Posted By:
Brian H (misunderestimated)Observations:
While the monetary impetus to grade cards is definitely very real, it only effects the old time collectors if (and eventually when) they or their heirs think about selling them.
The newer collectors, as well as those that collect by buying with the proceeds from selling, are also more likely to get cards graded.
I think that there are a lot of cards out there that have yet to be graded and that the lion's share of those cards are not high grade (but not necessarily "beaters" either). I would guess around 7% or 8% of all pre-war cards have been graded with that number rising as the cards become more valuable since many cards are really not worth grading as a economic proposition (especially if you place some value on the time spent sending the card to be graded and filling out the forms etc).
I am fairly certain that a graded card that is "1 of 1 and none are graded higher" will not maintain that status, and command the premium value that status confers upon it, for very long.