Can anybody explain this?

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Posted By: JimCrandell

I think you guys are placing too much emphasis on the role of the economy in determining sportscard pricing. Vintage sportscard demand and pricing, particularly at the high end are driven by guys with a lot of disposable income and these peoples purchases are relatively immune to changes in the economy.
The big thing that has driven vintage sportscard prices over the last decade is the advent of third party grading. I can't tell you the number of people who now feel confident buying high-end vintage sportscards again because they believe that this verifies that the cards have not been tampered with. The fact that some altered cards are getting by the graders is besides the point. Many collectors had gibven up on vintage sportscad collecting in the early-to-mid 90s because of card alteration. That these buyers are coming bback into the market with confidence I believe is the big driving factor behind vintage card value escalation.

Secondly, as I have stated, I am skeptical that there is a lot of prewar product out there ungraded in nrmt-mt(PSA 8 or SGC 88) condition. Thus I do not see the big escalation in prices for PSA 8 or SGC 88 pre-war sportscards as a bubble. Maybe I am wrong but for those of you that have them, lets see pictures.

Dav