How did this all start?

[Exhibitman]

Jordan. No doubt. That documentary fueled the biggest run in basketball cards ever. Now, to be fair, most basketball had been stagnating for a long time and prices for many of the ATGs were ridiculously low. But that series ignited interest and the entire sector went for a wild ride. I think that turbocharged the rest of the sectors that ran up. Kicked off a FOMO craze. I don't think the vast majority of sales were fake. I certainly got paid as I cashed out. Then the pump and dump crowd got into it. You know, the dorks with designer man-purses talking like dope dealers. And then the hype of the manufacturers pushing ultra modern. Now that Topps boxes are showing up at Costco, the market has reached saturation. I went to a local card show over the weekend. Small HS gym show, real throwback. The dealers were 90% under 40, and their wares were 100% modern and not selling. I spoke with some of them and they were all trying to get out of the shiny and into vintage cards. They told me the market for modern is saturated and dead. Traffic at the show was very low, compared to the zoo scenes at many shows lately. I think there is some capitulation on the part of the modern collectors who've been so jolted this last year. They are sitting on their Zion cases and not buying more, at least not at the high prices of 2022. I would not be surprised if that 'correction' spreads down the line into postwar and then prewar cards. At least I hope it does so I can grab up a few more Ruth cards when they bottom out!

What kind of legs there are to the market remains to be seen. I am setting up at the show in Pasadena November 18-19 and it will be interesting to see how vintage sells at my table. Come on by and visit the Festival of Bric A Brac. Check out my new vintage NASCAR stock.

Oh, what was the original question??