Sellers do this as a marketing ploy. They do it all the time in the Art section. A painter will ask $500,000 for their painting, but if you offer them something like $1,500, they'll accept the best offer. I have a feeling if you offer this seller $20,000 for that Ruth, he'll accept it.
It's also done to increase the visibility of the item, because when someone sorts by highest price, the Ruth card will be on the front page. Collectors sort by price to weed out the junk.
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