Let's see your favorite pickups from The National in Chicago!

[BigJJ]

That Pete Rose 1971 versus the Ruth/Cobb Type I in the REA auction. The buyer could have had that Ruth Cobb photo instead! What is the better piece. Ridiculous.
Cards have their attributes, but their original demand in the non computer age was to receive information - images and statistics of players. and a piece of gum. There is still demand for the aesthetics of cards, and there should be, and the looks do relate much to condition.
But I think there is a clear, great value in buying photos and other memorabilia for aesthetics/investment versus the vast majority of cards at present. Everyone knows of cards, not everyone knows of vintage memorabilia (the top houses, SCD, net54 and other forums, Type I photos, game used, and large advertising pieces). So more of the population involved in cards versus memorabilia at present. I think this is the disconnect. I think Type I photos and game used will have a nice ride up relative to cards, though there are cards that will have a nice ride up as well. We have seen photos and game used go up a real amount in the past 2 years. Ruth jersey 3 mil , Mantle jerseys 500-750k, Joe Jackson photos 30k, etc. Game used and photos get you as close to the actual game as possible, I think this is what is great about them. Cards really take me to the candy store, or the tobacco store. They are beautiful lithographs, and other forms of art. And they take you back to the day. And I like a number, particularly the 1914 Ruth, and of course T-206. To me though most cards take me to the store, whereas game used and photos and other items like large advertising lithos take me more to actual play.