog took it upon itself to sort through all sports memorabilia auction houses in order to show which sites have this component.

Here you go:

American Memorabilia

Clean Sweep Auctions

EAC Gallery

Grey Flannel

Heritage Auction Galleries

Sotheby’s with SCP Auctions

Inside the Park Collectibles

Lew Lipset Auctions

Mei Gray

MEARS

Touchdown Treasures

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Remember these? CLICK HERE.

This is an unopened box of 1st Series Garbage Pail Kids packs (48) from Mastro's current auction. I remember taking my bike to the local Marinette, Wis. candy shop to load up on these bad boys at 25 cents a pack. Now Mastro has a box that is selling for more than $650. I guess it is more than 20 years old, but never in my wildest imagination did I think a box of this stuff would approach $1,000. Crazy!

Brett and Bushing

Chris — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:30:15 GMT

Well ... HERE IT IS.

The interview that shocked me ... Dave Bushing retired from the game of third-party authentication. Click on the above link to view my entire story. Very interesting stuff and like I said, very surprising.

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Also, once in a while, on a Friday I like to post a Youtube video on the blog to kind of kick off the weekend.

My boy, Brett Favre was on Letterman last night, so in case you missed it here it is.

Have a good weekend everyone.

-chris

Is there really a market for these?

Chris — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:47:39 GMT

Kinda looks like it. A lot of these "newspaper clippings" screwed down in a generic holder seem to always get bids. I've seen these things on eBay for at least five years now, and to be honest, I really don't know why I chose today to pick on the products. Pretty sharp holder, don't you think?

I don't know if the buyers of this stuff think they're buying a professionally graded card, but who the heck am I to judge, right?

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For the Gavel Chat readers who don't know this, the company who owns SCD, F&W Publications, is also owner of the National Fantasy Baseball and Football Championships... Our company just announced a partnership for these events with NBC Sports and I'm very proud that we were able to put this deal together.

Please CLICK HERE to read the story about our new venture with the major media corporation.

I know it is for charity but this is ridiculous

Chris — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:18:36 GMT

I’m all for the Jimmy V. fund, and giving to charity on occasion, but what the heck kind of career does someone have when they can pay more than $70,000 for a replica David Ortiz jersey.

Supposedly this shirt was buried under the concrete of the new Yankee stadium by a Red Sox fan in order to curse the Yanks, but when the New York organization received word that this went down, the jersey was dug up and donated to charity.

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I know that this auction wasn’t for charity, but Nodder Exchange just set a record for the sale of a nice 1960s Redskins promo nodder. The very rare doll sold for $17,243 including the buyer's premium, crushing the previous record for a bobbing head doll of $14,000 and change that was set in the fall of 2005 (for the 1st Redskins doll known). Further proof that the hobby is strong and growing daily.

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In the next few days I promise to really tap into the spring auctions that are coming up and see if there are some good deals still out there, any possible controversy that may exist and also get quotes from auction house owner and see what they expect results on some of their main items.

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Here's a picture of Abe and I at the PCCE. I tried to swipe his hat, but didn't get very far.

Back from PCCE with mixed reviews

Chris — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:50:12 GMT

Well, I got back from the PCCE on Friday night after two days of some very interesting happenings. On my way to the show, Troy Kinunen of MEARS called to tell me that his partner, Dave Bushing, had retired from authenticating. So I got an exclusive, very interesting interview on Dave’s thoughts and I guarantee you won’t want to miss the article I'm just about finished with.

As far as the show … It was very well set up by Ryan Friedman and crew. Carpeted floor, solid dealers and auction houses were present, but the foot traffic was very light. Some of the dealers I talked to were very pumped about a couple customers walking in with items to sell, but some of the dealers were disappointed that this four-day show didn’t have too many attendees.

I really enjoyed talking to people who I never met in person. It was a very relaxed atmosphere and some of the dealers who set up, and normally don't have a lot of time to chat at a larger show, had time to talk with the customers there.

The Marshall Fogel keynote speech on Friday was very good. I am hoping to get a copy of the edited video from footage of the conference that I can post on our site, but it won’t be ready for at least a couple weeks.

The panel discussions on Friday were decent. I enjoyed the autograph expert panel. Between Kevin Keating, Richard Albersheim, Ron Gordon and James Spence, those guys had a lot of stories and could have talked for a lot longer than the time alotted, 45 minutes.

Lou Lampson, Dave Bushing and John Taube were on hand for the game-used equipment session of the event and they didn’t talk about anything too earth shattering. Dave Hunt, owner of Hunt Auctions was in the crowd and asked what was probably the toughest question of the day; he asked each member to tell the crowd what one item they misauthenticated that they wish they had a another crack at, but unfortunately none of the members really answered the question with any specific detail.

One of the coolest things I saw at the show was MEARS’ newly developed bat and jersey display cases that were designed by David B. Driscoll, Curator of Business & Technology at the Wisconsin Historical Society. I will have some pictures of the cases uploaded by tomorrow. They used all archival material and professional imagery. Very top-of-the-line.

T.S. O'Connell will be reporting on the last two days of the show, so make sure to pick up SCD to read about how it finished.

Note: Photos are from the Cubs museum display (top) and Heritage Auction's Chris Ivy and Hunt Auctions David Hunt (bottom).

Gavel Chat goes on the road

Chris — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:47:25 GMT

Tomorrow morning I'll be driving to the Premier Collectible Conference & Exhibition in Rosemont, Ill.

Ryan Friedman and Mastro Auctions have combined efforts to form the inaugural PCCE, and it should be a very unique experience. Not only is there a card and memorabilia show during the event, but there will be expert speakers on hand the entire weekend.

There won't be any speakers tomorrow, but I know that there will be some major announcements that will be going on and I will be sure to get photos and comments from everyone involved.

Friday should be a busy day for me, as I will be trying to attend all of the panel discussions and speeches. CLICK HERE to see the list of panel speakers.

Lou Lampson, Dave Bushing, Jimmy Spence and Kevin Keating will all be on hand to give their thoughts. Should be pretty cool.

Tom Riccio releases O.J. book

Chris — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:06:51 GMT

Attached to the blog is a press conference that Universal Rarities Auction's former owner Tom Riccio recently conducted to promote this new book about the O.J. Simpson Las Vegas hotel bust that was set up last year.

For those who don't remember the story, Riccio set up the meeting for Simpson to get back his memorabilia from a crazed fan and when they conducted the meeting at the Palace Station casino/hotel in Sin City, all hell broke loose.

I got the chance to meet Riccio a few times during my time at American Memorabilia and I will tell you that he is quite the character. I actually am looking forward to checking out this book. According to the press conference, Riccio said that the book will contain other tidbits about the hobby and not just the Simpson garbage. I just read an article in Trade Fax about the book and it has an excerpt from Riccio saying that he is "out to make as much money as I can off this incident."

Very classy. Gotta love America!