Every year cigarette card values are revised to reflect the changes in the market which has occurred in the previous 12 months, unlike other markets though the new prices come out three months before the new prices take effect which creates something of a grey market during that period. There is also an element of pre-judging the market when trends can be anticipated. For example the prices of football related cards rose for 1998 which accurately predicted an increase in demand for these cards because of the World Cup effect. The prices do not go down again but might remain stable for a period and allow inflation to eat away at the cost of the cards. Finding a bit of card that is 100 years old is probably not that difficult Frequently people ask me why a set of cards is more expensive than another.
Classic examples are what are called ' alike series'.
These are basically the same set but are issued by different manufacturers. Often in the world of cigarette manufacture these companies are owned by the same person. Given demand can be considered similar for those sets it is simply that one set was produced in greater numbers. The price difference remains because the manufacturers name provides enough differentiation. Just an example of badging.