Collectors Dashboard hopes that one day there will be more transparency in the collectibles space. Transparency is everything when every auction house and media outlet refers to collectibles as an alternative asset class. That is why it is so important for collectors who have been endlessly chasing down Wander Franco rookie cards to understand just how large of a population of cards they are really dealing with.
When the Topps 2022 Series 1 release was issued this year, the prices and auctions were insatiable for a base card. We have seen estimates of print runs of 750,000 cards or more for base set runs, although we have not seen any updates to those estimates and they could be much higher or lower. There are of course nearly countless parallels and variations of cards, let alone all the Topps Now! and other special issues that have since been released.
So what happens now with countless “mint” Franco rookie cards being sold at low prices and in larger lots also at low prices?
As of mid-April, we are getting to see the graded populations really rise as so many buyers and breakers were dead-set on getting those perfect PSA 10 and SGC 10 grades. The Wander Franco #215 base card grading statistics are likely only a fraction of what has been submitted or that is in line to be submitted very soon.
One card that was a total head-scratcher for the buy/sale on eBay was the very first PSA 10 of the 2022 Topps Series 1 Wander Franco #215 PSA 10 to hit the market. This was listed as the “First Ever Graded!” example and it commanded a $2,075.00 eBay auction price after 42 bids.
As of April 13, 2022 there are 431 total PSA graded base cards, with 274 at PSA 10 and 144 at PSA 9. The rest of the PSA population is nearing 300 cards for the parallel cards. SGC’s total base card has a population of 617 cards, with 158 at SGC 10 and 343 at GSC 9.5. SGC has graded 65 of the parallel cards as well.
Recent eBay sales of $39.99 (with free shipping) for a SGC 9.5 and $31.00 (plus $4.25 shipping) for a PSA 9 are not going to be worth the effort unless grading prices return to pre-pandemic pricing. A base PSA 10 did recently sell for $150.00, and some of the parallel prices have been much higher.
We have yet to look at other grading company statistics but it’s important to consider that the Topps Living Set, Topps Now and other editions have also been issued already in 2022. And then there are the pre-rookie cards. It all adds up to thousands of cards already graded and there are obviously hundreds of thousands of cards in the shadow population that can or will be graded in the months and years ahead. And let’s not forget that ungraded base cards are selling on eBay routinely for under $10.00 per card.
Here are some snapshots of the 2022 Topps #215 Wander Franco graded card populations. The first is PSA’s graded population and the second is SGC’s. We would remind readers that there is frequently a lag in the reporting of numbers and statistics.
