Cards some collectors think are rare, but are not.

[parkplace33]

I had some fun over at gem rate today looking up the top 1000 cards (by grading pop). Website is https://www.gemrate.com/top-cards.

One cards I see for sale online all the time is the 1958 Topps Mickey Mantle AS #487. I sometimes see these posted as "rare Mickey card". Lets look up the pops on this card:

PSA - 12,832 graded
SGC - 4,402 graded
Beckett - 2,197 graded

Over 19,000 graded. And who knows how many raw. Not a rare card.

What is a card or cards you see listed as rare, but are not?

[darwinbulldog]

I'll tell you what's rare -- for a card that's listed as rare to actually be rare.

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by darwinbulldog

I'll tell you what's rare -- for a card that's listed as rare to actually be rare.

True

Or that rarity always equals value. It may, or it maybe just a selling tactic.

[Al C.risafulli]

That's a triple-printed card, if I'm not mistaken.

I always was bothered by the perception that the 1938 Goudey high number cards are somehow more difficult than the lower numbers. My experience was the exact opposite, especially when trying to find them in high grade. People pay a premium for the high numbers, but I think the low numbers are tougher.

-Al

[bbcard1]

I used to own a 1960s convertible that a car collector friend of mind described as rare and undesirable.

[ALBB]

Originally Posted by bbcard1

I used to own a 1960s convertible that a car collector friend of mind described as rare and undesirable.

Now that funny !

[jsfriedm]

Originally Posted by bbcard1

I used to own a 1960s convertible that a car collector friend of mind described as rare and undesirable.

Reminds me of the old line from an academic book review: "This book fills a much-needed hole in the literature."

[raulus]

Do you want to poke the 311 Mantle bear by hinting at the possibility that it's a DP?

[ClementeFanOh]

I’ll admit this example is low hanging fruit, it just happens to rankle me. How about when eBay sellers list T206 Polar Bear and Old Mill backs as “Rare”? Trent King

[Cory]

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

I’ll admit this example is low hanging fruit, it just happens to rankle me. How about when eBay sellers list T206 Polar Bear and Old Mill backs as “Rare”? Trent King

Why would this bother you? They are both only 4% to 6% of the total t206 population vs. 52-54% for Piedmonts or 25-30% for Sweet Caps. So they are roughly 1/10 as common as the most common back, or 1/5 as common as the 2nd most common back. No they aren't Drums or Uzits or Lenox, but to stick with this thread - the TOTAL PSA graded PB population is around 10K - less than ALL of the PSA graded Mickeys noted in the first post (just 1 card from 1 set).

Link to backs by % from PSA - https://www.psacard.com/articles/art...ifferent-backs

To further drive the point - 2 of toughest cards outside of the big 4 - are Polar Bear backs. That's the only thing unique about Demmitt & O'Hara STL - they are only available in Polar Bear backs - so they only have roughly 5% the population of other cards. With the exception of my green Cobb - they are the priciest cards in my collection (among the worst shape, too).

I do understand that on a relative basis they aren't nearly as scarce as the actual "rare" backs - Broadleafs, Carolina Brights, etc. But I have seen other members complain when the "lesser" rare backs like Polar Bears or Old Mill or Sovereign get referred to as "off-backs" If you can't call them rare backs and you can't call them off-backs what the hell are you supposed to call them? Uncommon backs? Less than rare backs? Not quite rare backs?

Sorry if this comes off as hostile - as it isn't meant to be, I'm just curious on how everyone else views this.

[Lucas00]

A saying I've created is, if it's on ebay it's probably not rare. Lol.

Of course that's way too much of a generalization but it's true 90% of the time. There is rare stuff but it's always extremely overpriced and most of it has been sitting price unchanged with offers disabled for half a decade.

[BuzzD]

Not appreciating the difference between rarity and scarcity has cost me a lot of dough...

[rjackson44]

Darby choclates complete box ,,now we are talking

[raulus]

Serious question:

Any chance we’ve become rarity snobs?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by raulus

Serious question:

Any chance we’ve become rarity snobs?

I have always collected rarity and it doesn't necessarily mean value, whatsover. It's always the demand side that equates to value. And that would be "scarcity."

As to the original subject, I can't count the number of times I have seen people say the '52 Mantle is rare.....it's not.

And whomever said ebay doesn't have rare stuff any longer isn't looking on there 7x24 like some of us ....

[robinsonmantle]

PSA 1 of 2


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[packs]

If either of these guys ever get in the HOF I will be happy these cards were very cheap while also being nearly impossible to find:

[jingram058]

Expensive does not = rare.

Or, perhaps it does. If you don't have the cash, it's pretty darned rare.

[4815162342]

Originally Posted by jingram058

… If you don't have the cash, it's pretty darned rare.

Great line.

My contribution. There’s exactly one in PSGCA combined. There’s at least one other in existence, but this is the only graded example.




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[Snowman]

Also worth considering is that there are different flavors of rarity and scarcity. In addition to print runs or pop report grades, there's also eye appeal, which is something I focus on. Some cards are nearly impossible to find centered and when those surface at auction, they can fetch prices that have people who aren't in the know calling them "obviously shilled" despite the sales being very much legitimate.

[chalupacollects]

How about Ware's Dept store cards? Store was in my hometown, Mom actually worked in the building in the 60's. Never saw one and even asked in BST for someone to sell one... crickets!

I found 38 total graded for SGC and none for PSA...

[raulus]

Good luck finding another one.

[mantleman]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

I had some fun over at gem rate today looking up the top 1000 cards (by grading pop). Website is https://www.gemrate.com/top-cards.

One cards I see for sale online all the time is the 1958 Topps Mickey Mantle AS #487. I sometimes see these posted as "rare Mickey card". Lets look up the pops on this card:

PSA - 12,832 graded
SGC - 4,402 graded
Beckett - 2,197 graded

Over 19,000 graded. And who knows how many raw. Not a rare card.

What is a card or cards you see listed as rare, but are not?

I believe that card is actually Triple Printed !!

[Gorditadogg]

1965 Topps Charlie Smith?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/14566232729...mis&media=COPY

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[DeanH3]

I have found that certain "common" cards are still extremely difficult to find with desirable attributes. That can make the hunt fun and frustrating at the same time.

[darwinbulldog]

Originally Posted by DeanH3

I have found that certain "common" cards are still extremely difficult to find with desirable attributes. That can make the hunt fun and frustrating at the same time.

Not prewar, but I see about 20 ugly Bob Gibson and Tom Seaver rookie cards for every nice one. I think it's about the same with Bill Russell.

[ClementeFanOh]

Just checking Fleabay and one of the first T206 to pop up was Bill Bradley
with Bat PSA 2.5. The header for the card, which isn't an auction at all but
a Buy It Now, states "rare Polar Bear backing". Nice card? Looks like it. Rare?
Not even close, only Piedmonts and SCaps (most versions) are more common.
I've got plenty of those and love the cards, but "rare" doesn't apply.

Trent King

[yomass]

I thought we were going to talk about the T207 Lowdermilk or the E90-1 Mitchell...