Question from a new collector

[Klobo]

What makes a programme rare, or more valuable than others?

[Wullie]

Not an easy question as may seem. A programme can be rare because it is very old, or had a low print run. That does not make it necessarily valuable.
A valuable programme could be quite common, but has a high amount of collectors ie FA Cup Finals or certain clubs . Put the two together, a scarce item and collectability and you are talking big bucks.

[nozer]

Wullie wrote:

Not an easy question as may seem. A programme can be rare because it is very old, or had a low print run. That does not make it necessarily valuable. A valuable programme could be quite common, but has a high amount of collectors ie FA Cup Finals or certain clubs . Put the two together, a scarce item and collectability and you are talking big bucks.

Spot on Wull.

[The SFC Chris]

Exactly right - many non-league programmes from decades ago are extremely rare - but then how many people collect, say, Leigh RMI programmes, so the price stays low.

[Jake]

Wullie's pretty much hit the nail on the head. In addition, there's also the minefield of postponed games. Single sheet/emergency issues may have been hurriedly put together for the rearranged games and/or an update insert/wraparound issued with the original programme. I'm no expert, but I'm sure I've read on this forum that there are some pretty insanely rare Burnley and Crewe programmes of this nature.

There's also the old chestnut, which remains true, that a programme is worth however much somebody is willing to pay for it. A relatively "mundane" league fixture may be needed by, say, 2 or more people to complete that season/set and a bidding war could ensue between the interested parties and the programme could sell for much higher than expected. This is what anyone who lists a programme on Ebay hopes for...

It's just one aspect of what makes the hobby so fascinating.

[Klobo]

Thanks for all your replies.

Is there anything you suggest I look out for when buying, other than obviously being in good condition?

[Wullie]

Klobo wrote:

Thanks for all your replies. Is there anything you suggest I look out for when buying, other than obviously being in good condition?

Who do you follow ?

[Klobo]

Norwich

[Wullie]

well is guess you would want to collect their programmes. They are one of those clubs who's programmes seem to fetch a good price. ie the 40s 50s and anything pre war of course. Personally i would go for homes from these years and programmes from the 1962 league cup winning season ( don't pay the "buy it now " prices on ebay. Cost you a fortune, but should never lose their value and could increase over time.

[Klobo]

Wullie wrote:

well is guess you would want to collect their programmes. They are one of those clubs who's programmes seem to fetch a good price. ie the 40s 50s and anything pre war of course. Personally i would go for homes from these years and programmes from the 1962 league cup winning season ( don't pay the "buy it now " prices on ebay. Cost you a fortune, but should never lose their value and could increase over time.

Do you suggest just sticking to homes? And what makes reserve programmes so valuable on eBay?

[Jake]

Klobo wrote:

Do you suggest just sticking to homes? And what makes reserve programmes so valuable on eBay?

Personal preference really, some collectors move on to collecting aways when they've collected all or most of their club's homes and the collecting itch still needs to be scratched.

My guess is that reserves are higher because they tended to be single sheet or 4-pagers and thus less likely to survive over time. Plus, many of them will have included future first team heroes and are collected for the historical interest.

[Wullie]

Reserve team programmes are a strange thing. Most one team collectors will collect their teams home and aways for as far back as funds allow. Once they have every copy of each game, they tend to look for postponed games, friendlies, reserve games, youth games and representative games played on home soil. As not so many programmes ( often teamsheets) will have been produced, they can command high prices.
Conversely, you will find pre war reserve programmes are normally the same in size as a first team game, and yet will sometimes sell for less than half the price of a 1st team programme.
So you often find a situation when a crumpled teamsheet from 1970 can fetch far more money than a 16 page reserve programme in excellent condition from 1930.

[Senior82]

Wullie wrote:

Reserve team programmes are a strange thing. Most one team collectors will collect their teams home and aways for as far back as funds allow. Once they have every copy of each game, they tend to look for postponed games, friendlies, reserve games, youth games and representative games played on home soil. As not so many programmes ( often teamsheets) will have been produced, they can command high prices. Conversely, you will find pre war reserve programmes are normally the same in size as a first team game, and yet will sometimes sell for less than half the price of a 1st team programme. So you often find a situation when a crumpled teamsheet from 1970 can fetch far more money than a 16 page reserve programme in excellent condition from 1930.

This is a good description of me right now. I have just about all the Sheffield Wednesday stuff I can reasonably obtain without a nice windfall. However I still nosy around and reserves/neutral games etc are a cheap way of keeping me bidding on things

What sort of collection do you have Klobo? The thing I would recommend is to work out what you want to collect - you might decide to collect say every Norwich programme from a certain year onwards - maybe just home games at first, then maybe the away fixtures too.

I think as long as you collect what you are genuinely interested in and have a passion for it will be worthwhile

[Wullie]

A common example
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BURN.....4600ffd963

[speedykev]

Another example
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2209.....1423.l2649