93-09 Cricket Card Price Guide!

Mamboblue72

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mamboblue72
Cricket Card Price Guide 2009

In producing this guide a number of assumptions need to be made:
- All cards are considered to be in mint condition,
- This is not a retail guide and therefore there is a certain amount of swing either way,
- A card is only worth what some one will pay for it.

The scope is from 1993 to 2009 and takes in at least 5 manufacturers.
This guide has been compiled with the help of a number of Oz Card Forum Members although a lot of the comment are simply my opinion and, I suspect, open to much discussion.
So thankyou to Brad, Liam, Ron, Tim, Wayne, with indirect help from Steve and Ivan! I will distribute the full list of card values, to those mentioned above, shortly.


Select 2008/9

The second of two low quality, low production cost, sets from, essentially, a football card producer. Strangely, the relative low number of inserts saw the prices at relatively high levels before a sharp drop recently, with the Foil Signature inserts slipping to $2 each with the Past heroes averaging $7. The Allan Border Medallists Sketch cards fared a little better with average value of $17 leading to the question, is there a place for sketch cards in a sports card market? The 7 Oversize sketch card set should be rare enough to maintain its value however the lack of a “superstar signature” as a redemption will likely see the sketch cards value decrease over time and not increase.
The 12 card signature set of the up and comers or lower stars is a decent set and rare enough to remain comparatively valuable at around the $40 mark. It is interesting however that 2 of the signatures were via redemption and the redemption card was replaced by and not returned with the signature card causing a dilemma for those collecting master sets and could see the redemption being more valuable over time that the signature!
Essentially this has filled a hole in the market and seems to be just an after thought to keep the Select Employees busy in between football card issues.

Select 2007/8

This set signalled the return to cricket cards for select after 9 years and although promising it fell some way short of the 1998/9 series. The Signatures are rare enough and of decent quality to increase in value however the large number of inserts make the set difficult to complete. The Holofoil Set is expensive to put together and doesn’t show any value in its completion with an average of $60 for a 120 card set. The World Cup Hat trick set have a relatively small production run yet only average out at $7 each and perplexingly the Man Of The Match Cards have Twice the production run and are worth $1 more on average, I know there are more cards on release but are you sure that a WC42 is worth less than a MTM1 when there is half as many of them?
Obviously there is movement with in the Insert sets as WC13 Shane Warne would be worth more than WC23 Brad Hogg? (Apologies to Mr Hogg).
The great disappointment in the set is the Honours Awards cards, raising only $10 ea and yet they are 5 times harder to get than a World Cup Hat trick Card. Even the Elite XI cards from Futera 94/95 are more valuable and there are 3500 of each.
The Big winner in this set is the only numbered insert select has produced in a cricket card. The Triple Crown Card averaged $45, which shows that there is a place for numbered continuous insert sets in cricket that matches the already successful numbered insert sets from their AFL series.

ESP IKON 2004/5

A strange decision from ESP to try and do away with the Box and Packet format and therefore remove all the fun of looking for special cards. A complete pre packed limited edition set also makes all the commons inserts and all the inserts commons! So why do the Triple Centurion Cards average more than the 200 club or the awards or Young gun cards? There is only 500 of each anyway. Building this set from scratch is pure folly and could end up costing at least twice as much as the current going price. As such this set should be considered in a different category from conventional chase card sets and maybe can be compared to the 2003 ACB Platinum Set. The Mix of signatures is broad but so are the valuations and yet there are more of these than most of the 2003/4 signatures.

ESP 2003/4

It seems that this set was not well received by the public and yet has some strangely undervalued signatures. Even now the current Test vice captain Michael Clarke is valued at $25 and has the same production run of 1000 as the Futera 94/95 signatures that routinely draw over $75. Does a redemption card and certificate increase the value by 200%? Interestingly this same card is valued at a similar price to the 2004/5 ESP series and there were 500 less issued. The first two insert sets, World Cup and Awards have little value, and may as well be considered as base cards, the red Moment cards, Tribute cards and the rarely seen case cards fare much better but the real value is in the Ponting and McGrath signature cards. The Banker card of this set is the redemption card in replacement of an Andrew Symonds signature. Interestingly the rear of the card has a box ticked and an area for your name and address for the replacement sig to be sent to. Ironically these cards are valued more than the Signature itself (strange parallel to symonds’ career) although there is no information on production run. The relatively small number of boxes meant that 1 in every 2 boxes would spew forth either a Bracken or a Clarke signature. As each signature should have an embossed seal and it is the top card in the pack, it made it easy to feel which packs had the signature, so beware of buying loose packs in bulk. Back to the old days when packs were weighed to find the inserts!!

2003 ACB Platinum

A solid set that also dispenses with the box and packet chase format, for a special box approach. A nice set that brings up all the arguments from the 2004/5 ESP set and more, you have to handle the cards to view them and if you put them in the album the box is obsolete! The Signatures are again issued in greater numbers than other sets and yet the fetch a similar price.

Topps 2002

A strange set that filled a hole in the market from a company with a long history in the industry. They simply should have done better. All the inserts resemble base cards and despite their relatively lows numbers they are not all that valuable when compared to other sets. An international Graduates card (420 issued) is valued the same as a Futera 94/95 Memories card (5000 issued) despite being twice as hard to find and ten times rarer in number.
The signatures however, show that Topps did know what they were doing as they produced sharp designs, good quality and relatively rare editions. Then the Masterstroke, the first Game Used cricket card to enter the market which will always be valuable, not because of what it is but it is the only card close to being a Gilchrist signature. Topps also issued the safest bet for cricket cards, a Bradman tribute, which brings the question, did they have to pay royalties, after the great man’s passing.

Topps 2000

The first foray into the strange cricket market for Topps and as with the 2002 set it seemed that there was no inserts as you almost certainly get a complete set from each box. The vacuum caused by select’s decision not to produce a set dragged Topps in and it seems they rushed the final product, The Rookie Signatures very highly speculative and in Corey Richards case not even finished courtesy of a broken finger. The big question of this set surrounds the production run with little or no information as to how many signatures were released. Brad Haddin’s signature is the only one of the rookie 12 that has any value now yet it has probably peaked at about $25 with the rest fetching $10-$15 each. Glenn McGrath is the star signature of course and the added bonus if you happen to have a red signature, as it is said to be the rarest of the 3 pen colours that he used to sign his cards. Curiously we know nothing of the percentage of each colour of even how many signatures were produced; maybe it was his little joke to change pens when nobody was looking. The only way to be sure it to have one of each colour!

Select Retail 98/99

Selects’ 2nd set in 2 years and issued in conjunction with the exclusive Hobby set. I will deal with each set separately but the cards are essentially the same. The Retail set by itself is nothing special and starts a formula that will be repeated by select in years to come. A simple format and low issue inserts should mean an increase in value but perplexingly there are some strange aberrations. For instance Steve Waugh World Class (950 cards issued) was valued at $12 and the Steve Waugh Record Breaker (1950 cards issued) was valued at $13? Who set the price on these cards?
This set represents the last time we will see international players in the make up of an Australian Cricket set, and how sad it is. Apparently the players and player’s agents are at fault and they have their hands out for payment for the use of their images.
The Advantage of the set is Select have brought their signature format over from their AFL Cards and the Shield Standouts are numbered rookie cards and form a good quality set averaging about $30 each. The big ticket items are the Neil Harvey Invincibles signature and the rarely seen Sir Donald Bradman signature card, both still able to be redeemed as the boxes are still for sale and are the only reason to buy a box now.

Select Hobby 98/99

It is hard to say weather this set was folly or a masterstroke from Select. In releasing a high quality, limited edition issue in conjuction with a more affordable release it seems they were taking a gamble on the chrome and gold foil cards and the appeal of the Legend Signatures. The fact that there are boxes, and even cases, of these still for sale makes me think that the $10 packet price was too exclusive no matter how good the cards look, ultimately the gamble failed.
Never the less, this still remains the pinnacle (sorry couldn’t resist) of Select’s card issues and the gold set is next to impossible to complete. Only 384 sets are able to be put together, requiring at least 5 boxes to do it. Therefore these sets are rarer than the 2003 ACB Platinum or the 2004/5 ESP set and they retailed for $600. What price for a complete gold set then? As a base set the chrome version is impressive as are the inserts even though they are the chrome versions of the retail set but rarer. It is obviously aimed at the true collector and requires the highest commitment not to mention lots of cash.
The real masterpiece is the 14 Signatures, the 12 legends ($110+) mirror the images in the base set and look great. The Super Star signatures ($225+) are extremely rare yet still make you think before you shell out $250 for a box. It is strange that these cards do not go for more than we have here, as there is only 150 of each issued compared to the Futera 94/95 of 1000 issued.
This sets biggest problem is that it might just be too exclusive, but this remains a real collectors set!

Select 97

I’m sure Select thought they were on a winner when they took over from Futera’s unfortunate demise, and in an attempt to impress the threw everything but the kitchen sink into this set. 4 Insert sets, Box Cards, Case cards, a partnership card, 3 groups of signatures and the almost impossible to obtain, Shane Warne Showtime redemption card. As a result it is a great set to chase but, practically impossible to complete.
With the inclusion of our Southern Hemisphere brothers, NZ and SA, there is a lot more to like about this set. The Ashes Heroes ($20) and Australian Captains cards ($35) are wonderfully rare and will hold their value, unlike the Parallels and strike rates that look ok but don’t rate well. With the Bradman card fetching more than twice the other captain cards
Again Select’s Signatures are very rare with 1 per case on average and you would much rather a Steve Waugh or Neil Harvey that a Gillespie. If you opened 7 cases and didn’t get a Showtime Redemption you could be considered unlucky however it is twice as easy to find that the mythical Futera Shane Warne signature hat trick card.

Futera Decider 1996

I won’t comment too much on the Futera cards as it has been adequately covered in ‘The Futera File’, however it must have been difficult to complete this set with two issues, and minor differences between sets. There is a lot of rare and confusing cards to cloud the issue and we see the first Acetate card in a cricket set.
The highlight is the tribute to one Stephen Rodger Waugh with 10 cards celebrating his contribution to Australian Cricket (20 if you include certificates and redemption cards) With the embossed First Day Issue cards bringing $50 and the signed versions at around the $200 mark.

1996 World Cup Edition

A good simple to complete set that ticks all the boxes. Reasonably rare inserts, many international stars, Star Tributes to Boon and Richardson, and completed by a signature from the Best One Day Batsman of the time. All in all a good set.

1996 Futera Elite

Another simple set aimed at the higher end of the market, which included the famed Impact Redemption Card. Two insert sets, the impact card $700, and one of the best cricket signatures every produced (Lillee/Marsh $450), helped to make this a high quality set.

1995/96 Futera

This Monster release of 22500 boxes is a case of quantity above quality. Two insert sets of 7000, Supreme Team $4, and 4500 Bat 2 Ball $6, meant you had a fairly good chance of getting them all if you bought enough packets but ultimately they aren’t worth much. The rarest of all Australian cricket cards is the previously mention Shane Warne Signature Hat Trick which turned up 1 in every 6000 packets or 1 in every 150 boxes and are valued as such, well over $600. We also see signatures of the Chappells and Blewett worth more, $115, than the 2003 ikon sigs of Ponting, despite the fact there was 250 more issued. Would the ESP Ikon Sigs be more valuable if the had redemptions and certificates?

1994/95 Futera Ashes Heroes Boxed Set

Very little play in this set as it is complete in a bice box and can still draw $50+ with the addition of another $40 if the McDermott Man of the Series is included. Great Production value that hasn’t been seen since.

1994/95 Futera

This will always be known as the follow up set that included a release of 20000 boxes, 3 insert sets, a hat trick card, a disastrous hologram card and a signature set of Australian players of the time, with its own checklist.
The high release number of these signatures, 1000, would suggest that they are not all that valuable, but the fact is they are and consistently bring in between $80-$100. Michael Slater’s Signature card should rate higher as a broken thumb stopped him from signing the final 300 cards, but they seem to be valued the same as his colleagues and considerably more than any other Signature with a release over 500.

1993/94 Futera

These will remain the first highly commercial cricket card set (with out bubble gum) issued in modern times. The inserts remain valuable despite the fact that they were issued in parallel sets and numbered the same. All inserts, the Awards, Freshman and Memories, hover around the $20 mark with more for the Hat trick and Warne freshman cards. The 3 redemptions (again new to the Australian Market) were the jewels here and still hold their value, and in the case of the Border Gold Seal (50 cards only), at over $3000, will appreciate well in the future. The Border and Bradman redemptions still fetch $150 and $100 respectively despite their relatively high issue numbers of 450 and 1000.

In Conclusion

Overall the cricket card market in Australia seems to be small when compared to the football codes and microscopic when compared to the American industry. In saying that there is very little competition to promote any growth for the future. With Select controlling the current market, there is no reason to think they will do anything to improve the standard of their cricket series. I do not look forward to the new issue, which is expected later this year!
Rumours have been circulating of Futera UK’s return to the market with an international series, if this turns out to be true it will be interesting to see the production quality, price and the subsequent value this set will bring.
It seems of late that the older sets are starting to show their value, but I will let the experts bring their considerable knowledge to bear on that subject. So to, the many intelligent people that collect cigarette cards from the early 20th century.
So thanks again to all involved and it has been a fun exercise putting this guide together!
Dan

PS if you want a blank checklist of all sets please email me on [email protected]
The completed lists will be sent to those who sent their valuations in.
 
Great work Dan...some interesting information there!!

---------- Post added at 03:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:19 PM ----------

Will you be listing the full price guides here?? (Even just the checklists!!)

Something like that could potentially make OCT the home of Cricket Card collecting.... certainly in Australia if not the world.
 
No worries mate, I'm sourcing a folder for that holofoil set, were there official albums did you know?
 
Awesome synopsis Dan - hats off mate, you've done a terrific job here.

Well done!

Brad
 
great read there mate. you have put some serious effort into that. maybe into the future with the help of forum users you could add to this and even make it into some sort of book, kinda like the futera file but covering all brands.
again, awesome work.
 
:thumbsup:Well Dan where does one start !!..... your time, effort and the efforts of those who contributed should be appreciated by all.

We are all here as we share the love of collecting cricket cards but when someone puts there hand up to assist others, without any financial gain, then I simply bow to you. The time that you (and others) spent to collate this list is substantial and I fully appreciate that it takes you away from family and all those other things one could be doing.

A huge :thumbsup: from me and I am sure that I speak for all when I say your a true gentleman and thanks for captaining this project which is of benefit to us all !!

On the Futera note, I have been playing email games for over 6 months with Futura UK and they have advised that there is a 2009/2010 release on the books due to the demand, especially from Australia. " Our objective is to create a Cricket Collection as part of our schedule for 2009/2010 so it is perhaps timely that you should be contacting us, particularly as we are seeing a developing demand from Australian collectors" They are currently marketing there World Football Online Game Card Collection and its popularity is huge so when it is up and running, they will come back to me in regards to the plans.... Will keep you posted on there responses !

Thanks again for all your efforts ! :D
Cheers Damian
 
Awesome summary Dan! Excellent work with it all :D, can't wait to see a completed list!

Will you be listing the full price guides here?? (Even just the checklists!!)
Something like that could potentially make OCT the home of Cricket Card collecting.... certainly in Australia if not the world.

With people like Dan and others on board, I think that OCT is already the home of cricket card collecting (correct me if I'm wrong). As for listing the price guide it would then allow someone to copy all of Dan's hardwork in collating it all, and then use it on another forum or as there own...

I think Dan is going to be setting up a thread so people can ask "what is the price of this cricket card..."

Once again Dan, great work :v:
 
Thanks Guys!! It has been fun doing it, as Liam said i won't publish it but will send it to all the participants! We can Post a Price thread and anyone can jump in regardless of whether they have the guide or not!
All the best to all of you!
Dan
 
Awesome work Dan, so much effort but im sure you came up with a great result.
Quick question, how much you value the Select Retail 98/99 Bradman auto /50 for?
 
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