ok....high grade or rare? whats your choice?

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Posted By: Dave F

Just throwing out two examples...

which would you rather have a E93 Dooin PSA 8 or a more rare N167 Old Judge in VG condition?

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Posted By: Aaron Conyers

I would take the N167 it could be Baseball or Boxing.

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Posted By: Jerry Hrechka

I'll take the low grade beater over the high grade common card, every time.

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Posted By: Chad

No question for me. The high quality stuff can be stunning, though. OJ's with really, clear sharp images are some of my favorites. And Jim B's caramels are fun to look at.. High grade Billikens are about as good as it gets as well. But if I had to choose, I'd rather get the stuff that's singular or close to it.

--Chad

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Posted By: Zinn

In general I would take rare over high grade. While I would consider an e93 in PSA 8 to be in the rare column because of the grade I would choose the n167 in any condition over the e93.

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Posted By: leon

This is a chocolate or vanilla question. Every person has their own ideas. From the folks I know on the board I could almost tell you everyone's feelings. I collect scarcity .....grade is less important. I have bought less than a handful of very high grade cards but in general that isn't my MO....

edited spellin'

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Posted By: T206Collector

I sold most of my collection to purchase Lionel Carter's beater Plank, and the cards I didn't sell were the SGC 60 and higher cards, as well as my low grade Magie, Demmitt, O'Hara and Elberfeld cards.

My current concentration on autographed pre-war cards is based on just finding authentic signatures on pre-war cards -- card condition is only relevant if I have an opportunity to upgrade a card with a signature.

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Posted By: Tony Andrea

Hands down the N167. Rarity over high grade for me.

Tony

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Posted By: TONY GALOVICH

I'll take a rarity over a "10" all day long

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Posted By: Al C.risafulli

I'll take strawberry.

I like the cards I like. Sometimes they're high-grade, sometimes they're tougher beaters, sometimes they're midgrade, whatever. If it looks good, if I want it, and if I can afford it, I'll see what it takes to buy it.

When I decide to build a new piece of my collection, I factor in a few things - graded or raw, what condition, budget, and how I will store/display it. I elected to collect 1938 Goudeys in higher-grade, and have been lucky enough to build a pretty nice set that is always a work in process. I also elected to collect T205s in lower-grade provided that they present well, and I'm 40% done with what I feel is a very nice collection. I have an immense appreciation for Jim Crandell's high-grade collection of cards from all sports and eras, and I also have an immense appreication for Patrick Preece's lower-grade collection of incredibly scarce and valuable baseball items. So my personal choice is whatever I feel like at the time.

I'm preachy today.

-Al

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Posted By: Steve Murray

I agree with Chad.

Give me something rare, unique if possible.

To me an e93 in PSA 3 is really no different than one in PSA 8. All it means is that one is going to cost more.

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Posted By: Marc S.

just beceause I'm a big Phillies Phan.

Were it any other non-HOF E93 PSA 8, I would tak the N167 in a heartbeat.

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Posted By: JimB

Can't there be a Choice C - Both.

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Posted By: JimB

Al said,
"I like the cards I like. Sometimes they're high-grade, sometimes they're tougher beaters, sometimes they're midgrade, whatever. If it looks good, if I want it, and if I can afford it, I'll see what it takes to buy it."

I couldn't agree more.
JimB

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Posted By: leon

I want both....

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Posted By: Chad

If I could get a rarity in excellent shape I wouldn't exactly thumb my nose at it!

--Chad

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Posted By: Preece1

What is Al talking about

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Posted By: Joseph

It really depends where you stand on the collector/investor spectrum.

You can always get a high-grade card. You just have to pay for it.
Rare is rare, the opportunities to acquire are limited.

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Posted By: JimB

"It really depends where you stand on the collector/investor spectrum."

What does that have to do with this? Some say mid-grade is a better, more stable investment; some say high-grade is. It seems to me to be a matter of opinion.

"You can always get a high-grade card. You just have to pay for it."

Really? I'll give you $100,000 for a PSA 8 E93 Dooin if you can get it in the next month. There is no other one. And the one pictured is not for sale.
JimB

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Jim, if you sell me that card for $50K I'll split the reward with you.

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Posted By: Darren

i'll take rare over high grade

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Posted By: Al C.risafulli

I'm sorry Patrick; if it's not an 8, it's low grade.

-Al

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Posted By: Jeff Prizner

a better question would be rare but ugly or attractive yet plentiful.

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Posted By: Marc S.

I think that the ugly cards simply aren't collected much across the board. And I cannot see that situation ever changing.

There is a reason that N173s, K-Bats, T-206s, CJs, and Goudeys are so popular. Highly attractive issues will always gather a following. Although some type collectors might want ugly issues -- I cannot envision any scenario by which really ugly cards will garner huge premiums because of pent-up demand.

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Posted By: JimB

Preece1,
That Ewing is stunning!
JimB