Anyone remember prices when you started pre-war?

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Posted By: Mark L

Back around 1970 I started buying t206's through the mail from James T. Elder. Every couple of months he would send around a mimeograph covered on both sides with cards for sale. Commons were about 75 cents and hall of famers ranged from $1 to $2. There was no reference to condition back then and it ranged from poor to excellent.

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Posted By: Gilbert Maines

Dave F:
My recollection is that there were no enterpreneurs operating card shops until the seventies, and that effort was chaotic until the Sports Collectors Bible. And for quite some time thereafter. Becketts helped in the late 70s. And so did the hobby publications.
Of course, this is my microcosm.
But those early sellers wanted to push you into the Goudeys or t-206s which they had by the shovel full.
Gil

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Posted By: Fred C

Here's a thought. Does anyone remember buying stocks back around the 1999 - 2001 time frame. It was almost like you couldn't miss. You could buy a stock and in a few months your money could have quadrupled. Well, this is kind of like cards. If you bought vintage cards about 6 years ago or more, you got some pretty good deals on the stuff, relative to today. It really didn't matter what you bought back then, it's pretty much appreciated since that time. Those that got into the tougher issues that were like red headed step children (apologies to those that are actual red headed step children) did well. The caramel issues were collected but everyone wanted T206 and T205 because they were main stream. People were just catching on to the true rarity of the caramels. Those that were lucky (smart) enough to get in early have either cashed in or have some relatively inexpensive trade bait. The bottom line is that way back when this was a fun hobby that didn't require investment counseling or a lot of thought when it came down to plunking down a few bucks for something you really liked.

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Posted By: Anthony N.

I've got a copy of the Card Collectors Company catalog from March, 1965.
T206s .50 each, 10 for $4.00, all their choice. I bought from them about '72, and it wasn't uncommon to get a Bender or Brown or Chance. I got a Uzit back once. Condition stated in the '65 catalog was fair to good, and that was on the old standard.
Other prices: '52 High numbers, $1. '48 Bowman .25 '54 Bowman #66 Williams .75 (same as Piersall)

In Bruce Yeko's '68 catalog the following prices are listed:
'33 Goudey (very rare) $2. each The same price was listed for '52 Topps Hi's
'49 Leaf's were a buck, and it was estimated there were 85 cards in the set, but only the common 49 were offered.
'39-'41 PB $1
T201's $3
T206 .55 T205 .80 (their choice)

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Posted By: ItsOnlyGil

It is not only card prices which have gone up a lot since the 60s,
earnings have too.

It was not uncommon for the sole breadwinner to bring home $150/wk. at that time, and many did not. In 1965 I entered the workforce and was quite happy to secure a job with good benefits and a stable company at a compensation slightly greater than most of my fellow graduates, at $5000./yr.

So although card prices may seem inexpensive today when cited from old publications, please consider what a $20. bill really meant to a guy almost 50 years ago.