T206 prices by back, what's hot? What's not?

[RCMcKenzie]

So this is just an anecdotal thread, but it seems to me that Cycle backs are pricey all of a sudden. I'm bidding more than I think they go for, and yet, I'm like the 3rd underbidder.

Is it a thin market with 3 people on here bidding more than me? This happened with T215 and e105. I don't know where the market is. I can still pick up low pop Old Mill and Tolstoi and SC as I'm winning some of those. I guess I'm collecting what I win. If it's a T213, I go into junkyard dog mode... Any thoughts on the T206 market by back?

[Jobu]

To me it seems that the rare backs shot up in price in the period 5-15 years ago and have stayed up. As those prices got to be high, I think many got priced out and started looking for other ways to have T206 scarcity. Which has led to a growing tide over the last 5 years in the prices of the mid-tier backs and tougher combos in the more common backs. Cycles seems to get a lot of love in that group, Piedmont 42 does not.

[RCMcKenzie]

Bryan, thanks, that's what I was trying to say or ask. You said it in a clearer way. Cycle backs have grown in stature across the hobby, it's not just 3 guys going for the set at once.

I remember going to card shows 20 years ago and a dealer would have the Hindu back face up in the case instead of the player subject. Back then, Cycle backs were grouped with backs like Polar Bear and Old Mill. Today Cycle backs are considered one of the rare backs like Hindu in price...Rob

[Luke]

Things seem about the same lately. Steady realization of collectors as a whole that the mid-tier backs were/are undervalued. SC 350-460 fact 25 is still wayyyyyyyy undervalued. P42 is the only back which I'd say has declined in value over the last few years.

[Rhotchkiss]

I do not think Cycles are equivalent to Brown Hindus. Cycle 460s can be very tough (see lajoie w/ Bat, M Brown Chicago on siort, etc), and i think they may get a little more love by people collecting the back or who need it for a back run. But Cycle 350s are on par with EPDG, Tolstoi, and AB. I note that you posted two Cycle 460 backs.

I think series 460's on all backs, Sov, Cycle, AB, etc carry a premium over their 350 counterparts.

Thus, I think Cycle 460's may get a value bump. But not 350's

[RCMcKenzie]

Ryan, I agree, I mean Cycle 460. There are too many minor leaguers and too many cards for me to go after in the Cycle 350 series, although I will pick up the more well known players in this series. They used to sell for less than they do now though.
I'm trying to collect all the Cycle 460's. I have about a dozen. I went back and saw that the Pfeister that I did not bid on sold for half what the one's I did bid on, so maybe I did run them up some.

Luke, I agree on SC460-25, I grabbed this Bridwell the other day for a nice price...

[Leon]

460s almost always seem to get a premium. Agreed on the others too.

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

I do not think Cycles are equivalent to Brown Hindus. Cycle 460s can be very tough (see lajoie w/ Bat, M Brown Chicago on siort, etc), and i think they may get a little more love by people collecting the back or who need it for a back run. But Cycle 350s are on par with EPDG, Tolstoi, and AB. I note that you posted two Cycle 460 backs.

I think series 460's on all backs, Sov, Cycle, AB, etc carry a premium over their 350 counterparts.

Thus, I think Cycle 460's may get a value bump. But not 350's

[CMIZ5290]

Originally Posted by Luke

Things seem about the same lately. Steady realization of collectors as a whole that the mid-tier backs were/are undervalued. SC 350-460 fact 25 is still wayyyyyyyy undervalued. P42 is the only back which I'd say has declined in value over the last few years.

Luke- I agree on this back, but having said that, I have never got an ounce of premium for this back, ever...

[Rhotchkiss]

Then Bob, yes, I think Cycle 460s are experiencing a bit of a bump, especially certain combos that, like old mill, may be scarce with the 460 back. I also think there are a few guys out there chasing the back-set (also AB 460). I am not sure they generally have hit Hindu status, which I consider the king of the mid-tier backs, but they are on the ups a bit it seems. Note that the most recent Heritage auction has some tough Cycle 460 (and AB and Pied fact 42) combos along with all the BL 460s, Drums, Uzits, etc. I think that fact alone signaled that the right Cycle 460 combo “has arrived”.