Vintage photographs - get no respect

[Snapolit1]

Odd to me how little respect ($$) vintage photos get vs. cards. At the recent LOTG auction, I got a Ruth type 1 photo from the 30s for under 300 bucks. A stunning photo. How many of these could probably exist? Not sure that would buy me a lousy Ruth Goudey from the same year. Have seen great Gehrig photos on eBay on occasion for a couple of hundred bucks. To quote Rodney, these photos can't seem to get no respect. Wonder why? How many of these verified type 1 photos of Ruth and Gehrig could really be out there? (Realize there is a lot of fraud with people claiming photos are type 1 and they are not, but that's a different thread.)

[Chris Counts]

I think one of the factors that makes cards more desirable than photos — at least Goudeys, anyway — is that they are in color. In general, color cards sell better than B&W cards. Just look at the low demand of 1939 and 1940 Play Balls. Also, there are so many second generation photos available that unless someone is an expert, they are going to have a tough time telling the difference between a first and second generation image. I certainly can't. By the way, the cheapest graded '33 Goudey Ruth on eBay is a hammered one for over $700.