Posted By:
bruce Dorskind
1991 was certainly a challenging year for those who had invested
heavily in the more obstuse and eclectic early cards.
If one factors in inflation and the impact of grading on the
$5000 card in 1991, the equivalent card today sells for $20-25,000.
The number of collectors and/or investors who actively pursue
cards at this level remains small, at best.
The competition may be fierce for certain items. Major auction houses
may boast about record prices, but the actual number of different "realistic"
bidders on the most desirable 19th century pieces rarely exceeds four people.
Our best guess is that of the 8 gentlemen who were willing and able
to acquire cards at the 5K level in 1991, only five are actively in
the market today. There are still less than 20 individuals with both
the resources and the interest to spend $20,000 or more on any one
19th century item.
If one traces performance of individual 19th century items at the top
6 or 7 auction houses over the past decade, it is clear tprices
continue to flucuate wildy. The market is thin and fickle. Collectors
and investors entering this market should be prepared for said
market behavior.
Bruce Dorskind
America's Toughest Want List