Values are determined by many factors, including the material of the card (first ones were made of a cloth-type material and are most valuable, now cards are largely laminated or metallic inked cardboard stock), rarity (how many were produced and/or survive), whether the card has misprints, making it one-of-a-kind, whether you have a complete set, the overall condition of the card(s), etc. What many collectors call "the golden years of baseball" took place from 1902 until 1935. Collectors treasure this era because cards underwent many different changes. They were packaged with cigarettes, chewing tobacco, Crackerjacks, and chewing gum. A large percent of these cards have misprints (flaws). A misprinted card may have a higher value than the exact same (perfect) card because, ironically, the misprint makes it special. The reason there were so many misprints was the card industry was just starting to experiment with the printing process (SCD). From 1936 until 1960, not much happened in the card collecting arena but for several major changes: Among them, the cards changed to a size (2.5x3.5") that would carry them to the present time. Other changes happened fairly recently, in trading cards produced during the last two decades. These are the "invention" (by marketing departments, most likely) of several different types of premium cards, inserted only in a small number of packs in a total run. The "Insert card" has a certain chance (odds) of you pulling it out of a pack. The higher the odds, the higher the value of the card. Card companies also introduced the redemption card. These cards are usually seeded at about 1:360 packs. If you pulled one of these cards, you could send it into the company and they would send you back a limited edition set. Finally, premium cards are special cards that cost more to buy. They have a UV coating that gives them a slick look. Also, the company only makes so many of these cards. "I Love Lucy" trading cards have only been produced in several sets that I know of. Pacific Trading Cards made "I Love Lucy TV Trading Cards" in 1991 under license from CBS. Each pack offered 10 cards, and the whole set was also sold in a plastic box for around $12-$15 in collectible/comic stores. The cards could be bought as the "I Love Lucy Collector's Set," with the entire 110 card series produced by Pacific Trading cards for CBS. Cards had a picture and caption, sometimes in four-color, on front, and an episode description and trivia on the back. Boxed set was $10.95; I paid $12 some years ago. The second set (see pic at top) is perhaps the more interesting of the two: "Moments & Memories of the Queen of Comedy: Lucy" was produced in 1995 by KRC INternational for CBS Inc. with the permission of Desilu Too, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz jr.'s company. The 100 cards came 10 to a pack, and if you found the "one special winner's card" you could send it in to receive the Golden Heart card, the "Gold Treasure" of the set. Pictures were all of Lucy, mostly solo, several each with Desi and the kids, throughout various stages of her career. Many are decidedly non-professional, in the best sense. I got a set of these 1995 cards for $15 several years ago; I later discovered I only have 1-80, so I'm still looking. Both sets are somewhat rare. Though Lucy fans may covet them, they are not heavily traded and thus there is no real incentive for a manufacturer to make them on a steady basis. So, buy the cards if you can find them (some are still in stores, others you’ll find on eBay or at flea markets) because you like them and want them, not as an investment. This is good advice for the collector in any category. No doubt 50 years from now the Lucy cards might be worth something because they’ve become scarce. But that’s not why you should buy them. Buy them for the enjoyment they’ll give you as you flip through the cards and remember details from the episodes of your favorite show.
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Trading Cards have been around for more than a hundred years. 1887 is the year given for the first baseball card. From 1887 to the present, billions of baseball cards have been produced. According to Sports Collector’s Digest, many of these cards were "home-made," and the first set also contained boxing, golf, and horse racing cards. Some cards are valued at ten cents, while others are valued at over one hundred thousand dollars. Size varied.
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