Does rarity help or hurt value?

[oldjudge]

Value is a functiion of supply AND demand. If 10 people want a particular card and there are 100 copies available it will be worth less than if those same 10 people wanted the card and only one copy was available.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

Value is a functiion of supply AND demand. If 10 people want a particular card and there are 100 copies available it will be worth less than if those same 10 people wanted the card and only one copy was available.

Agreed but the premise is usually "it's rare so it's valuable" and that isn't always the case.
.

[JollyElm]

It becomes a bit of a thought experiment.

All or most of us have items that are ridiculously, extremely rare, and in our minds they could easily be traded for a dump truck full of gold. That's how rare they are, and we hold onto them. But if we actually tried to sell them? Market forces would clear the wonderful optimism from our heads, and the amount of gold we walk away with wouldn't fill the back seat of a convertible Hot Wheels* car.

*Don't be triggered if you are more of a Matchbox person.

[frankbmd]

I now have a Babe Ruth card that I have never seen before and cannot find another one on the internet anywhere.

Gosh, it must be really rare and is in decent condition.

Will start accepting offers of $5000 with $1000 increments. The 21 day rule will be in effect. That is, if there is no raising bid for 21 days, it is yours.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

I now have a Babe Ruth card that I have never seen before and cannot find another one on the internet anywhere.

Gosh, it must be really rare and is in decent condition.

Will start accepting offers of $5000 with $1000 increments. The 21 day rule will be in effect. That is, if there is no raising bid for 21 days, it is yours.

Well...we're waiting. What is it?