Funding, Partnerships Shake Up Collectibles Industry

Good morning, Collectors.

Hat-tip to my dear Uncle Mark for passing along this WSJ article (paywalled) on a collectible we didn’t know existed: rare medical textbooks, a category which is expected to result in more than $26M in sales this decade. We were particularly fascinated by one collector who sold his Porsche 356B back in the 1960s for $2,500 in order to purchase a Flemish medical text printed in 1555. It sounds crazy, but a good condition 356B goes for $100K-$200K today, while that copy of De Humani Corporis Fabrica Libri Septem sold for $2.2M just last year. Not a bad return on a book with medical information that’s likely now out of date!

If you have access to the Journal, we recommend checking this piece out.

eBay and Facebook Partner Up

In news we’d categorize under “What Took You So Long?”, eBay and Meta announced a partnership yesterday, where eBay listings will be integrated into Facebook Marketplace for the first time. With Facebook Marketplace boasting more than 1.2B shoppers, nearly 10x the number that shop on eBay currently, you can expect more competition for that PSA 7 1989 Fleer Billy Ripken you’ve been eyeing.

Will Stern at cllct has the full story.

WhatNot Raises 💰 at $4.97B Valuation

Live shopping platform, WhatNot, announced they raised $265M in Series E funding, at a valuation of nearly $5B. The money, which brings the company’s total raised to-date to a whopping $746M (!!) will be used to push forward with international expansion, adding additional categories (e.g. vinyl) and employee stock buy-backs. (BTW- the most fun show on WhatNot is from our pal Buster, who auctions off mystery packs hiding hits like dinosaur bones and 90s junk wax. Our advice: join his next stream).

For more on the fundraise, TechCrunch has all of the details.

Heritage Auctions Boasts Banner Year

While 2024 was a mixed year in some categories, particularly fine art, at least one collectibles-focused auction house brought in record revenue. Dallas-based Heritage Auctions generated more than $1.8B in sales, the largest number in their nearly 50-year history. The two biggest sales also broke global records for their categories: Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz, which sold for $32.5M (the most ever for a piece of movie memorabilia), and Babe Ruth’s “called shot” jersey, which sold for $24.1M (now the record holder for a piece of sports memorabilia).

More here from Sports Collectors Daily.

The team at Mantel is sending love and prayers out to everyone impacted by the fires in Los Angeles. Mantel is headquartered in LA, and many members of our community and the collectibles industry live here and are suffering.

If you are so inclined, you can donate to the Red Cross’ relief efforts here. Every dollar helps. Stay safe out there.