Scarcity and Value Cards vs Memorabilia

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Posted By: Joann

That's a really good question. As someone with almost zippo knowledge about memorabilia, I'll still try to ring in.

Maybe it's because the card end is more structured, and more known. It lends itself to concrete goals that two collectors that have never met might have in common just because cards are so easily categorized that it is inevitable that people will have overlapping goals and interests. I think people also gravitate toward structure and things they can mentally and emotionally tally, so to speak.

An E96 Jennings is an E96 Jennings. Everyone knows what it is. There are many out there. They are recognizable, and many people might want one for a variety of reasons. Maybe they want a HOF'er. Maybe they want a Detroiter. Maybe they want an E96. Maybe they like the blue/green background.

A card is identified with many things. A team. A player. A position. A year. A set or issue. The categories are all concrete, all definable, and all understandable. An old-time collector in Maine can pick up an E96 Jennings at a mall show because it's the last E96 he needs for his set or the last HOF'er he needs. A young internet collector in San Diego can grab an E96 Jennings off of ebay because it's the last E96 he needs for his set, or the last HOF'er he needs.

So cards are more easily categorized, arranged, sliced and diced, and purchased based on the commonality of awareness among collectors. I think people like the sense of order.

To me, memorabilia is much more fluid, elusive and obtuse. I know there are different kinds of gloves, but are there sets or teams or player or even manufacturers or years that can divide themselves into categories or goals? Are glove-collecting goals or categories as easily definable as for cards, or are they more individualized? (I honestly don't know.)

Maybe the reason that a card has more demand and goes for more than a much more scarce piece of memorabilia is because it fits so easily into so many pigeonholes based on common knowledge and interests.

Just my hare-brained thinking on it.

Joann