I still maintain the market is in a "Catch its Breath Mode". Lots of auctions and lots of quality have been absorbed in the past few months. Again, this is a great time to hunt bargains or pick up auction pieces against reduced competition from empty-pocket buyers. Are there gonna be spikes and en fuego pockets? Sure, but you can find some reasonable deals on main stream and unpopular issues as they take a further back seat.

+1 as to the opportunities available. Just as in coins, not all areas of the market will be in focus, i.e., "hot," at the same time. When a certain area is quiet, that is the time to buy. Demand inevitably comes around to rare and significant items.

Highest regards,

Larry

Precisely. Just as in the coin market, certain sections of the market will be in focus and therefore "hot," while others are quiet. An interesting analysis of the coin market's history and the ups and downs of various portions of it can be found in several of Q. David Bowers' books, one of the foremost experts in that collectibles field. My own study of the card and car markets is in accord. Things that are available in reasonably significant quantity will be cyclical, especially in ultra high grade. Those which are decidedly outright rare and significant (or "popular," if you wish to use Bowers' preferred term) appreciate in value in a much more linear fashion. The time to buy is when the latter segment is in a quiet phase, but determining what will be deemed rare and significant and significantly more valuable in the future is up to the individual collector. That comes through research into both baseball history and knowledge about what's out there in cards. Some of your choices will be right on, and some will not. Condition, the last factor in the value equation, is the easiest to determine.

May your collecting be joyful in any event,

Larry

Ruth Rookie
 

Whatever makes you sleep at night....

I share the philosophy of buying what I like.

Those who buy for investment value, all or in part, are fine too. [Makes for some interesting threads.] But, that would create stress for me and thus not worth it.

Appreciate the joyful comment very much. I get great joy from collecting and, believe it or not, from posting stuff on this board and sometimes getting my balls busted. It beats talking politics these days. I agree than its always some are up and some are down. I don't dabble in the deepest end of the pool by a long shot, but I do collect some nice 6s and 7s of Ruth and Gehrig and a few others. Goudeys, Caramels, nice Exhibits, rare strip cards. And I watch a lot of the other cards pretty carefully at least 1920-50. To my eye there has been a softening in demand for most of these cards. Not dramatic but noticeable. Looks at the Goudey 7s. Look at the rarer Gehrig cards (which I collect). Look at the CJs. I see at least a breather and more probably a genuine dip. I find the economics of the market to be pretty fascinating stuff, but I know to many of you it is anathema.

You gotta be kidding - right?

Maybe I bought them both...

This posts reminds me of one of those Thug Life videos. Haha


What a response!


Someone with photoshop needs to post both cards next to each other with the hat, the shades and the joint and these words.


https://shawglobalnews.files.wordpre...0&h=480&crop=1

This thread makes me miss Peter Chao.

Whenever I buy a card: purchase at a record price
Whenever I sell a card: market is flat

I know the feeling. I am equally good at buying stocks at all time highs.

They would go well with your T206 Cobb/Cobb lucky find cards.

+1

Has to make you wonder!

Hence why I no long collect cards :)

It's just human nature to buy into a rising market, rather than one that is quiet for the time being. I think Steve has selected some very good value Gehrigs for the longer term, as depicted in another current thread.

Best regards,

Larry

With all due respect to Lou, that one would have been at its very best a Good 2 (Mk), as it was certainly nowhere near a PSA 5 condition-wise, and was postally used, with a great deal of writing (and not Cobb's) on the back. Hardly a good comparison to the "5" which sold for $10,800+ in 2015, but I would call it a good, astute buy for the long term nonetheless (recently saw that a V351 Williams rookie in 1.5 Fair went for just $500 in a small auction--I would have snapped that one up to go with my Ex+ and considered it a steal for a long term hold had I seen it).

Regards,

Larry

This is the one which didn't go for $10,875.70.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3118/2...edc07b2f_o.jpg