How accurate is this T206 base price-guide?

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Posted By: Jason Smith

Yes, the T206 market seems to be a very volitile one. On ebay it can even depend on the day/time of day, and of course who comes out to bid. I've been collecting t206s pretty heavy for about a year and a half now. Most of my collection comes from ebay purchases, so I feel like I know the values of cards, but I'm always surprised, or disappointed when I think I'll definitely have the high bid, only to be outbid. So, of course, it comes down to what someone else thinks it's worth.
There have been lots of topics on this board that list the harder to find (low pop) commons. Those cards can be worth as much as a Southern Leaguer sometimes. Southern Leaguers are getting to be impossible too as people put sets together and care about them so much. I've yet to get one, and I've got almost 30% of the set completed...
Here's a guide as of 1/1/2005 from my point of view... As I collect PSA graded (I know, a whole other can of worms!) for ebay security reasons, because I love the registry idea, and as well as to protect the cards and my investment, these values are based on cards in PSA holders, common backs, and are just my experienced opinion...

PSA 3 commons - $25
PSA 3 "low end" HOF - $70
PSA 3 "superstar" HOF - $200 and up.
PSA 4 commons - $45 (this one seems to be the most on the rise, and that makes sense, as it seems to be a good base grade for a "respectable mid grade set", i.e. what I'm trying to collect.)
PSA 4 SL - $100
PSA 4 "low end" HOF - $130
PSA 4 "superstar" HOF - $400 +
PSA 5 commons - $80 (has gone up from $65 in the past year, with Minor Leaguers catching up with the Majors too.)
PSA 5 SL - $175
PSA 5 "low end" HOF - $200
PSA 5 "superstar" HOF - $700 +
PSA 6 commons - $175 (has gone up from $120 in the last year or so. This is my favorite grade to collect. It's nearly affordable, and most of mine are beautiful cards.)
PSA 6 SL - $300
PSA 6 "low end" HOF - $400 +
PSA 6 "superstar" HOF - $800 +

I don't collect 7s and 8s, but the common 7s seem to be going for $350 and up these days. 7s are completely unpredictable, as it really just depends on if the elite collectors that bid on those cards already have the card in question. If 2 or 3 bidders don't have the card yet then watch out. Some people seem to be willing to pay whatever it takes. I would like to have a 7, but I'm not going to outbid anyone too soon on one, and I'd rather have 4 PSA 5s than one 7...

There's my opinion. There have been discussions as to people on the board who track every T206 card sold on ebay. Those guys know the whole truth. I'm very impressed with that. I also subscribe to Andale to keep somewhat up to date, but basically go on instinct and experience. I have my limits right now. Someday I know that I'll be forced to spend bigger coin on the set, but for now I'm just enjoying collecting what I can afford, and like I said, that's 30% of the collection so far. If you told me I'd have that many cards last year at this time I'd be very excited...
Jason