Quote:
Originally Posted by yanksfan09
I always lean on the rarity side of the spectrum, but there are popular cards that I love and go for as well.
The blue chip hobby staples should be a good safe long term investment I'd think. The demand should always be pretty strong on key classic cards I think. However I think it's awesome holding cards that less than 25 or 10 or so people in the world have, especially of key HOFers!
As stated above it also doesn't take much to move the needle value wise when cards are that rare. One or two more well heeled buyers in the market at any given time can really ratchet up a price on a card when the supply is near non existent! But it's true its a double sided coin in that regard. A buyer or 2 less and value could really dip. No consistent price point comparisons to go on.
So, I'd say for safe investment stick with the classic key cards. Leave those weird rarities for the weirdos 
That being said the 52 Mantle is an all time Mount Rushmore classic in the hobby so everyone should try and get one! (Disclosure: the one in current LOTG was mine  ) |
Demand for the truly esoteric, rare coins such as certain colonials and territorial gold, i.e., fewer than 20 or so in existence has resulted in quite linear and substantial appreciation, decade after decade. See also the book, "100 Greatest U.S. Coins"--great well-known rarities have done exactly the same thing for more than 50 years. Same with rare classic cars (you could have bought all six Shelby Daytona Cobras for $12,000 in the late '60's. Now, they are 8 figures apiece when you can get someone to part with theirs. With cards, just make sure it's a truly significant piece, such as a 1923-24 Exhibit Ruth, Felix Mendelsohn 1917-1920 M 101-6 Ruth (or maybe, just maybe, the 1924-25 Exhibit Champions Ruth), or something like or akin to one of the rare Cobb rookies noted above, and you will see the same results over time. That said, the '52 Topps Mantle, while commonly considered iconic, is quite readily available. Collectibles with those characteristics in other fields have been cyclical, going up and down in value over time. Not my opinion, simply fact. It is merely my personal preference to go after those cards of Mantle and other HOF'ers which few other collectors will ever have in their collection. To each his own, but I believe you are quite wise to pick this time to sell that one.
All that really counts is that your collecting is filled with pleasure. May it be so,
Larry