Steve Novella's PSA 8 T206 Auctions--A Market Defining Event?

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

I agree with Marc S -- because the large majority of the cards won't sell this is not a market-defining instance. For example, if one of the cards was of a player that I collected I'd pony up for more than what the card was worth simply because I wanted it for my collection, knowing that I was throwing some money away for the right to own the card. That does not make the card 'worth' that amount (except to me). Same goes with these Registry-rare cards: some collector on the Registry may desperately need the card for his set and will be willing to pay above market price for it. Upon resale, that card is worth much less. For example, I sold a very low pop high grade prewar card recently on ebay for $3500 as two Registry guys battled it out. The same grade card, same grade sold 6 months later on ebay for $1500. What was the card truly worth? On low pop high grade commons, you need more than one sale to define a market value when you have such a thing population of people who want them.