Conditional or overall rarity? Which influences you more?

[Exhibitman]

I don't think high grade common cards are rare because if you need an example of the card to complete a set you can easily get one. I think a card is rare if it is very difficult to find one to acquire in any condition. I prefer to have common cards in common conditions. What interests me most are cards that are very, very hard to find in any condition. Cards that have only a handful (or even one) specimen are the tops for me. I'll take this over a mint common Exhibit any day of the week:

[joeadcock]

Prefer the rarer card, irrespective of condition.

Frank

[JamesGallo]

I will take a rare low grade card over a high grade common every day of the week.

James G

[Orioles1954]

I'm a mid-grade collector of semi-rare sets. I have beaters, I equally dislike ultra high grade cards. Rounded corners and crease-free are just what I like.

[albrshbr]

Overall rarity for sure. Not too long ago, I picked up an E135-type Sam Crawford with a blank back. As far as I know it's only the second one known to exist. It's one of my favorite cards.