T206 HOF Back Multiplier: Middleground?
 

Although this topic has been discussed, I have to ask...

Why not have a happy middle? I'd think one could cut the regular multiplier in half and get a fairly adequate idea of how the HOF cards could be valuated.

I'm painfully biased as I have a couple semi-sorta-kinda-rare backs (Old Mill, Sovereign, Sweet Cap. Fact 42, Sweet Cap Overprint). Among them a Walter Johnson PSA 2.5, Nap Lajoie Portrait PSA 3 and a Christy White Cap PSA 5 (along with others). According to the regular multiplier the values go up to x1.8 if they were commons, but x0 if they are HOFers.

Surely the market would command a small premium for HOF semi-sorta-kinda rare backs? If I saw my Walter Johnson Old Mill and a Walter Johnson Piedmont Fact 25 of the same grade for the same price, I'd buy the Old Mill every time. I'm thinking most folks would. Shouldn't there be a slightly higher value if that is the supply/demand?

Maybe I'm just bitter that when I first heard about the rare backs years ago and flipped my cards over I discovered nothing mind blowing ;)

I think the market sets the price on the not-so-difficult-but-a-little-better backs. I also think a fair amount of collectors would pay a few dollars more for an Old Mill back on a Hall of Famer than a more common Piedmont or Sweet Cap back. I am not sure a multiplier would work unless it was a small bit. Maybe 1.04x for a Hall of Famer with an Old Mill. :cool:

And your disappointment is the other end of the spectrum on finding a rare back. If everyone found them they wouldn't be rare.

I pay a premium for the Sovereign, Old Mill, and EPDG backs I'm looking for. I like them more, so it makes sense to offer or bid more for them.

This sentiment reminds me of what everyone says when I tell them I collect baseball cards: " I wish my mom hadn't thrown away all my cards. They would be worth so much now."

Yeah, but they're only valuable because so many were thrown away. If we all saved them, they wouldn't be rare and thus valuable.

There is definitely a premium paid for non commonest backs...I'd pay a premium. This trend will only continue to increase.

On 2nd thought ...
 

Totally dig the notion that if it were easy to find, then why would it be special. Happy to hear many would still pay a minor premium for these.

And yes - I want my 1.04 multiplier to be official lol

Who could have predicted back in the late 80s (when I started collecting) that we'd see a time when finding a walter Johnson t206 wouldn't be an issue but rather a selection process with lots available on the web at any given moment. I suppose it is precisely this abundance of access that makes going for rare backs and odd print defects the last bastion of scarcity thus driving up interest and value.