That T206 Life: "Does the Huge Price Tag for the T206 Magie Error Make Sense?"

[swarmee]

The conventional wisdom in this case is correct. The Venn diagram of Master Set T206 collectors or Magee back run T206 or even graded T206 collectors is a much smaller circle inside the giant circle of T206 collectors overall.
When people talk about the complete set of 524, "Magie" and "Magee" portraits are both on their list. Magee/OM is not on their lists. Magee Portrait is on their list. The backs are mostly substitutable.
A more interesting look, IMO, would be strictly comparing grades of 50/4 graded cards and above. These are the types of cards that people would send in for commons for set registry or resale purposes. Rarities and HOFs would be sent in that just grade AUTH for confirmation that they're real. "Common" players would more rarely be graded at the collector level, since many of those collectors prefer to keep them raw and store in binders.

[iwantitiwinit]

I do subscribe to the thought that there is or will be some increased value assigned to rarer semi-common backs in the future. I believe Ted Z. addressed this rarity in one of his recent posts discussing the relative rarity of several Old Mill poses, known populations of the Old Mills in many cases is very very low. Additionally, the population of these cards could even be lower as the cards could have been submitted on more than one occasion though that could be offset by the fact that backs weren't specified in the earlier population reports. In any case, I think it's interesting to look at those reports and try to accumulate those rarer semi-common backs that have few specimens known, ie Chesbro Sovereign only 1 listed between both PSA and SGC. Would think these type of cards will increase in value especially in a case like Chesbro where both population is low and he is a hall of fame player.