Definition
"Vintage" is a category descriptor for items from an earlier era. The exact threshold varies by category: cards from pre-1980 (or pre-1969) are typically considered vintage; movie posters from pre-1980; toys from pre-1985. Vintage status often (but not always) commands premiums tied to scarcity and historical significance.
Why it matters
Vintage and modern categories trade in different ways and respond to different factors. Modern is heavily population-driven; vintage is more condition-driven on an absolute basis.
Example
A 1969 Topps baseball card set is considered vintage. A 2023 Topps Update set is modern. Both can be valuable; the value drivers are different.