collecting boundaries
72skywalker
Posts: 1,545 ✭✭✭
Is it just me or is it really hard to stay focused on one collecting boundary that you set for yourself. I am just trying to collect only Yankee cards now but if i find nice cards cheap of other teams or sports I have to purchase them to see if I can use for trade or sell to fuel my Yankee collection. On the buy/sell/trade board I am offering some 1975 team sets. The cards are in really good shape and are nice. Even though I don't collect 1975 cards whenever I ship one team set out I feel bad and think that I somehow should save all the cards and build the set and now start collecting 1975 cards. I then have to talk myself into saying that I am doing the right thing and staying focused on Yankee cards. Does this kind of thing happen to others or is it just me and do I need to get professional help? (retorical question, don't really answer)
Collecting Yankees and vintage Star Wars
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Cards for me have been put mostly on the back burner and now I'm into adding more video games and HD-DVD movies to my collection.
Jeff
Miscut Museum
My Mess
<< <i>Boundaries, focus or limitations are words I do not comprehend.
Cards for me have been put mostly on the back burner and now I'm into adding more video games and HD-DVD movies to my collection. >>
Well, heck. When you collect miscut cards, do boundaries really enter into it at all???
Working on the following: 1970 Baseball PSA, 1970-1976 Raw, World Series Subsets PSA, 1969 Expansion Teams PSA, Fleer World Series Sets, Texas Rangers Topps Run 1972-1989
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Successful deals to date: thedudeabides,gameusedhoop,golfcollector,tigerdean,treetop,bkritz, CapeMOGuy,WeekendHacker,jeff8877,backbidder,Salinas,milbroco,bbuckner22,VitoCo1972,ddfamf,gemint,K,fatty macs,waltersobchak,dboneesq
<< <i>a fence is just there so you can hit a ball over it. >>
Or reach over it to alter a game if you're a Yankees fan.
Working on the following: 1970 Baseball PSA, 1970-1976 Raw, World Series Subsets PSA, 1969 Expansion Teams PSA, Fleer World Series Sets, Texas Rangers Topps Run 1972-1989
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Successful deals to date: thedudeabides,gameusedhoop,golfcollector,tigerdean,treetop,bkritz, CapeMOGuy,WeekendHacker,jeff8877,backbidder,Salinas,milbroco,bbuckner22,VitoCo1972,ddfamf,gemint,K,fatty macs,waltersobchak,dboneesq
<< <i>
<< <i>a fence is just there so you can hit a ball over it. >>
Or reach over it to alter a game if you're a Yankees fan.
Only important playoff games.
Working on the following: 1970 Baseball PSA, 1970-1976 Raw, World Series Subsets PSA, 1969 Expansion Teams PSA, Fleer World Series Sets, Texas Rangers Topps Run 1972-1989
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Successful deals to date: thedudeabides,gameusedhoop,golfcollector,tigerdean,treetop,bkritz, CapeMOGuy,WeekendHacker,jeff8877,backbidder,Salinas,milbroco,bbuckner22,VitoCo1972,ddfamf,gemint,K,fatty macs,waltersobchak,dboneesq
Basically, if it doesn't have a place here than I'm not interested.
<< <i>It took me 25 years, but I had to set boundaries with the number one priority of space. I was tired of moving boxes and storing cards instead of looking at them and enjoying them. So I sold off every duplicate single and set and have decided to limit myself to only certain cards and set.
Basically, if it doesn't have a place here than I'm not interested.
>>
Nice setup!!!
Working on the following: 1970 Baseball PSA, 1970-1976 Raw, World Series Subsets PSA, 1969 Expansion Teams PSA, Fleer World Series Sets, Texas Rangers Topps Run 1972-1989
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Successful deals to date: thedudeabides,gameusedhoop,golfcollector,tigerdean,treetop,bkritz, CapeMOGuy,WeekendHacker,jeff8877,backbidder,Salinas,milbroco,bbuckner22,VitoCo1972,ddfamf,gemint,K,fatty macs,waltersobchak,dboneesq
WTB: PSA 1 - PSA 3 Centered, High Eye Appeal 1950's Mantle
<< <i>It took me 25 years, but I had to set boundaries with the number one priority of space. I was tired of moving boxes and storing cards instead of looking at them and enjoying them. So I sold off every duplicate single and set and have decided to limit myself to only certain cards and set.
Basically, if it doesn't have a place here than I'm not interested.
That is really nice... Really nice. I kind of wish you did not show that to me because I am a little bit jealous now and hate my setup.
<< <i>It took me 25 years, but I had to set boundaries with the number one priority of space. I was tired of moving boxes and storing cards instead of looking at them and enjoying them. So I sold off every duplicate single and set and have decided to limit myself to only certain cards and set.
Basically, if it doesn't have a place here than I'm not interested.
>>
Get rid of the encyclopedias (???), then you'll have even more space for cards (and related stuff)!
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For me, I AM FOCUSED 100% of the time, I collect one player and that's it. That has been my objective/mission since 1999! Occasionally I buy other stuff for trading/flipping and don't consider it interference of my foucus.
Since then I've sold most of my massive collection which included hockey sets from 1970-1989, various high grade PSA HOF cards, game used sticks and pucks which were given to me by a friend who is a retired NHL linesman, 250+ signed pucks, and various old items.
They were displayed in my "office/memorabilia room" on book shelves that went around three sides of the walls and I had dealer-like display cases along the fourth wall. I wish I had taken pictures (I didn't even own a digital camera then!) but I do have a video I made for insurance reasons, I'll see if I can find it and take a few screen shots.
Since then I've been carrying around a lot of the items with me from school to school, selling a little here, a little there - about a year ago I made the decision to get rid of some of the items that mean the most to me...everything is almost gone...and in a weird but sad way - thank goodness.
But a lot of us change our collecting goals pretty regularly. When I put that memorabilia room together I was simply transferring a lot of the things I had collected as a kid into my home. I can't carry it with me so it had to go.
I thought collecting would be a nice outlet for me with school -- but I got a little carried away with it when I was putting together a player registry set and then lost interest in it for various reasons -- mainly because the set was based on subjectivity and that zapped the fun out of it.
On a personal note which I don't mind sharing, in August I was diagnosed with ADD and have been trying to help correct it as much as I possibly can. For part of the treatment I've been speaking with a psychiatrist and he's particularly interested in my collecting habits -- seems like a lot of collectors share the same characteristics as people with ADD.
Since I've been taking actions to correct ADD my collecting has shifted back to the way it was when I was a kid, that is, I collect what I like -- keeping the collection very small, not worrying about the grade on the flip and honestly I've been having more fun lately collecting
<< <i>
<< <i>It took me 25 years, but I had to set boundaries with the number one priority of space. I was tired of moving boxes and storing cards instead of looking at them and enjoying them. So I sold off every duplicate single and set and have decided to limit myself to only certain cards and set.
Basically, if it doesn't have a place here than I'm not interested.
>>
Get rid of the encyclopedias (???), then you'll have even more space for cards (and related stuff)!
--
For me, I AM FOCUSED 100% of the time, I collect one player and that's it. That has been my objective/mission since 1999! Occasionally I buy other stuff for trading/flipping and don't consider it interference of my foucus. >>
Those aint no encyclopedias
The shelf where I have the PSA cards is from RookieWax (thank you) and the 1988 OPC Gretzky on the end is from Hallco (also, thank you).
What I am doing there is building the Gretzky set with his main OPC cards from 1979-1989.
'82 and '89 are in the mail, which leaves '79, '83 through '87. The '79 on the wall is not real and is only for display purposes until I find a nice Authentic grade at a decent price.
Instead of collecting high grade, I'm going very low grade. The 1980 is a PSA 2 and I am very happy with it. Seems like there are more 7s through 10s on eBay...the lower graded ones are a bit harder to find, so this will be an ongoing project (which is a good thing).
The '81 OPC Stickers I keep on my bookshelf and am building the set signed through TTM and show signings. Another long term project -- and both are relatively inexpensive.
After school when I settle down again I don't think I'll have a collection like I did the first time.
There is nothing wrong with shifting collecting preferences, but consider this: when it gets to the point where you obsess with every single grade on a card or try to complete the entire set around some stray card you find in your collection because you feel obligated to, then this is where that fine line of pathological OCD has been crossed.
Mullins, you bring up ADD, but I am wondering if obsessing with the grade on the slab is not OCD related.
There are many sets I am interested in and I can obsess all day long with it, but I also know that I have no space for that stuff, so I have to fight myself into letting all these aspirations go. As much as I like Upper Deck from 1989, Leaf of 1990, Fleer Ultra 1991, Topps Stadium Club 1991, etc, I just decided to get cards from those years of the players I like and that is it. Finished. You kind of have to fight with yourself and get it in your head that you cannot collect that, but at the same time compromise. A few 1989 Upper Deck cards of 15 players is all I need to enjoy the set.
When you get bent out of shape or become obsessed about card condition or completing all these sets, running out of space, being buried alive in all your stuff, it is time to do some self reflection. A hobby needs to bring some peace and tranquility, not haste, obsession or anxiety.
BST: Tennessebanker, Downtown1974, LarkinCollector, nendee
<< <i>It took me 25 years, but I had to set boundaries with the number one priority of space. I was tired of moving boxes and storing cards
instead of looking at them and enjoying them. So I sold off every duplicate single and set and have decided to limit myself to only certain cards and set.
Basically, if it doesn't have a place here than I'm not interested.
Jaderock - Mullins5 is correct, not encyclopedias, but complete sets in Unikeep archival binders.
Mullins5 - Like the Gretzky collection - I would like a graded OPC and Topps rookie and have just the space for both, but for now I will wait. I have a raw Topps, but suspect it is a little short and might not grade.
Tony
On my budget, that should be more than enough to keep me busy.
-CDs Nuts, 1/20/14
*1956 Topps baseball- 97.4% complete, 7.24 GPA
*Clemente basic set: 85.0% complete, 7.89 GPA
<< <i>but if i find nice cards cheap >>
Good question or POV that comes up from time to time...
My rules that have taken me over 30 yrs of collecting to kinda learn/adhere to:
1. Have a FOCUS.
2. Have a BUDGET.
3. With respect to finding "cheap" stuff - YOU CAN GO BROKE SAVING MONEY on ebay.
4. If ya find something ya have to buy and have no money? All and all, with some exceptions - another will come down the pike in a few months.
5. STAY on focus and budget.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
...and his rules to live by
Very hard to stay focused, but collect what you like, and what you can enjoy. I have been narrowing down my collection for 15 years, and I always get side tracked. I have taken a few bad beats and made a few good ones more importantly I have encountered many friends along the way. I have no problem buying lots of cards for a good price and selling and trading duplicates. I you want a ton of Yanks send me a Pm and all I would like is some red sox!
<< <i>Collectors in general have attributes of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) to varying degrees. So, that will explain why one wants to finish a set if one comes across a few nice cards of a given year.
There is nothing wrong with shifting collecting preferences, but consider this: when it gets to the point where you obsess with every single grade on a card or try to complete the entire set around some stray card you find in your collection because you feel obligated to, then this is where that fine line of pathological OCD has been crossed.
Mullins, you bring up ADD, but I am wondering if obsessing with the grade on the slab is not OCD related.
When you get bent out of shape or become obsessed about card condition or completing all these sets, running out of space, being buried alive in all your stuff, it is time to do some self reflection. A hobby needs to bring some peace and tranquility, not haste, obsession or anxiety. >>
DeutscherGeist,
I think it is partially OCD related in my case. People with ADD can share the same characteristics as those with OCD.
What really upset me about the grades on the flip were the inconsistencies. A lot of cards were purchased on eBay and when they arrived there would be the occasional crease on an 8 or stain on the 9, yet when I subbed what appeared to be NM-MT to Mint cards they always got a beating from the grader. I obsessed about the grade on the flip, yes, but wasn't satisfied unless the card inside really represented that grade.
mcolney1,
Thanks for the compliment. If you suspect your Gretzky is short I think it would still be worth getting an "AUTHENTIC - TRIMMED" grade on it. Seems like the Authentic grade is bringing in quite a bit of money on both the OPC and Topps right about now -- could put the money to a nice graded one.
<< <i>Amazing setup. Ok, on the binders, you've got to run down what you have in your collection. That looks like 50 years of cards.
Complete sets: Baseball 1970-1985 Topps, 1970-1983 Kelloggs, Football 1964-1989 Topps, Philly, Kelloggs, Score, 1969-1982 Topps Basketball, 1969-1986 Topps Hockey with a few OPC sets. Anything pre 1964 (year I was born) is mostly football. I'm 26 graded cards away from having every HOF from 1933 to 1963 (Topps, Bowman, Chicle and Sports Kings).
<< <i>I suffer from SADD... Sportscard Attention Deficit Disorder. Although, with help, I've been able to curtail much of the frivolous spending and find focus on . . . OH, LOOK . . a squirrel!!! >>
bahahahahahahaha,,,, oh snit that made my day,, "oh look a squirrel",, man thats funny stuff,, bahahahahahaha,,, bj