Hard/difficult to find 52 Topps cards?

[irv]

I have been trying, since I joined the site, to educate myself as much as possible about anomalies, variations and hard to get 52 Topps cards but after seeing this one recently, I realized I still have much to learn.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1952-Topps-G...vip=true&rt=nc

I also have a Gerald Staley, (Black back) which is a far cry from this one condition wise, but I had no idea it was a difficult card to find centered and in great shape. Is this the norm for the first series cards?

Personally, I thought, because it's a low number, and as far as I know, a common, I had no idea this card would fetch this kind of money if it was in great shape.

I am aware of the 5th and 6th high numbers series being more rare/scarce, but not aware, other than Pafko and a couple others in the first series, being hard to find in great shape.

Any info/advice where I could find things like this out would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.