[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

All of this made me conjure up a movie plot:

Two friends of vast means conspire to artificially inflate the value of an item and select the very strong current sportscard market as their target. They set their sights on a card that they think features players whose values will likely never tarnish on any item. This item has to be a manufactured "1/1" in order to guarantee that they will never face any competing sales. The card is purchased at a very moderate price as compared what will transpire in the projected course of their scheme.

The item is consigned to a major auction house with a promise of a full publicity treatment. Perhaps unbeknownst to the auction house, the two men secretly bid against each other, driving up the prices to record heights.

News agencies worldwide run stories on the fascinating "most expensive card ever sold", giving this card more publicity and notoriety.

Manufactured rarity
Manufactured hype
Manufactured hobby lore
Manufactured record price

The current card bubble bursts. Well aware of the cyclical nature of the industry, the two conspirators hold on to this card until the next hobby tidal wave occurs, then place it back up for auction: "Unseen for three decades! It's THE Card!" It will now perpetually be accompanied by all its past hype. In their minds, a T206 Wagner only grows in value, so why shouldn't their record-setting "treasure"?