Evolution of a Collection- Scan Heavy and a little long
Beck6
Posts: 1,038 ✭✭✭
I have been cleaning out my photobucket, but I have been looking back through the last several years and can almost trace my collecting interest from the scans I have kept. I thought it was interesting to see what I have owned and what I have actually kept. I have not kept all of these cards, but they were cool to look at. Some of you might even have these cards in your collection now.
Stage 1- I am going to be rich
I started collecting graded after purchasing a graded beckett price guide. I found this website and started to learn about PSA and started subbing anything without a crease in it thinking I would get all PSA 8's and probably a few PSA 10's. Here are some of my early results. I thought all of these were gold that I picked up that were atleast 8's. This was like shooting fish in a barrel. I subbed commons, stars, HOFers. They all looked like 10's to me.
Stage 2- Maybe I should read PSA Guidelines
I started to learn about standards for grading and subbed fewer cards. I started to buy graded on ebay and my subs became fewer cards, but grades improved. I started to appreciate cards that were made before 1960. I started a T222 set because I thought they were cool. Little did I know how difficult this project would be. I even spent over $100 on a card and even placed a bid or two at an auction house. VCP was the bible and I would never pay more than the average. Why would you? I did not understand what cards were difficult to find centered or even in high grade. Low pop commons were hot and I subbed tons of PSA 9's from 1985, 1981 and 1986. Probably spent $1000 and sold the two PSA 10's I got for $75 total. Lesson learned.
Stage 3- This is going to be expensive
I sold a ton of cards out of my collection to purchase a "white whale" on my list. 1952 Jackie Robinson. Gateway drug for me. I started selling off cards that were not exactly what I wanted and buying the highest grade possible of cards I could afford. My collection got smaller, but the grades got higher. I purchased more cards from auction houses and paying attention to cards that did not come up often or never seemed to be centered. I even sent some stuff to an auction house to sell.
This is probably where I am today. I don't really buy as an investment, but I am very aware of what I buy and try not to pay above what I think a card is worth.
Stage 1- I am going to be rich
I started collecting graded after purchasing a graded beckett price guide. I found this website and started to learn about PSA and started subbing anything without a crease in it thinking I would get all PSA 8's and probably a few PSA 10's. Here are some of my early results. I thought all of these were gold that I picked up that were atleast 8's. This was like shooting fish in a barrel. I subbed commons, stars, HOFers. They all looked like 10's to me.
Stage 2- Maybe I should read PSA Guidelines
I started to learn about standards for grading and subbed fewer cards. I started to buy graded on ebay and my subs became fewer cards, but grades improved. I started to appreciate cards that were made before 1960. I started a T222 set because I thought they were cool. Little did I know how difficult this project would be. I even spent over $100 on a card and even placed a bid or two at an auction house. VCP was the bible and I would never pay more than the average. Why would you? I did not understand what cards were difficult to find centered or even in high grade. Low pop commons were hot and I subbed tons of PSA 9's from 1985, 1981 and 1986. Probably spent $1000 and sold the two PSA 10's I got for $75 total. Lesson learned.
Stage 3- This is going to be expensive
I sold a ton of cards out of my collection to purchase a "white whale" on my list. 1952 Jackie Robinson. Gateway drug for me. I started selling off cards that were not exactly what I wanted and buying the highest grade possible of cards I could afford. My collection got smaller, but the grades got higher. I purchased more cards from auction houses and paying attention to cards that did not come up often or never seemed to be centered. I even sent some stuff to an auction house to sell.
This is probably where I am today. I don't really buy as an investment, but I am very aware of what I buy and try not to pay above what I think a card is worth.
Registry Sets:
T222's PSA 1 or better
T222's PSA 1 or better
0
Comments
Matt
I collect: 80’s Rookies and 86 Fleer Basketball
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stupid print dots
Love the Jackie!!!
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Collecting:
Any unopened Baseball cello and rack packs and boxes from the 1970's and early 1980s.