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Posted By: Darren J Duet

The internet has opened the door on much of what has been hoarded(either purposely or lack of market). Unlike the California real estate market to which Adam refers, old cardboard is just finding its market in the mainstream. What's the true price of a 1914 Cracker Jack Ty Cobb in excellent condition? Well in 1981, you could get one for about $200(or less). Of course, you had a very limited market then. While you had a gem of a card, how many people knew of its availability? As a dealer, you accepted market value usually based on a price guide which gave a range from previous sales(which were statiscally insignificant and skewed by lack of buyer awareness of card availability).

Now we know. We know what's out there. We know where to look. We browse, we search, we bid. The internet has decreased the work load of the collector, while increasing the marketing of the dealer, and the identity of our hobby. The result is a more accurate realization of monetary value.

Future price guides must take this into consideration. Is the true value of a card based on how it sells at conventions or hobby shops? or is the true value of a card based on the collective view of thousands, coast to coast with more than just browsing on their minds.

The supply and demand theory makes the assumption that the product is potentially available and known to all. I know for me, much of the pre-war cardboard was inaccessible until the internet came into play.