So I convinced my brother Jon to take my overflow intentory and set up at the Bloomingdale show while I set up at Orland. I had a pretty busy week prepping for both shows. I gave Jon two display cases and some great cards including some Goudeys, a 1933 Tattoo Orbit Riggs Stephenson, some Topps Red Backs, Aarons, Musials, Mays, Campanella, Jim Brown, Joe Namath, and Oscar Robertson. I gave him a box of $1 cards, another of 50 cent cards, two boxes of 10-cent cards, a box of commons from 1970 to 1979, a box filled with vintage Cubs and Sox, a binder with Cubs and Sox photos, a binder of 1936 Goudey Wide Pens and Exhibits, and a binder of star cards from the early 1980s.

Jon ended up selling just $56 worth of stuff. I kept $6 and gave him the $50. We're both willing to try this again though I don't think I'll send him to Bloomingdale while I'm at Orland. Maybe he can try Schaumburg while I'm at Serb Hall. Orland generally brings in all the Chicago area collectors.

The crowd at Orland was a little thin. I was expecting a bigger crowd with football season now over. I still had a nice day and made many sales. A collector in town on business from Orlando purchased a large number of 1977 Topps baseball. Another guy was collecting Moose Skowron and Bob Friend and I had many of the cards he needed.  I helped a long-time customer Chuck, complete his 1959 set. Two other long-time customers purchased quite a few cards.  Will picked up some 62s and Rick purchased a number of 63s. I sold '60 and '61  Warren Spahns to Dave. A new customer purchased a 52 Bowman Nellie Fox, another new customer purchased quite a few 1976 Topps.  A dealer purchased quite a few expensive cards to make it a very profitable day.

Of course, I didn't bring much money home.  I purchased a 1969 Topps Reggie Jackson rookie from a customer, a 1967 Topps Mickey Mantle from Junior, an 1941 Play Ball Indian Johnson SGC 3 and a 1955 Bowman Enos Slaughter SGC 4 from another customer, a lot of 58 1964 Topps from Jim, a dealer that sets up around the corner, and 13 different T206s from the dealer across the way.

The only negative of the day came when I was leaving the room at 2:51 p.m. (the show closes at 2 p.m.) and show promoter John Leary got in my grill telling me I need to leave the room much earlier, saying my departure time was ridiculous.  I emphatically disagree. I set up regularly at four different shows.  The other three show promoters could care less about what time I leave. In addition, I still had customers at my table at 2:20 p.m. and I have thousands of cards to pack up. I fail to see how my departure, 31 minutes after my last customer exits the room, is ridiculous. I just may discontinue setting up at the Orland show if this sort of nonsense continues.

I generally purchase raw (ungraded) cards on eBay. Generally, the cards match the description... but not today. I purchased a 1962 Topps Willie Mays all star card for $7.99 and an additional $3.25 in shipping from seller DB.14.  The seller's description says the card shows some wear, not a 10, but nice. I get the card today and observe that the top of the card, from the top edge down about an inch has a thick layer of Scotch tape residue along with two tears in the paper.  The scan in the listing has the card tilted and tears look like reflection of light.  The Scotch tape is vaguely viewable but tough to discern. 

The card books at $50 and I figure, in its current Poor Condition (which is what the listing should have said), it is worth generously $6.  Though, I think I'd have a tough time getting more than $3 for it.  I know I'm not out a lot of money but I just angry that the seller didn't clue me in on the Scotch tape and the tears. I hate to leave negative feedback but this one certainly deserves it in my book.  I just contacted the seller and told him I want to return the card and want a refund. If he refunds my money, I won't neg him, I just won't leave any feedback at all.

The next unlucky package contained six 1965 Topps football cards.  The description, by seller ham8945, stated the cards were in low grade but no dogs.  Well the description described one of the six cards, the other five are dogs with creasing, paper loss, major surface scratches and water damage.  Again, I didn't spend a lot, $8.99 plus $2.78 in shipping, but I expect an honest description. Why say "no dogs" when five of the six cards are dogs.  I buy these cards for resale, I'll have a tough time breaking even on these dogs.

My next group of winners is a lot of 1961 Fleer football.  The description says the cards are VG/EX when the cards are actually POOR! How can creased cards be VG/EX?  I went back and looked at the description and the creases in one of the cards is apparent from the scan. There was no way to tell the other cards are creased.  I paid $4.25 for the cards plus $2.05 in shipping from seller whizzkidd3. Again, not a lot of money but I will have trouble recouping.

My next excellent eBay purchase was a 1963 Topps Gus Triandos, described as Near Mint.  Well the card has a serious ding on the lower right corner.  A serious ding does not make a card Near Mint.  To me, Near Mint is a near perfect card with a very minor flaw.  If the lower right corner had very slight wear, not a serious ding, it would be near mint in my book.  I grade the card VG. Again, not a lot of money spent, $2.99 for the card plus $2 for shipping.

The next terrific purchase is a pair of 1963 Bazooka All Time greats, Ban Johnson and Ted Lyons.  The seller described the cards as nice specimens, shiny and some flecking. No grade.  I would grade them Fair. The backs are filthy. The Lyons has a stain. Both cards have more than "some" flecking. The corners are heavily worn. I only paid $1.49 for the cards but $4.95 in shipping.  The seller did actually spend $4.95 in shipping by sending it priority with shipping confirmation.  He could have put the cards in top loaders and a small bubble envelope, included delivery confirmation, and charged $3 in shipping.

My last card is actually a good purchase -- 1962 Tops K leaders with Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale.  The description says the card is Excellent to Near Mint. In reality it is off center, generally has slight corner/edge wear and no creases.  A ding, however, on the upper left edge brings this card to VG.  EX to Mint cards no NOT have dings, unless your talking pre-war. I only paid .99 cents for the card plus $2 shipping.

I had some real nice sales at the show including 1958 Topps Johnny Unitas and Bart Starr, 1959, 1960 and 1972 baseball stars and commons, two Babe Ruth photos, and some old Cubs. I picked up an autographed Billy Pierce postcard for my autograph collection, and I also bought a large lot of baseball commons from the 1970s. As usual, I came home with more cards than I had when I arrived at the show. I always enjoy seeing the dealers at this show -- Willie, Ted, Dan, Jeff, Skip and Fred. While we were a small group on this day, we each had multiple tables with large inventories. Fred is an absolutely terrific show promoter. I also appreciate his purchase of three boxes of Girl Scout Cookies that I'm selling for my daughter's Girl Scout Troop.

Next weekend is Gonzaga in Milwaukee. I love this show and always look forward to it. Hope to see everyone in Milwaukee!