A discussion on the term "rare".

[Potomac Yank]

The four letter word "rare," has totally lost it's meaning.

Whenever I see it, I instantly equate it to the four letter word "HYPE."

You can have all the surveys you want, they're just a drop in the bucket of the unknown raw cards out there. ... but they are fun to read.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Potomac Yank

You can have all the surveys you want, they're just a drop in the bucket of the unknown raw cards out there.

Joe - I'm sure that's true, but it stands to reason that they are representative of the greater distribution, just like a poll represents the full population. If SGC has only graded 100 cards of a particular issue and 5000 cards of another, we can safely assume the ungraded cards also exist in correlating ratios.

[Potomac Yank]

Originally Posted by Matt

Joe - I'm sure that's true, but it stands to reason that they are representative of the greater distribution, just like a poll represents the full population. If SGC has only graded 100 cards of a particular issue and 5000 cards of another, we can safely assume the ungraded cards also exist in correlating ratios.

*

I beg to differ ... a poll does not represent the full population ... It only represents the ones that took the poll.
How often have you looked at a poll, and passed by it?

An example, this forum is active in many ways, to those in it, it almost appears like the whole Cardoholic world is here.
Nothing could be further from the truth.

We're just a dot in Cardoholic Collector/Investor Portfolio World.

Stay well,
Joe

[cbcbcb]

I think rare is much better used with memorabilia than cards.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Potomac Yank

*

I beg to differ ... a poll does not represent the full population ... It only represents the ones that took the poll.

It only counts the ones who took the poll; however, the concept of a poll is an attempt to statistically represent the entire population, through sampling a small segment. Maybe you don't agree with the concept of a poll, which is your right. When done properly, with a truly random sample, there is statistical validity to the results, within the given margin of error.

[Frank A]

I really believe that it's time to list the cigarette makers of tobacco cards seperate. I know I will hear a lot of cons about it, but each brand should be on its own. Bulking these all together in a price guide is not how it should be. There is enough info out there now to have a good idea of what backs go with what players of each cigarette company.

[oldjudge]

Interesting question! The dictionary defines "rare" as not widely known or found, valued for its uncommonness. However, I think when most of us think of rare we think of a much more restrictive definition such that a rare card is one that a collector will only have an opportunity to acquire, cost aside, at a few points in their life. By the dictionary definition the T206 Wagner is indeed rare; it is not widely found. I haven't found any recently. However, by the way I think most of us in the hobby think of rare, the Wagner is not rare; if you had the money you would have the opportunity to bid for one several times a year. I think the rarity scale that Barry mentioned is the best way of handling rarity.