Card of the Day - 2013 Topps Archives : Clayton Kershaw Mini Frame Autograph (10/25) BGS Graded Gem Mint 9.5

Nope this doesn't look like a graded card much less a mini frame.

Nicer looking card than the first but still not what the title states that this blog entry is about.
Hmmm . . .

Ahh...There we go.

So what are the two cards up top doing in this post? Well I went and did what some people would call dumb and most would just say why? I did what probably only a small group of people would do but I have no regrets that I did it.

As long time readers of the blog probably know I truly hate sticker autographs. When I first re entered the hobby I just went out and acquired any and all and didn't really care if the autos were sticker or of the on card variety. Now I just can't stand them and that includes Kershaw autographs. Again, I can see people say, your're crazy. Well call me crazy I got rid of those two cards up top and washed my hands of another sticker autograph. I have two sticker autographs of Kershaw left but one I will be keeping just for the fact of all the effort I went to acquire it in a contest. It holds a spot in my heart.

So I went on one of my Kershaw searches and found this gem mint beauty from 2013 Topps Archives release. At the present moment it is one of only 3 that have been graded and with only 25 total copies in existence there might not be many more in the future. Its on card and already graded. What more can I ask for? Well I wanted it but didn't want to pay for it. Isn't that how it always is? Anyways, I wanted to see how I could swing it then I remembered I had those two cards up above ready for grading as I am in the process of getting all my Kershaw autos graded.

Well the Five Star one might squeeze an 8.5 overall and I was not overly hopeful it would receive that grade but more concerning was the autograph as you can see it stretches to the end of the card which BGS hates. So I could have it returned to me with a 8 or 8.5 grade coupled with a 9 autograph. Not really enticing in my opinion. Well the Triple Threads card looked like a good candidate to earn a mint 9 with a gem mint 10 grade on auto. The problem was that it is a sticker. Nuff said. So do I submit the two cards to get graded and potentially hate the returns? And even though one is an on card autograph the other one still irks me as it is a sticker. Well what if I could sell both on the bay and use those funds to purchase this already gem mint on card of Kershaw? Well why not?

I purchased the Archives card and since the seller didn't require payment for 10 days that gave me a window to sell the other two to pay for it. I put both up on 3 day auctions and both sold at the necessary amount to off set the Archives card. A little money my way, a little money that way and in a week I received the Archives card. I couldn't be happier with the transactions as the other two graded would have been a disappointment and I am now one less sticker autograph in my collection,

Again, I know some people would call me crazy to do a 2 for 1 but I am happy and at the end of the day and when it comes to this hobby you have to do what makes you happy and leaves you satisfied.

Nothing like a nice gold label attached to a Kershaw autograph

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