[Tere1071]

Originally Posted by G1911

In my head, it's pre-1974, but I think that might be because I think the late 70's issues are a bit bland and want to have a good reason to end my set building at 1973. It seems to me there should be multiple era's, if it was up to me I would split up hobby history as:

1850's-1886 - The beginning of the hobby, CDV and then cabinet domination that would continue for some years after but whose domination was supplanted by small tobacco inserts.

1887-1907 - The origins of the modern conception of a set of cards, peak of 1888-1890 and the sustained minor issues that kept cards a thing but not common.

1908-1912 - The Tobacco and caramel peak of pre-war before regulation ended commonly available cards as a constant.

1913-1931 - The hobby goes back to something generally small and irregular, major reduction in objective quality of available cards.

1932-1941 - The resurgence of commonly available cards of quality and bubble gum cards.

1942-1947 - Might as well not exist, really.

1948-1956 - The evolution and competition of post-war, laying the landscape.

1957-1973 - The classic Topps series era of monopoly

1974-1980 - The inter period, a hobby footnote really.

1981-1987/1988 - The era of competition and new ideas beginning that would lead to radical changes.

1988/1989-1998 - The upgrade in quality of cards and the beginning of chase cards that would end the hobby of children.

1999-present- The end of cards being for kids at all, the advent of relics and autographs being inserted at rates that made pulling one realistic and leading to the dominance of relatively wealthy adults and investors over 95% of the hobby

I think this is a very clear, concise description of our hobby. Thank you.