VHS/Beta: First Appearances by L E Collectibles- Project M52 (E Sarezky)
Many collectors of VHS and BETA have a common goal: to see their chosen collectibles follow the same trajectory as similar hobby verticals like sports cards and comic books, which have seen skyrocketing popularity in recent years. So, just what makes for the most valuable baseball cards? Well, there’s the T-206 Honus Wagner, of course
Images courtesy of goldin.coImages courtesy of goldin.co
How about something fun like the Billy Ripken F*** Face Error? By the way, much love to the teammate who wrote that on his bat before his big picture moment. Google it if you aren’t familiar with the story. Cards like that are super cool, but that’s just a hilariously flagrant factory error. See, cards chugging along on rarity or gimmicks are noteworthy and the stuff of legend in their own rights- but they only account for a tiny fraction of the market. There is a much larger force at play driving the values of these markets.
There are supposedly less than 100 of those in existence, because ol’ Honus didn’t want his picture on a tobacco card. Apparently, Saint Honus didn’t want kids trying cancer sticks. We all know that’s probably horse-pucky (always wanted to write that) and there was probably just an image rights dispute about money. Either way, that card’s value is built on rarity and legend. Seven figures worth. So, THAT is certainly not a standard that we can replicate.
We can do much better if we are trying to pinpoint a value source that we can eplicate in some way for Graded VHS and BETA. So, what’s the cream of the crop? Oh, wait! Hold on, I have it!I know the card that represents the hobby; effectively the poster-boy of baseball cards. How ‘bout the 1952 Mickey Mantle? Yes, NOW we are onto something. Just why is that card so prized, even though it is relatively common when compared to some of its contemporary counterparts?
Well, Ethan, it IS recognized as Mickey Mantle’s ROOKIE CARD...
BINGO! That’s the ticket, as Jon Lovitz would say!The Rookie Card, just like its counterpart in comic books, the “First Appearance”, is the core of collecting and each market’s first true organic value source. Unfortunately, home media doesn’t have a rookie card or a first appearance, you say. However, you are quite wrong. Insanely wrong, even. Stop being so wrong!
Here’s the deal: we already have rookies and first appearances in VHS and BETA.
“We do?”, you ask.
“Critters 3”, I say, and smugly lean back with a satisfied smile on my face. I lean back too far however, and my chair slips. I play it off and act like I meant to do it.
What about Critters 3?
Critter 3 image courtesy of ebay
It wasn’t a particular good film, or even a particularly scary horror movie. It wasn’t even released in theaters- seeing a direct-to-video release in 1991.
It also may be the most desirable VHS tape that you aren’t hunting for yet.
Why is that?
Critters 3 marks the first film appearance of Leonardo DiCaprio: in effect this is his rookie. That changes the way one looks at a VHS copy of this early 90s, B horror movie. No longer is it simply the straight-to-video, third installment of a third-tier horror franchise- it is a video record of the acting debut of the most notable actor of the last 30 years. Not bad, right?
Now imagine that we apply that concept to all targets worthy of collecting: Kobe Bryant, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Tupac Shakur, Will Smith, Adam Sandler... Tupac!
The concept here is simple to apply. We identify and recognize the cameos and first appearances of famous actors, celebrities, athletes, directors and other collectible figures. Their first forays into film become infinitely more interesting, sought after and even potentially valuable once recognized as “First Appearances” and graded as such by a reputable company- oh, I don’t know, like maybe...Rewind Grading.
Rookies in VHS
Rookie: Cameo
The pool of potential high-interest Rookies includes two types of film debuts:
Uncredited first appearance, U6 Role, first appearance under an alias, first appearances as an extra, non-film rookie (tv movies, documentaries)
There had to be a place for VHS to turn once the hobby ran out of “I like this movie” and “This one’s rare, too”. There are only so many first prints, MCA wraparounds and Paramount Gatefolds to go around. Therefore, this article and the Rewind Grading Company represent the advent of the VHS rookie, which may be where the hobby turns for a respite from the exhausting search for the one big score on Ebay.
The fun of the Rookie hunt gives collectors a unique new direction. Collectors will enjoy a terrific chase across the internet to find these newly sought-after titles. This change in perception will revolutionize VHS collecting strategies, suddenly making a huge pool of previously overlooked tapes into collection centerpieces.
VHS is an exciting new market, and a bit amorphous as it is still forming. A new niche of first appearance collecting provides the direction and structure that creates new entrants. Identifying these first appearances also makes it more easily understandable and may generate immense interest in the hobby, collectible community, auction houses and even the media.
Guys and gals, this is not only logical, but a damn good time. Who doesn’t love a treasure hunt? It’s time that we recognized that people pay seven figures for Spiderman’s first appearance and can’t even name Stan Lee’s!!
(The Ambulance, 1990).
So, enjoy the Rookie Project launch and see if you can get your hands on one or two to grade at Rewind! I wish you the best of luck, and most of all I hope you have as much fun as I did when I bought my first “Critters 3”.
And for my grandmother Boppy’s sake, stop seeing a “Third Critters” and start seeing a
