1996 Marvel Masterpieces Double Impact Wolverine/Venom - Graded BGS 9.5 Gem Mint

Set: 1996 Marvel Masterpieces

Company: Fleer/Skybox
Type: Insert/Chase - Double Impact
Character: Wolverine/Venom
Grading Company: BGS (Beckett Grading Services)
Grade: 9.5 Gem Mint
Status: Personal Collection

I've been eyeing this card for a while but it was owned by a private collector who had no intent on selling.  So I did my best to buy the card raw and have it graded by Beckett...to no avail.  I had three different cards graded BGS 9.0 and each one either had slight corner wear or chipping issues on the edges.  Besides the three that were sent to Beckett, there were countless more that didn't make the cut.

The Wolverine/Venom Double Impact card is one of the most common of the insert set, with the other being Storm/Spider-Man.  About two years ago, it was easy to find one for under $30, sometimes even under $25.  However, prices have jumped in the last 6 months.  Even in the last 4 months, Wolverine/Venom Double Impact cards have regularly sold between $50-$70, even as high as $80!

So because of the price increase, I had to rethink my strategy.   In addition, sellers on EBay have been less likely to provide me with close-up pictures of their cards.  I even had to return two cards that were described as Mint/Near-Mint but had creases and other major flaws.  It was very disappointing.

Luckily, I didn't have to think very hard (or at all).  The same private collector ended up having to sell his collection due to personal reasons.  I missed out on some other graded cards I had been coveting but snagged his Wolverine/Venom card for a price reasonable to the both of us.  Three down...three more to go!

1993 X-Men 30 Years Gold Foil Wolverine - Graded BGS 9.5 Gem Mint

Set: 1993 X-Men Series 2
Company: Skybox
Type: Insert/Chase - 30 Years Gold Foil Stamp
Character: Wolverine
Grading Company: BGS (Beckett Grading Services)
Grade: 9.5 Gem Mint
Status: SOLD

Skybox celebrated thirty years of X-Men by releasing a gold foil insert set with the X-Men Series 2 cards.  The nine card set was made up of Cyclops, Storm, Rogue, Cable, Professor X, Wolverine, Magneto, Juggernaut, and the Sentinels.  They were inserted at a rate of about 2-3 per box.  I sold two Wolverine BGS 9.5's - one about two years and another just this last month.  Below is a picture of the card from the latest sale.

1992 Marvel Masterpieces Battle Spectra Etch Wolverine vs Sabretooth - Graded BGS 9.5 Gem Mint

Set: 1992 Marvel Masterpieces
Company: Skybox
Type: Insert/Chase - Battle Spectra Etch
Character: Wolverine vs Sabretooth
Grading Company: BGS (Beckett Grading Services)
Grade: 9.5 Gem Mint
Status: SOLD

In 1992, Skybox came out with a "premium" line of comic trading cards with artwork done by Joe Jusko.  The beautiful art captivated many non-sport collectors and had them seeking the spectra-etched chase cards inserted randomly in packs.  The set, however, was over-produced although gem mint quality cards are still hard to come by.  The battle spectra cards were prone to edge wear and corner dents during the production process although surface and centering issues were rare.  This card was pulled from an unopened box I purchased in the early 2000's.  I submitted it to Beckett in the fall of 2012 and the card was graded gem mint.  It was then sold to a collector a month later.