[tulsaboy]

Some of the dicussion on the topic I started yesterday regarding the "junk wax" era brought up a couple of new questions that I thought I'd solicit opinions on...

Watching the prices being asked and received on unopened product over the last 10 years, it seems that lately there has been a marked increase in the prices for 1975-1983 Topps. 1984 and 1985 have seen modest increases, but 1985 is still not anywhere near what it was during the height of the McGwire craze. I feel like the 1978-1981 Topps product has seen substantial increases, more so than the other years mentioned. Does anyone see any particular reason for this? I would guess that the slabbed card chase has caused more unopened product to be opened in the last few years than any other single case. People looking for those 9's and 10's.

It also makes me wonder what the long-term price range will be for this era of unopened product. Right now, 1970-71-72 racks are commanding enormous prices, almost all 4 figures. Wax less so, but it seems to be climbing. I would think that there are significantly less available unopened boxes and packs available from that period of time than there is from 1975-1980. That said, unopened racks from 1975-1980 seem to be steadily increasing in price; was less so, but it is climbing as well. I don't think that prices for that product will ever approach the price range being realized for unopened product from, say, 1960-1970, but I guess theoretically it could. With the supply dwindling daily, does anyone think that we will reach a point where unopened product from the 1975-1980 era is that much more difficult to find?

I for one have stashed when I could afford to, but prices are starting to make that more and more difficult. That, of course, along with the nagging trend of some unscrupulous folks to reseal packs.