Rarity vs. high grade

Steve1124

When does rarity take precedence over grade? Suppose the following two cards are available: a 1967 Venezuelan Topps of Mantle in EX condition. Also, a 1967 (regular) Topps in NM-MT. Which would you rather have? The Venezuelan Topps issue is by far the rarest--only 2 in the pop. report in that grade; while the Topps Nm-Mt 8 has well over 470. The two cards in question are in the approximate same price range. Do you go for the RARITY, or the high grade?

cardfan07

As a player collector, I'd go for rarity (in this case). The fact that there are 470 graded an 8 tells me that I should be able to find several on eBay or dealer websites ALL THE TIME. what's more, just to have some of those rare cards, in mid grade or even lower, is an accomplishment all by itself. I need Venezuelan cards of Johnny Bench and Willie Mays. I'm not holding my breath for either right now. But I bet I could find PSA8/9/10 equivalent Topps cards just about anytime I want.

Ryan

bobsbbcards

I'd take the Venezuelan Mantle in a heartbeat. As long as the condition of the rare card was something I could live with (see the torched '77 Venezuelan stickers in the Ryan thread for an example of unacceptable condition rare cards), it would always be preferable. The Topps Mantle PSA 8 will be there when you want one; you might never get another chance at a decent Venezuelan.

If the rare card was something I didn't collect, the answer might be different. I'm sure there are tons of 19th century cards that would be far rarer in any condition than the Venezuelan Mantle. If I was given the choice between a '67 Topps Mantle PSA 8 and a rare 19th century card, I'd choose the Mantle since it fits my collection better (assuming similar "value" and assuming I needed the Mantle).

IMHO,
Bob

MorrellMan

Steve - good question.
I'll chime in as a collector who has never had an inclination to collect Venezualan cards -
I would take the Venezualan.

goudeygold

If its vintage, true rarities will win out over high grade. the venezuelan was prob a bad example, since it is sooooo rare.

how about a 52 topps Sain error PSA 8, VS a 52 topps Mantle PSA 4? The sain is much more scarce in high grade, wheras the mantle is more common but in demand all over the place. I would take the Sain error.

How about the SP A-rod RC PSA 10, vs a PSA 3 sport king babe ruth? I would take the Ruth.

Lets think of some examples where we actually have split responses.

great topic,

GG

larryallen73

I ditto, almost word for word, what Morrel said. Never pass up the really rare card!

67standup

A high-grade example is largely based on subjectivity, a true rarity is not. I’ll take a pre war, Topps Test, or foreign card "rarity" any day over a post 1960's Topps regular super low pop. However, someone else might prefer to pay ten-fold for a PSA 10 Tiger Woods SI over a PSA 1 Just So Tobacco.

sayheykid54

I prefer rarity everytime. I recently purchased a high-end Ty Cobb card that will be the centerpiece of my collection. I would take a dozen or so real nice hard to find low population cards to all the thousands of overproduced modern cards anyday.

Steve1124

Great responses! The general consensus is that rarity is more desireable. But even here i would think that it must be a legitimately recognized rarity--like being listed in the SCD for example. There are other "error" type cards (i.e. blank backs, etc.) which NUMERICALLY can have more of a "rarity", but numbers ALONE don't make a card more desireable.

calleocho

I would take rare over high grade most of time, unless the card is so rare in high grade that it actually becomes rare due to its condition.

lets say we are talking t-206, there is only 20 known examples of a particular card but since 5 or so came into the hobby recently those 5 are in great shape.

same set, different card with about 200 specimens known...that makes the ratio 10 to 1. but only one card managed to make it to PSA 8 while the rest are low grade.

in that case i would take condition rarity over quantity rarity.

koby

Rarity for sure.

For cards I can't find in PSA 10, usually PSA 9 or PSA 8 will make suitable replacements.

For rare cards that are hard to find in any grade, once you pass them up, there will be a gaping hole in your collection for a long long time.

In the example above, I would take the Venezuelan any day of the week.