Baseball Cards: Book Value And What It Means

By: Jim Hofman

Baseball card collecting is one of the most revered hobbies in
America. And every day, people are unearthing their old
collections from dusty boxes in the attic, anxious to turn their
lost treasure into cash.

The normal first step in this process is acquiring a standard
baseball card price guide, which are readily available at any
magazine stand, book store, or library. Just about every
baseball card ever produced is listed in these price guides. So
far, the process of determining worth seems pretty
straightforward, but it's about to get complicated.

High And Low Book Value

Once you've located your card in the price guide, you'll
typically see two columns. One is for high book value, the other
for low book value. This, of course, represents the average
range of value for the card. Actual prices realized depend on
numerous factors, like popularity of the player and scarcity of
the card. The card's condition also weighs in heavily.

As a collector and potential seller (or buyer), you should take
high and low book value with a grain of salt. That's not to say
these figures are useless. They do provide a general range, but
don't tie your price expectations to them. Market conditions
change rapidly and there may be a glut or scarcity of the exact
same card you're trying to value.

What To Expect

If the concept of book value seems as clear as mud, it shouldn't
be. It all comes down to realistic expectations. For example, if
you decide to auction your cards online, there's a risk
involved. Depending on market cycles and plain old fate, the
prices you net could be very pleasing or very disappointing. You
can set minimum bids to protect yourself, but remember you'll be
paying a seller's premium on every card you sell.

If you sell to a private collector, you've got the best chance
of getting the highest price. Generally, a private collector
wants your cards for the passion of collecting. Such buyers are
hard to find, and generally best discovered through word of
mouth.

Finally, should you decide to sell to a dealer, you will need to
understand the dealer intends to resell your cards at a profit.
Therefore, don't expect to get high book value, or in many cases
even low book value.

A good rule of thumb is to take the midpoint between high and
low book value, and multiply by .50 (50%). Using a quick
example, let's suppose the high book value of your card is $20,
the low value $8. The midpoint is $14. Fifty percent of $14 is
$7, which is just below low book value. If this seems unfair,
remember what we mentioned above. The dealer intends to resell
the card at a profit. Be fully aware of this before selling to a
dealer.

Summary

Baseball card values are determined by several factors,
including condition, scarcity, and market conditions. Book
values attempt to capture a range, taking all factors into
account. Your best bet is to get a few reputable appraisals and
offers for your cards, while entering the process with realistic
expectations.

Article Source: http://www.collectibles-articles.com

If you're a baseball card collector, or simply want to learn more about the value of baseball cards, you owe it to yourself to check out our brand new baseball card collecting resource site. You'll learn exactly how cards are graded, valued, and how to get absolute top dollar for your collection. It's all waiting for you at: www.baseballcardcollectingtips.info

Related Items on eBay:

Print This Article

Comments Closed

Add To Favorites

Email to Friends

Publisher Ready