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Posted By: davidcycleback

For unusual/obscure items, many collectors want it to be recognized/identified by a respected hobby source before they pay good money. Perhaps because they have been burned before by dubious claims by sellers, they want a published source to list the item as legitimate. Recognized/identified can include being listed in a price guide, appearing in a major auction and being the subject of an article in a respected magazine. An item being sold in a REA auction, with description in the print catalog, is the equivalent to the item being listed/priced in a major price guide. The print catalog can be referenced just as the price guide can.

The majority of collectors are not full time experts, and consciously depend on price guides and related publications to see what is recognized as legitimate. They feel that these guides are a more reliable source of information than their own weekend collector experience. Whether or not a 2001 or 1925 card is listed in a price guide directly effects what they will buy. Once an item is listed in Beckett the demand will increase.