Scarcity

[Bosox Blair]

Originally Posted by mintacular

Can pop reports really tell you much at all regarding my original Q? I would think 9/10 collectors, especially senior folks, don't send cards to grading companies as this service is relatively new. I would think pre-war collectors that aren't trying to resell their collectibles at this time would be motivated to pop their Tris Speaker in the mail to authenticate an item they already know to be original. (JMO)

Hey, I'm one of the people who says do not use pop reports blindly as a measure of scarcity (as I stated in my first post).

That said, there is nothing out there that will answer your question. You want ballpark? You'll have to use rough estimates. These things are as good for that as anything I'm aware of.

Also, in your estimate of 9/10 vintage collectors not using grading services, I think you are wrong on that. I believe much more than 10% of vintage collectors use grading services. Do they send in every card? No! But that point has already been covered. Some (esp common and low grade) are just not worth it.

But anyways, if 9/10 people who own a T206 Speaker don't send it in, and 9/10 people who own a '53 Mantle don't send it in, then their relative scarcity (to each other) will be accurately reflected by the pop report.