Updated: Interest in Barack Obama's trading cards spikes after historic victory
By CHRIS OLDS | BECKETT BASEBALL EDITOR
In the wake of Barack Obama’s historic election to the White House, interest in his trading cards and autographs has spiked dramatically.
There has been a increase in values for the readily available cards — as well as an increase in the volume of sales — while his rarer autographed cards are commanding four-figures.
“In the days leading up to Election Day, when more and more polls were indicating that Barack Obama would be the next President, secondary market interest in his 2008 cards issued by Topps and Upper Deck greatly increased,” Beckett Baseball Senior Market Analyst Brian Fleisher said. “For example, two weeks ago, his Topps Campaign 2008 card was selling for roughly $5. In the days leading up to the election and in the hours since the results were announced, sales have jumped to as much as $40, with most selling in the $20-$25 range.”
Leading the way money-wise is his 2008 Topps Campaign 2008 Cut Signature autograph card, which is limited to just 15 serial-numbered copies. One sold for $4,050 on eBay Thursday, jumping from $1,534 at mid-morning before bidding closed. A second copy of the card remains available on the a Buy It Now price of $5,995. The previous high price paid for the card was $3,100 before the election.
Presidential autographs are always in demand and can often be tougher to obtain once a candidate is off the campaign trail and in office — where demands on a president’s time increase dramatically and where, unfortunately for collectors, Autopen machines are often used. Add in the fact that the 44th President of the United States will be the first African-American in office and an already tough signature has that much more significance and added demand.
Other completed card sales with hefty post-election price tags include his Topps Campaign 2008 Letter Patches card, which features a uniform letter on each card with five cards needed to spell out his name, at $350, his 2008 Topps Update Presidential Picks card at $220, his 2008-09 Topps Basketball card at $150 and his 2008 eTopps Allen & Ginter card, which shows him throwing out the first pitch at a Chicago White Sox game, at $80.
Fleischer noted that some of the price spikes relect the typical trend when news occurs.
“Time will tell if this sudden jump in prices will last,” said Fleischer, “but it has been my experience that — normally — these dramatic price increases last for a week or so before the card settles into a more stable range.”
And just because Election Day has come and gone that doesn’t mean that the trading card appearances are over. Topps announced early Wednesday morning that Obama’s first card noting him as the 44th President of the United States will be included in its upcoming American Heritage set.
The Heritage set will arrive in early 2009 — perhaps around Inauguration Day — and include America’s story in sports, arts, pop culture and history on cards that utilize designs from several past Topps sets. Each hobby box will include two autograph or Relic cards — including cut signatures of all past presidents (and probably Obama, too).
OBAMA ON CARDBOARD
Politicians have been all over trading cards in sports sets in the last year as manufacturers have tried to draw more non-collectors into their products. Here’s a breakdown of Barack Obama’s cards — so far — along with their previously published values.
2008 eTopps Allen & Ginter (left) #’d/999 $N/A
2008 Topps Campaign 2008 #BO $8
2008 Topps Campaign 2008 Gold #BO $25
2008 Topps Update 2008 Presidential Picks #BO #’d/100 $N/A
2008 Upper Deck Presidential Predictors #PP4 $12
2008-09 Topps Basketball #BO $N/A
2008 Topps Campaign 2008 Cut Signatures #BO #’d/15 $N/A
2008 Topps Campaign 2008 Letter Patches #BO B #’d/50 $200
2008 Topps Campaign 2008 Letter Patches #BO A #’d/50 $200
2008 Topps Campaign 2008 Letter Patches #BO A #’d/50 $200
2008 Topps Campaign 2008 Letter Patches #BO O #’d/50 $200
2008 Topps Campaign 2008 Letter Patches #BO M #’d/50 $200
2008 Topps Co-Signers Cut Signatures Quad #OHGM w/Hillary Clinton/ Rudy Giuliani/ John McCain 1/1 $N/A
2008 Topps Historical Campaign Match-Ups #2008D w/Hillary Clinton $3
2008 Topps Historical Campaign Match-Ups Cut Signatures #CO w/Hillary Clinton 1/1 $N/A
2008 Upper Deck Presidential Running Mate Predictors #PP7B w/Hillary Clinton $25
2008 Upper Deck Presidential Running Mate Predictors #PP7H w/Hillary Clinton $150
Chris Olds has collected sports cards and memorabilia since 1987. Before coming to Beckett Media, he wrote about the hobby for the Orlando Sentinel on his blog, SportsStuff, and for the San Antonio Express-News and The Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News. Do you have a comment, question or idea? Send e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com.
Although Obamamania is a recent occurent, presidential collections have existed since the earliest elections. This week Collectors’ Quest is featuring folks who have been collecting these items over the years and who now have Obama items as well.Check it out: http://www.collectorsquest.com/featured-week/Presidential.html