T206 anniversary
 

Out of curiosity, did anyone notice via observation (card shows, on this board, etc) or actual tracking of data an increase in popularity, demand and interest in the T206s during its 100 year anniversary last year? I have been somewhat out of the loop due to financial issues, but recall remembering in 08 some excitement around the anniversary with the expectation of increased interest in the set. i know topps made a set to commemorate the anniversary.

thanks in advance

Several years ago I thought it would be a huge deal, I thought wrong. The first T206 set by Topps, issued in 05 or 06 took care of what I thought would be a spike in price and the anniversery slipped by like a ship in the night.

I thought Topps did their first 206 set in 2002. The newest one was kind of the same. Actually, it was far more inconsequential, as at least the 2002 Topps 206 set offered buybacks of the original 1909-11 cards.

I thought it was 05 or 06 but didn't buy any so have no idea, but a decent spike in prices seemed to take place in 05-06 and I thought that was why but looks like I was wrong.

You're right... it did spike around that time. Not sure why, though. When eBay first came around, card prices in general were low. In 2000-2001, though, you didn't see that many graded cards. Maybe 1 in 5 cards were graded at that time, or less.

Now, 1 in 5 or less are ungraded, particularly with pre-WW2 cards. Even though no PSA 2 ever looks alike, all of a sudden, it's worth so much more because of a number, a slab and a bar code.

I think the spike has to do with the popularity of the grading system.

The T206 anniversary set product has sold well actually, but as far as affecting original T206 prices I'm unsure. I buy quite a few original T206s and the prices look the same to me as last year before the anniversay set came out.

Hope this helps

Jantz

i expected more commemoration of the set, specifically by auctioneers and during the bigger card shows (e.g. national). Were there any written articles (or any press) on the anniversary?

Beckett baseball magazine had two full page ads in at least one maybe two issues really pumping this product. I think there had to be other exposure also, probably on websites, because this product dried up quick.

I don't think it helped any that the economy tanked right before and during the big anniversary, if anything prices were down from the previous years or atleast that is how it seemed.

agreed
 

I agree with Johnny :). When the economy went down far less folks have/had discretionary income. Many of those that did/do have it tightened their belts too. I am not sure if anything would have made the cards go up during this time. (except the very rare and high end ones, which seemed less affected) regards