The Korda Collection and Others Viewable at The Smithsonian

storm888 · October 15, 2009 5:47AM

Looks like this guy collected at least one of almost everything.

Korda

The contents can be privately viewed, by appointment; six-boxes
at a time, and the cards "cannot be removed from their plastic sleeves."

Visiting The Collections

.........................

Poking around the SI-website, you will find ZILLIONS of cards and collectibles
that are available for a private looksee.

"...The Archives Center, located in a public area on the 1st floor of the Museum, can be
reached by both the Mall and Constitution Avenue entrances. Researchers can come
directly to the Archives Center from either entrance..."

Morgoth · October 15, 2009 6:18AM

Definately a cool collection and very diverse but I was expecting it to be a little more vintage and less heavy on 90s releases that are clogging landfills to this day.

I guess I figured the only way into the Smithsonian would be if you had something like the Lionel collection.

storm888 · October 15, 2009 6:35AM

"...I guess I figured the only way into the Smithsonian would be if you had something like the Lionel collection. .."

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I thought that too, when I first read the contents.

The deeper you get into the index, the more clear
it becomes that the collection was "interesting" due
to it covering a long time period AND being diverse
as to the types of items in the mix. (Toys, comics, etc.)

The SI likely figured they would get examples of stuff
that, while not currently valuable, would be needed in
the future anyway. They accepted the lesser stuff and
got the good stuff too.

Korda being famous likely encouraged SI, too. It was
also in his family's financial interest, obviously, to be
able to dump the whole thing in one spot.

.......

I think SI still has the IRS-approved "home curator"
scheme.

Donors can keep the items in their home/office,
receive tax benefits, and the items will not be
delivered until the donor expires.

Sabrgeek · October 15, 2009 8:09AM

For those who might not remember; Ron Korda wrote a long-term column for Baseball Hobby News. I'm glad to see a reference to him and that brings up good memories of chatting with him at the old Gloria Rothstein White Plains shows.

As an FYI; I sent a copy of this thread to Frank Barning; editor of Baseball Hobby News; who loved reading this and also informed me that Ron had passed away a few years ago.

Both Frank and myself agree that Ron was a terrific person; good writer and devoted collector.

Rich Klein

Nathaniel1960 · October 15, 2009 8:18AM

HMMM....reviewed the collection, except for a nice run of Topps Baseball, condition unknown, I was not impressed. Certainly not Smithsonianesque.

In fact, it reminded me of a dealer blow-out junk table at a card show. 90% of the collection could be replaced with the bulk lot the board members got on the road trip a few months back.

storm888 · October 15, 2009 9:41AM

The attraction of the collection is not that each item is
valuable.

The attraction is that ONE guy put together an example
of just about everything between 1952 and 1996.

While such a collection might eventually be duplicated
by buying them a few at a time, it would be a MAJOR
hassle AND take a long time.

............................................................................................

A few of the items included:

SETS

1952 Topps Baseball set (1-156)
1952 Topps Baseball set (157-221)
1952 Topps Baseball set (222-299)
1952 Topps Baseball set (300-407)
1953 Topps Baseball set (1-144)
1953 Topps Baseball set (145-280)
1954 Topps Baseball set (1-126)
1954 Topps Baseball set (127-250)
1955 Topps Baseball set (1-114)
1955 Topps Baseball set (115-210)
1956 Topps Baseball set (1-108)
1956 Topps Baseball set (109-222)
1956 Topps Baseball set (223-340)
1957 Topps Baseball set (1-124)
1957 Topps Baseball set (125-261)
1957 Topps Baseball set (262-407)
1958 Topps Baseball set (1-176)
1958 Topps Baseball set (177-343)
1958 Topps Baseball set (344-495)
1959 Topps Baseball set (1-178)
1959 Topps Baseball set (179-364)
1959 Topps Baseball set (365-572)
1960 Topps Baseball set (1-197)
1960 Topps Baseball set (198-389)
1960 Topps Baseball set (390-572)
1961 Topps Baseball set (1-135)
1961 Topps Baseball set (136-288)
1961 Topps Baseball set (289-405)
1961 Topps Baseball set (406-589)
1962 Topps Baseball set (1-126)
1962 Topps Baseball set (127-252)
1962 Topps Baseball set (253-432)
1962 Topps Baseball set (433-598)
1963 Topps Baseball set (1-189)
1963 Topps Baseball set (190-360)
1963 Topps Baseball set (361-576)
1964 Topps Baseball set (1-135)
1964 Topps Baseball set (136-279)
1964 Topps Baseball set (280-405)
1964 Topps Baseball set (406-587)
1964 Topps Coins (All-Star set only)
1964 Topps Giants
1965 Topps Baseball set (1-133)
1965 Topps Baseball set (134-274)
1965 Topps Baseball set (275-378)
1965 Topps Baseball set (379-485)
1965 Topps Baseball set (486-598)
1966 Topps Baseball set (1-153)
1966 Topps Baseball set (154-288)
1966 Topps Baseball set (289-441)
1966 Topps Baseball set (442-597)
1967 Topps Baseball set (1-206)
1967 Topps Baseball set (207-395)
1967 Topps Baseball set (396-609)
1968 Topps Baseball set (1-198)
1968 Topps Baseball set (199-405)
1968 Topps Baseball set (406-598)
1969 Topps Baseball set (1-216)
1969 Topps Baseball set (217-441)
1969 Topps Baseball set (442-664)
1970 Topps Baseball set (1-198)
1970 Topps Baseball set (199-396)
1970 Topps Baseball set (397-603)
1970 Topps Baseball set (604-720)
1971 Topps Baseball set (1-189)
1971 Topps Baseball set (190-378)
1971 Topps Baseball set (379-567)
1971 Topps Baseball set (568-752 + 2 advertising cards from Baseball Card News)
1972 Topps Baseball set (1-198)
1972 Topps Baseball set (199-396)
1972 Topps Baseball set (397-594)
1972 Topps Baseball set (595-787)

PACKS

1951 Topps Red Backs

1962 Topps

1966 Topps

1968 Topps

1970 Topps

1971 Topps

1971 Topps Baseball Tattoos

1972 Topps

1973 Topps (4)

1974 Topps (3)

1975 Topps (2)

1976 Topps

1977 Topps

1977 Topps Cloth Sitckers

1978 Topps

1978 Topps Burger King Yankees Cards

1979 Topps

1979 Topps Burger King Philadelphia Player Cards

1979 Topps Burger King Yankees Cards

1980 Topps

1980 Topps Hunts Bread

1980 Topps Kmart

1980 Topps Mrs. Butterworth's Syrup

1980 Topps Squirt

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For the Non_Sports Folks:

Subseries II-A: Mass media and entertainment

Subseries II-A-1: Films

Subseries II-A-1-a: Live action films

Subseries II-A-1-b: Animated films

Subseries II-A-2: Television shows

Subseries II-A-2-a: Live action shows

Subseries II-A-2-b: Animated shows

Subseries II-A-3: Music

Subseries II-A-3-a: Individual performers

Subseries II-A-3-b: Bands

Subseries II-A-3-c: Mixed sets

Subseries II-B: Educational cards

Subseries II-B-1: Geography and world history

Subseries II-B-2: Astronomy and space exploration

Subseries II-B-3: Animals

Subseries II-B-4: Prehistoric life

Subseries II-B-5: Health

Subseries II-B-6: Environment

Subseries II-B-7: Facts and trivia

Subseries II-B-8: Politics and government

Subseries II-C: Comic books and strips

Subseries II-C-1: Action comics

Subseries II-C-1-a: DC Comics

Subseries II-C-1-b: Marvel Comics

Subseries II-C-1-c: Dark Horse Comics

Subseries II-C-1-d: Other publishers and independents

Subseries II-C-2: Humor comic books and other magazines

Subseries II-C-3: Newspaper comic strips

Subseries II-D: Toys and action figures

Subseries II-E: Literature, including children's

Subseries II-F: Automotive themes

Subseries II-F-1: Cars

Subseries II-F-2: Trucks

Subseries II-F-3: Motorcycles

Subseries II-G: Crime and law enforcement
Subseries II-H: Military topics

Subseries II-H-1: General military topics

Subseries II-H-2: World War II

Subseries II-H-3: Vietnamese conflict

Subseries II-H-4: Persian Gulf War

Subseries II-I: Biography

Subseries II-I-1: Political personalities

Subseries II-I-2: Film and radio personalities

Subseries II-I-3: Religious persons

Subseries II-J: Fine arts

Subseries II-K: Adult themes

Subseries II-L: Beauty contests

Subseries II-M: Video Games

Subseries II-N: Parodies

Subseries II-O: Product advertising

Subseries II-P: Fantasy art

Subseries II-Q: Monsters

Subseries II-R: Card games

Subseries II-S: Stickers, patches and tattoos

Subseries II-T: Toys, games, puzzles, jokes, postcards and posters

Subseries II-U: Pogs, caps and gum wrappers

Subseries II-U-1: Sports

Subseries II-U-2: Films, live action

Subseries II-U-3: Films, animated

Subseries II-U-4: Music

Subseries II-U-5: Educational

Subseries II-U-6: Comic books and strips

Subseries II-U-7: Product advertising

Subseries II-U-8: Miscellaneous

Subseries II-V: Oversize, all topics

Subseries II-V-1: Films

Subseries II-V-2: Television

Subseries II-V-3: Music

Subseries II-V-4: Toys and action figures

Subseries II-V-5: Stickers, patches and tattoos

Subseries II-V-6: Toys, games, puzzles, postcards and posters

Subseries II-V-7: Religious personalities

Subseries II-W: Non-card items

Non-Sports

....................

The Korda Collection and Others Viewable at The Smithsonian

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