[BeanTown]

Its all a process and education for what's what. Having money to spend on cardboard, does not always mean you have hobby knowledge. If you can afford a five or six figure item, then most buyers are going to buy what they like and know.

With all collectibles, there are the social status items. These items everyone talk about every year and when one comes up for sale, it gets hyped big time. Example T206 Wagner, Superman 1st comic, 1944 Wheat penny, etc... These items not only appeal to collectors but also investors, companies, and gazillionaires who want to show what they have.

i divide the baseball card market into these groups, in order of how myself and most others probably learned.

1. Modern cards started collecting in the 70s.
2. Post War cards (wanted to keep learning and been collecting for ten years)
3. Pre War cards (wanted to keep buying more rare cards and many HOFers)
4. 19th Century (continued education and seemed undervalued always)

So, to address both cards Gary mentioned. The Trout has always been hyped and it appeals to a younger generation and now maybe investors. It's viewed upon as a social status card for at least now, as this Vegas Dave has done a good job doing his spin on social media. Now all Trout collectors have to hold their breath that Trout continues to show great success in baseball, while not being caught up in PEDs, Roids, gambling, etc...

Now the Peck and Snyder trade card you hardly ever hear about. Seems only the advanced collectors know how special it is, and then of the advanced collectors, how many can afford to buy one and how many actually need it for their collection. if one came up for auction or sale, is there a big enough market to drive the price up to social status limit? I always thought YES, since it was considered the first ever basball card. However, that is now in debate.

There are many advanced collectors (which I view myself now), and I agree wih everyone so far, that I would take the 1869 Peck & Snyder card all day long, over a modern player of Mike Trout (who I like a lot).

I wonder what the stats would look like if you polled 100,000 collectors and asked them how long they have been collecting and what area they collect or used to collect (Modern, post war, pre war, 19th century). Myself would say current and all 4.