Non-Sports card show

Beckett Grading has attended card shows for 10 years now. Some shows like the National we set up and encapsulate cards on-site. Other shows we will have graders on-site and offer raw card review (RCR) and graded card review (GCR.) Every appearance BGS offers the opportunity for you to drop off your cards in person, saving you time and money. On May 2nd, BGS will be on-site at the 50th Philly Non-Sport show in Allentown, PA. This long-running non-sport show will feature dealers specializing in non-sport cards as well as some great sketch card artists like Sean Pence and NAR! Card manufacturers like Breygent and Rittenhouse will also be in attendance. Beckett Grading will be on-site to answer questions about grading and to take your submissions. Are you in the Allentown area? Submit your cards to us now and pick them up at the show! Contact Joe Clemons for details at jclemons@beckett.com or 972-448-9144. For more information about the show, please visit www.reightershows.com

Non-sport cards and autographs

If you are a fan of TTM (through the mail) autographs, you already know what it is like finding cards suitable for sending away to be signed. There are many options out there. You know a major league ball player will have a nice selection of cards to choose from but what about an actor or celebrity? Voice talent? How about an artist? Chances are they may have a trading card issued in a non-sport card set. Sets like the Donruss Americana series and Topps “throwback” sets like Allen & Ginter are a great place to start your search for celebrity cards. But don’t overlook the vintage!

I have a nice 1977 Mork and Mindy card signed by Robin Williams and a 1978 Welcome back Carter card of John Travolta nicely signed. These cards look great. They are on vintage cardboard stock that take autos well and once they are authenticated by JSA, they are easily encapsulated in a holder. Modern non-sport base cards can be real cheap. Want to get Casey Kasem through the mail? How about sending a Shaggy card from one of the many Scooby Doo sets over the last few years?

Need Peter Tork to finish off your Monkees collection? The 1967 Donruss Monkees cards are great to get signed and will cost you only a few dollars. These 2 celebrities may be somewhat obscure but they serve as examples of the wide range of options out there for autograph collectors.

Cards are also easy to mail. A simple top loader in an envelope and you are not out any additional postage, saving you on your SASE as well.

The cool thing about getting non-sport cards signed is that they fit right in with your card collection. You don’t have to worry with oversized holders for notecards or ball cubes for baseballs, just simple top loaders.

- Andy Broome, BGS Grading

Ask BGS

Q: I submitted an order a few weeks ago under your 45 day service. I received conformation from the post office that the order arrived three days after I sent it but I have not received the normal conformation email from Beckett. Is there a problem with my order?

A: A great question that we have received several times over the last few weeks. Due to a large quantity of orders that have come in recently, our 20 and 45 day services are taking a little longer to be entered in our system then normal. Our goal is to get each order we receive entered within a week (this is for 10,20, and 45-day orders) but due the shows in March and baseball season starting up, our submissions have really grown. This is why we highly recommend each customer getting a tracking number to make sure their order was delivered. If you select one of our slower services, this will give you the piece of mind that your order is in our hands.

Although it may take a few weeks for your order to show up online, your service level will start the first business day after receipt so don't be worry, your service level begins when your order arrives, not when it is entered in our system.

Hawaii Trade Show Conference-Florida Edition starts next week!

If you’re a sports collectible retailer, make sure you register for this year's Hawaii Trade Conference/Mainland Edition before the discounted rate for retailers disappears. You have until Monday at midnight EST to sign up and save. And don't forget to purchase an additional registration for only $199.

Hotel Reminder: You'll also want to reserve your room at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, the host venue for this year's event. The deadline to book rooms at the special discounted rate for conference attendees is Friday.

Card companies always provide conference attendees with some special keepsakes. This year, Upper Deck is providing attendees of the company’s Meet the Industry program with some truly rare cards! Each attendee will receive one random triple or quadruple autograph card of star players from a variety of sports.

"These shops are making the investment to improve their business, so we think it's only right to invest in providing them with a rare item they can take back to share with their customers" said Chris Carlin, Upper Deck's hobby marketing manager. "We have put together some amazing cards that are sure to get the entire industry talking by using autographs from such exclusive signers as Derek Jeter, Ken Griffey Jr., LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and more."

Plus, NFL prospect Ian Johnson, former Boise State running back, will sign autographs at this year's opening reception on Monday, April 20.