Rare Tobacco Cards – No Comps

[Lukastreasure]

Hi,

I recently bought a large antique photo album with over 100 CDV and Cabinet cards in it for $20. In addition to all the pictures, there were seven tobacco cards from “Seal of North Carolina” Plug Cut. These are from their Presidents, Statesmen and Actresses series. I’ve been able to find no recent comps on eBay to tell me what to charge and only a few mentions of this brand of card on the web. I did find one link to an online auction where a complete set of 17 cards sold for $1680 on Robert Edwards Auctions. Since they seem to be very rare, I’m of two minds on pricing them. I could price them at $150 each, or sell one on auction and see where it ends up, just to test the waters. I’m thinking best to sell them as singles rather than a lot.

Anyone have experience with these cards, or suggestions?

Hopefully you can see pictures here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ykisqdUamNBTHVIVuazGALpQbaTPiaxVrw

Thanks, Mike

[Lukastreasure]

In case it works better with imgur:

https://imgur.com/a/FVxhC

[MDC Galleries & Fine Art]

Found them. On the lower end of sold prices we see several of each of the ones you have that sold individually all fell into the $77 to $85 dollar range. Then we see some sold in pairs of two’s for $152.50 one is the Pauline Hall that you have and the 2nd one is MARCHIONESS KILDARE which you don’t have. Then two Annie Pixley sold singly each for $146. The only others we see is a set of three with very old images and can’t make out the names at $303 for all 3 in a lot.

Hope that helps fill in some of the puzzle a little bit.

Mike at MDC Galleries in Atlanta

[Jay]

Trying to sell on auction could work. I guess price high and see what happens.

You could also put it up for $150 work “make offer”.
The auction house sold 17 for $1680. That’s about $98 each.

Good news is you found something cool! Now have fun making some money.

[Lukastreasure]

Wow! Thanks, Mike! I had hopes that was what they were worth. If it follows through, this will be my biggest profit from scavenging yet. You’re either better at searching than I am, or have access to some records I don’t. Maybe both :-). Appreciate the assist.

Mike

[So Cal Joe]

Nice find, I think those are the days we all live for, it’s kind of like finding buried treasure at the bottom of box lots.. Cool

[Lukastreasure]

Update. Got them all posted, including a few more from the same series, President Grant and British PM William Gladstone. With so few comps, I decided to shoot high and wait for offers. I followed my usual pattern of firm price for first 30 days then will open to offers after that.

Interestingly, I received an unsolicited offer of $100 for the Grant card less than 15 minutes after I posted it. Didn’t take it as I want to wait and see a bit.

I also decided that I’d follow the baseball card route and assume some “players” are more valuable than others, and condition brings a premium, so I priced a few more famous people and mint cards higher.

This was one of those times when I really love doing this the most. Each card was a history lesson in itself, learning not only what these cards are, but also who each of the people are that are in them.

Now to get on with posting the CDVs and Cabinet cards I actually bought the lot for.

Thanks for the input.

Mike

[Author]

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