Market for Pre War Cards -How far down is down?

[bbcard1]

I collect pretty pedestrian stuff (low grade t206s...collector grade other stuff) and haven't really seen a huge drop. A low grade t card is still around $10-$20 just like it has been forever. I have been surprised at some to the 30's weaknesses, esp the Diamond Stars which are a classically beautiful set. I actually think the 3s and 4s will have more softness than the 1s and 2s and the 7s +. I have not seen many bargain prices on the top shelf players from most any era...Mantle, Ruth, DiMaggio, Cobb, Gehrig...when it comes to retailing.

I saw a Lipset quote from years ago that I think explains a lot...he was talking about the pre-1900 stuff...he said that the market was strong but thin...meaning that there was big money being thrown at it but only by a few people are playing. I think the combination of the economy and people already obtaining what they were looking for (I no longer need a 1967 Brooks Robinson because I have bought a 1967 Brooks Robinson therefore while I once was a potential buyer, I am no longer one) is the reason for the problems in the market...especially in auctions.

[T206Collector]

I concur that T206 prices on low-grade cardboard has been relatively stable over the decade or so that I've been participating. They are the bonds, if you will, of the baseball card industry. No risk and the market will always be there.

[jeffmohler]

I tend to think that the market is soft. I primarily collect 20's and 30's material with some Dietsche postcards and E93s thrown in occasionally.

I just bought two SGC 60 Gold Medal Flour common cards for $13.00-15.00 each and an SGC 70 Rogell (horizontal) for $40.00. Two years ago, I think I would have paid at least 2x-3x as much for the commons.

Like nolemmings said, Worch Cigars are hot, but I can't think of much else in my collecting timeframes.

As far as the cause, I think it is the economy. On many of the cards I collect all it takes is the absence on one bidder to lower the price substantially. In the Gold Medal Flour example, I think it was just one additional bidder that made the Rogell go from less than $20.00 to $40.00.

[Mark]

With many of the sets that we collect, supply is very limited, so it makes a difference if ten people come in or out of the market. The economy is bad and people are not sure when it is going to turn around. When it does, I am confident that folks will start buying and folks will start selling. I think that the Baby Boomer demography has to be taken into account, but (1) baseball remains a very popular game with younger people and (2) again it does not take many people chasing even the E95's or E120's to make a big difference.