By Max Silberman

For various reasons including financial need, moving to smaller quarters or lack of interest, collectors sometimes find themselves in the position of disposing of a collection of baseball cards and memorabilia. How is this best done to bring in maximum return? Let us examine a few of the avenues. The very best way to is to sell directly to another collectors who wants your items enough to pay “book” or full value. Locating such a person is the rub. There are fewer collectors today since the speculators left a few years ago. Don’t be surprised to receive less than you paid a few years ago. Just as your stock portfolio is probably not as valuable as it was in the l990s, prices of all commodities rise and fall.

An advertisement in a hobby journal reaches a targeted audience but only for two weeks. Many use eBay to reach the whole world but find that bidders often want to buy for very little and the items must be shipped for very little return.

Years ago, one could take his or her collection to the nearest hobby dealer’s shop but the vast majority of them have long closed. People preferred to buy on-line, through the mail or at shows and then were
astounded to see their favorite card store closed.

Major card and memorabilia shows (such as the one held four times a year at the Fort Washington Expo Center) have hundreds of dealers who wish to buy your goods. Of course they expect to make a profit and won’t pay retail prices unless your items are very rare and in pristine condition. A dealer at a major show will spend close to a thousand dollars in travel, table rent, meals and hotels just to get behind the booth and must buy for less than retail. It is amazing how many folks are surprised that dealers pay less than retail for their merchandise.

The Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society receives several donations a year from folks who were not satisfied with offers tendered and felt more comfortable donating their items to our museum. Not only does that help the Society, but the donor receives a receipt which can be used as a charitable tax deduction. The Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501 (3) (c) (as of 1996) and by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In l997 articles of incorporation were filed. In January 1998, the IRS further ruled the A’s Society as a private foundation within section 509(a) of the code.

In plain English, we are a non-profit, educational and charitable organization and your donations are tax deductible, which in some cases will give you greater financial advantage than selling for a small amount of cash.

Whatever your decision, take your time and seek the best arrangement for yourself. Do not feel sad about sending the collection on its way to someone else who will enjoy as you did.