The Ones That Got Away

[finfangfan]

Show off your favorite cards you let go.

I just sold this one tonight. Probably in the top 5 of my all time sketch cards.

https://img.comc.com/i/Marvel/2008/Fleer-Marvel-Masterpieces-Series-3---Sketch-Cards/-JEMA/Jeff-Matsuda.jpg?id=2f438a26-31b1-467e-9b29-db9a43a2e9b7&size=zoom

The buyer got a great one! Matsuda did very few sketches for the MM3 set and I was fortunate to own 3 at one point (down to 1 now).

[DynaEtch]

Man, there is something classic about a great quality 08 Masterpieces sketch. That’s a cool cover swipe with a unique flair.

When seeing the thread title my guess was it would be about a sketch before even opening it. It’s hard for me personally to let a nice sketch go, and as 1/1s it’s not like you can just replace them.

The one that comes to mind for me was a beautiful 2-sided 3-panel Marvel Premier sketch by famed Bob Larkin. It’s one of those things…I knew I got in on it very reasonably, and that I could sell it for more, which I did. At the time I wanted to hone my focus to solely MM, and was trying to declutter the rest.

I don’t think I’ll see another Larkin sketch like that..not like he was doing various marvel sets like most sketch artists.

[jdandns]

I got a really nice, full color sketch from popular Copper Age Iron Man artist Bob Layton in UD Iron Man 2, but unfortunately it was of The Melter, so I let it go. Even so, that's one I probably should've kept since I used to go on and on about comic book-related sketch cards only being truly desirable if they had been drawn by artist's who worked on the comics themselves.

To that end, I definitely should've held on to these, haha:
https://i.imgur.com/uDNyOlJ.jpg?1

As for autographs, I sold this Downey for about $2,500 around 2018. I'm still happy with that, given how little I paid for the sealed case I bought to attain it, but who knew a pandemic and the end of Tony Stark in the MCU coupled with him signing no more cards would make the price basically triple over the next couple of years after it had already tripled from what it was in the few years prior?

https://i.imgur.com/fwD9asU.jpg

[orion9578]

While tons of cards "got away", I'd also argue that I have sold tons of cards for way, way too much money. Thanks, Covid!

I'll stick with the sketch theme and I'll hop on the same dinghy as Dyna :)!

https://i.ibb.co/ZzJCQR88/Untitled.jpg (https://imgbb.com/)

https://i.ibb.co/S7fMzZP2/Untitled-1-1.jpg (https://imgbb.com/)

[DynaEtch]

I got a really nice, full color sketch from popular Copper Age Iron Man artist Bob Layton in UD Iron Man 2, but unfortunately it was of The Melter, so I let it go. Even so, that's one I probably should've kept since I used to go on and on about comic book-related sketch cards only being truly desirable if they had been drawn by artist's who worked on the comics themselves.

To that end, I definitely should've held on to these, haha:
https://i.imgur.com/uDNyOlJ.jpg?1

As for autographs, I sold this Downey for about $2,500 around 2018. I'm still happy with that, given how little I paid for the sealed case I bought to attain it, but who knew a pandemic and the end of Tony Stark in the MCU coupled with him signing no more cards would make the price basically triple over the next couple of years after it had already tripled from what it was in the few years prior?

https://i.imgur.com/fwD9asU.jpg

Ouch, does help to look at it from that viewpoint..made some money along the way. Those vintage marvel sketches though…it was only a matter of time until they took off (arguably they already did and are getting big attention now). I had one of those Buscema Surfers, since it was a repeato-sketch…let it go of course as I was cleaning out non-MM things.

My perspective is once the dust settles more…years out…and the market is flooded with so many marvel sketches from all these sets…those 90s from the marvel greats will stand above the rest and stand the test of time. Even though they are true “sketches” and not mini- finished works of art like sketches now.

[DynaEtch]

While tons of cards "got away", I'd also argue that I have sold tons of cards for way, way too much money. Thanks, Covid!

I'll stick with the sketch theme and I'll hop on the same dinghy as Dyna :)!

https://i.ibb.co/ZzJCQR88/Untitled.jpg (https://imgbb.com/)

https://i.ibb.co/S7fMzZP2/Untitled-1-1.jpg (https://imgbb.com/)

Same boat indeed :) man great Larkin there.

Found a pic of the one I had, screenshot of a pic so lower quality. One side of it

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250221/935c614c58683b78feefe52af25a2b56.jpg

Probably should have kept it with him being such a famous name not just in marvel comic covers but cards too, with many classic 90s cards including my username namesake.

Generally I have to think real hard now before deciding to let a sketch go. They are the hardest things for me to let go when it comes to cards.

[Brobocop]

I look back at my PMGs I pulled from 2013 Fleer Retro and think about how many houses I could have bought if I had held them all those years. Then I realize that I would have sold them as prices increased slightly since I love the thrill of making money on ebay. I also think the Spider-Man blue PMG (which I once had) sale of $100k was not a legit sale, just pumpers trying to pump the market.

[DynaEtch]

I look back at my PMGs I pulled from 2013 Fleer Retro and think about how many houses I could have bought if I had held them all those years. Then I realize that I would have sold them as prices increased slightly since I love the thrill of making money on ebay. I also think the Spider-Man blue PMG (which I once had) sale of $100k was not a legit sale, just pumpers trying to pump the market.

Unfortunately I think that blue PMG Spidey was a legit sale because it was the deep pocket celebrity buying up high end marvel stuff at the time. It was like $100k if not over. I was skeptical of some of the PMG crazy sales at first, but changed tune after some of the big marvel card sellers confirmed they were actually paid for them and real sales. Maybe not all of them, but definitely real $30k, $50k, $80k sales etc happening at the time. My skepticism of the overall future of those PMG values and the bubble they were sitting on wasn’t misplaced though. Crazy times. I had a couple like a Thanos green PMG that I sold off before the Covid…while maybe not a new house…at least new car money if I would have kept it.

[kingofsnake]

I pulled a Game of Thrones Glebe sketch back in 2015 from Paula's in Hawaii. It was of the Weirwood of Winterfell and was the nicest sketch I have ever seen in person. I sold it to a member here for a fair price.

Now, ten years later, I have some regret for letting it go. More than that, I would just like to see it again.

[TimBuckTwo]

I sold a NAR Daredevil Sketch I pulled from MM 2006 I believe.

I don't have a pic but he was standing from waist up with rain pouring down on him.

Was a nice card as were all he did.

Also had half of a dual Kayanan LOTR sketch. Never could find the other half so sold it off.

On the other hand I had a dual Cat Staggs Evolution half I traded for a Kayanan Eomer sketch.

[Brobocop]

Unfortunately I think that blue PMG Spidey was a legit sale because it was the deep pocket celebrity buying up high end marvel stuff at the time. It was like $100k if not over. I was skeptical of some of the PMG crazy sales at first, but changed tune after some of the big marvel card sellers confirmed they were actually paid for them and real sales. Maybe not all of them, but definitely real $30k, $50k, $80k sales etc happening at the time. My skepticism of the overall future of those PMG values and the bubble they were sitting on wasn’t misplaced though. Crazy times. I had a couple like a Thanos green PMG that I sold off before the Covid…while maybe not a new house…at least new car money if I would have kept it.

Either way, those PMGs never left the store when I opened the boxes back then. I actually did keep all the non-insert cards and made a nice killing selling all the random base Retro cards (about $5k) so I still felt like I came out ahead.

I was a wax degen and had the store owner sell everything I got to put into more boxes. Had a line of credit basically so that I could open more and more. I'd be broke as a joke today with these wax prices.

[PurplesaurusRex]

Well this thread is not what I was expecting, haha. I thought "The Ones That Got Away" meant you had an opportunity to purchase a card you really wanted and decided not to. And now you have regrets because it's gone! :D

[kingofsnake]

Well this thread is not what I was expecting, haha. I thought "The Ones That Got Away" meant you had an opportunity to purchase a card you really wanted and decided not to. And now you have regrets because it's gone! :D

If that were the case, my answer, instead, would be the Robert Downey Jr. Auto.

[nabzy28]

This is tough. Not because I don't have a few, but because it's more of a 'do I miss it because I genuinely really wanted it to hang on to 'forever' as a PC card, or because I just wanted to be able to say I had it/had one?'

Anyhow, the most notable few I can think of right off hand are the CZx Gadot and Affleck autos. Let 'em go, thinking that the sets would continue, especially as I had already heard that cards were signed, or in process, for another CZx set... that never materialized.

I also pulled a Jusko Hulk sketch from whichever Marvel Masterpieces set he did a few sketches for, way back. 2012? Was a 2 panel booklet. Really couldn't have been a 'worse' character for me, as I don't collect anything Hulk. Don't think I have an image of that one anywhere. That, truly, would have just been me keeping it just to say I have it - and that isn't really my thing at all.

https://thumbs-us-east-1.myalbum.io/photo/540/375cf40b-9d08-45be-bf86-b88a122d91ae.jpg

https://thumbs-us-east-1.myalbum.io/photo/540/ea02fcdc-746e-4c97-9dd7-7999821ad776.jpg

[jdandns]

I wish I'd have bought a 1993 Skybox Matt Groening "Art D'Bart" original art card anytime up until around the year 2003 when they could be had for only $400. Unfortunately/fortunately though, I used to see Matt at Comic-Con every year and would usually get an in-person sketch each time, so I sort of took that card for granted, the first 10 years of its existence. But about 20 years ago, the card doubled in value to $800, and I still should've pulled the trigger at that point, because the next jump which happened approximately 10 years ago put the card into the thousands, where it remains.

Here are some particularly nice ones (none mine :(), along with the redemption card, also today worth thousands of dollars.

https://i.imgur.com/d8GGfos.jpg

I pulled a Game of Thrones Glebe sketch back in 2015 from Paula's in Hawaii. It was of the Weirwood of Winterfell and was the nicest sketch I have ever seen in person. I sold it to a member here for a fair price.

Now, ten years later, I have some regret for letting it go. More than that, I would just like to see it again.

https://i.imgur.com/dsyYQKa.gif

:D:D:D

[kingofsnake]

https://i.imgur.com/dsyYQKa.gif

:D:D:D

Yes! Exactly that!

[orion9578]

I also pulled a Jusko Hulk sketch from whichever Marvel Masterpieces set he did a few sketches for, way back. 2012? Was a 2 panel booklet. Really couldn't have been a 'worse' character for me, as I don't collect anything Hulk. Don't think I have an image of that one anywhere. That, truly, would have just been me keeping it just to say I have it - and that isn't really my thing at all.

Forgot about Jusko sketches. Sadly, I had 5 or 6 from 16MM and now I have a grand total of...0. Doh.

I'm not even really a sketch person, perse, but there are a ton I wish I had back. More of an "insert" guy and definitely more of a comic card guy vs an MCU guy. I've sold tons of great MCU stuff that I at least should have THOUGHT about keeping. BD in particular. I had 2 Holland Exquisite Autos at one point...the Hemsworth base red 1/1 Auto... Gone, gone, gone. :coffee:

[DynaEtch]

I sold a NAR Daredevil Sketch I pulled from MM 2006 I believe.

I don't have a pic but he was standing from waist up with rain pouring down on him.

Was a nice card as were all he did.

Also had half of a dual Kayanan LOTR sketch. Never could find the other half so sold it off.

On the other hand I had a dual Cat Staggs Evolution half I traded for a Kayanan Eomer sketch.

Possibly this one? (MM07)

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250222/b3b584fe4013a3e9376d87e7f928a450.jpg

Old forums can be amazing resources…in this case scoundrels art forum.

[newhobbygeek]

Forgot about Jusko sketches. Sadly, I had 5 or 6 from 16MM and now I have a grand total of...0. Doh.

I'm not even really a sketch person, perse, but there are a ton I wish I had back. More of an "insert" guy and definitely more of a comic card guy vs an MCU guy. I've sold tons of great MCU stuff that I at least should have THOUGHT about keeping. BD in particular. I had 2 Holland Exquisite Autos at one point...the Hemsworth base red 1/1 Auto... Gone, gone, gone. :coffee:

2?! ... I'm still annoyed Upper Deck made his and Bettany /15. Completing that set is annoyingly difficult.

[newhobbygeek]

Best sketch that got away, sold, for me was one I pulled on ePack. I bought couple others from Black Panther set before Fred.Ian got big name. No regrets selling because of price sold for but won't forget this one:
https://img.comc.com/upperdeck/f2e12400-a136-4019-b2d7-6bbbfb9734ce.jpg?w=170

I thought it was cool because they posted progressive images for that single sketch from the set.
https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/1768cca5-0011-42ff-88f8-5d7b5a51ed71/dcbx9b4-fb3f1010-cfbd-443e-a7d7-22020f204c3e.jpg/v1/fill/w_1280,h_456,q_75,strp/wolverine_sketch_card_from_a_a_to_z_by_fredianofficial_dcbx9b4-fullview.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.3fyBy5fB0vXjEa9iCpTzC29_j_kbyrQ-MLLmK674Jho

[finfangfan]

Quick update… my third and final Matsuda MM3 sketch card sold last night, so that can also be added to the list of ones that got away. Matsuda did some great stuff for this set!

https://img.comc.com/i/Marvel/2008/Fleer-Marvel-Masterpieces-Series-3---Sketch-Cards/-JEMA/Jeff-Matsuda.jpg?id=959b408d-4238-4743-855d-c57229d48f93&size=zoom

[TimBuckTwo]

Possibly this one? (MM07)

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250222/b3b584fe4013a3e9376d87e7f928a450.jpg

Old forums can be amazing resources…in this case scoundrels art forum.

That's the one ! Can't figure out why I cannot see it on Scoundrel.

[finfangfan]

Best sketch that got away, sold, for me was one I pulled on ePack. I bought couple others from Black Panther set before Fred.Ian got big name. No regrets selling because of price sold for but won't forget this one:
https://img.comc.com/upperdeck/f2e12400-a136-4019-b2d7-6bbbfb9734ce.jpg?w=170

I thought it was cool because they posted progressive images for that single sketch from the set.
https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/1768cca5-0011-42ff-88f8-5d7b5a51ed71/dcbx9b4-fb3f1010-cfbd-443e-a7d7-22020f204c3e.jpg/v1/fill/w_1280,h_456,q_75,strp/wolverine_sketch_card_from_a_a_to_z_by_fredianofficial_dcbx9b4-fullview.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.3fyBy5fB0vXjEa9iCpTzC29_j_kbyrQ-MLLmK674Jho

It’s interesting to see the various steps and how the final image changes as colors and shading are added. It almost seems to me that Wolverine shrinks between the 3rd and 4th images but that can just be attributed to the individual images not being scanned/cropped at exactly the same size.

[orion9578]

2?! ... I'm still annoyed Upper Deck made his and Bettany /15. Completing that set is annoyingly difficult.

NHG! I opened way, way to much BD ... :coffee:

Best sketch that got away, sold, for me was one I pulled on ePack. I bought couple others from Black Panther set before Fred.Ian got big name. No regrets selling because of price sold for but won't forget this one:
https://img.comc.com/upperdeck/f2e12400-a136-4019-b2d7-6bbbfb9734ce.jpg?w=170

Sweet Leroy! I wonder if that was far enough back that he was either only doing them himself or he was only signing them himself. One of the Annual year achievements(I think) the sketch cards were labeled Fred only :).

[DynaEtch]

That's the one ! Can't figure out why I cannot see it on Scoundrel.

Where it lists the older Marvel sets on scoundrel, go to the one that just says “Marvel Masterpieces” (because this was 2007MM, or just Marvel Masterpieces I).

There is a thread on the first page about Nar’s work in that section, and the first post is all of Nar’s sketches on 2007MM. This is a great resource for anyone buying an MM07 Nar, since you can double check it there to confirm it’s legit and packpulled.

Looks like he did a few different DD’s in that set, but yours in particular looks great. These are the ones that are hard to let go for sure!

[glorbgorb]

As for autographs, I sold this Downey for about $2,500 around 2018. I'm still happy with that, given how little I paid for the sealed case I bought to attain it, but who knew a pandemic and the end of Tony Stark in the MCU coupled with him signing no more cards would make the price basically triple over the next couple of years after it had already tripled from what it was in the few years prior?

If it makes you feel any better, I was building this set when it was brand new. I picked up the RDJ auto for $180 or so. A few months later I got bored with the set and split it up. Someone offered me $250 for the RDJ auto. I thought sure, $70 profit for a few months of sitting in a box, why not?!?