What do you guys consider "Vintage"?

billwaltonsbeard · September 8, 2008 2:27PM

I just want to get an idea of what most collectors consider the cut off point for what cards can be called "vintage"

VitoCo1972 · September 8, 2008 2:36PM

Pre 1909
1909-1947
1948-1979
1980-Pres

I look at these as the 4 Era breakdowns. I think vintage has to fall somewhere 1969 or before.

diamondman · September 8, 2008 2:47PM

<< I just want to get an idea of what most collectors consider the cut off point for what cards can be called "vintage" >>

vintage anything older than me!

elsnorto · September 8, 2008 3:11PM

My personal definition is anything older than 1970.

Snorto~

djspann · September 8, 2008 4:17PM

I generally consider 1955 and older to be "vintage". I collect mostly football cards, and this year signifies Bowman's last year, and Topps' first. For some intangible reason, I also draw a line near 1955. This may be because of what was available to me when I started collecting -- anything older than 1955 was much more rare. It may also be because of the transition in players -- quarterbacks like Baugh, Luckman, Conerly, Graham giving way to Unitas, Starr, Tarkenton, etc. Unitas, Starr, Tarkenton are young enough that I can either remember watching them play or they were talked about a lot when I was young -- Baugh, Luckman, etc. are old enough that I've generally only read about them, or watched a few clips on ESPN classic.

Doug

schr1st · September 8, 2008 4:27PM

At this point, I'd have to say up to 1980 would be "vintage". Enough years have passed, and with the introduction of Fleer and Donruss in 1981, the hobby entered a new era. For a while, I would have said 1973 and back (with the change to 1 series in 1974), but that no longer seems to be sufficient.

storm888 · September 8, 2008 5:17PM

I think of "vintage cards" as those produced pre-1960.

A fairly sensible case can be made that 1960 to 1969 falls into the category, though.

stevek · September 8, 2008 7:01PM

<< I just want to get an idea of what most collectors consider the cut off point for what cards can be called "vintage" >>

Basically, it's usually pre-1970 for the classification as "vintage" and then the "hard-core" vintage only collectors usually further categorize cards as pre-WW2 which was before Topps was in business.

ajw · September 8, 2008 10:14PM

For me, 1976 and older is vintage.

I draw the line there because when I was a kid (born in 1974) the oldest cards in my collection were from 1977. So, anything older than those were from before my time.

lsutigers1973 · September 8, 2008 10:37PM

My oldest child is 15, does that make vintage for her 1992?

fiveniner · September 8, 2008 10:42PM

pre 70

leathtech · September 8, 2008 10:44PM

Personally I would consider anything older than me... so pre-74.

uyu906 · September 8, 2008 10:53PM

for me: pre-1980

bifff257 · September 8, 2008 11:27PM

<< What do you guys consider "Vintage"? >>

For me it would be Pre-1980....

ymarea · September 8, 2008 11:34PM

To me, "vintage" means anything that I can't afford.

RonBurgundy · September 9, 2008 12:04AM

True vintage: 67 and before.

Semi-vintage: 68-75.

Kind of vintage: 76-80.

Everything else: Crap.

1989FleerBillRipkencollector · September 9, 2008 12:21AM

Pre '80.

This guy thinks 80's - 90's

This dealer feels vintage is 1993.

WinPitcher · September 9, 2008 12:45AM

To me 'vintage' means cards produced 1945 and before.

It also could mean to someone vintage 1993 packs.

The word vintage I thought meant the year something (wine) was produced?

Back to the theme of this thread:

1945 and b4
1946-73
1974-91
1992 to date.

Steve

mreuter · September 9, 2008 12:54AM

<< At this point, I'd have to say up to 1980 would be "vintage". Enough years have passed, and with the introduction of Fleer and Donruss in 1981, the hobby entered a new era. For a while, I would have said 1973 and back (with the change to 1 series in 1974), but that no longer seems to be sufficient. >>

I'm with this one.

Stone193 · September 9, 2008 1:27AM

Since this term is so relative to the age of the person...

I think the term has been rendered moot in our hobby?

I can't define it anymore - but I know it when I see it.

I remember when a guy in my platoon told us he was 26 - we thought he was ancient!

mike

Griffins · September 9, 2008 1:32AM

pre WW2.

TomGshotput · September 9, 2008 1:42AM

<< vintage anything older than me! >>

Unless she is really cute. . .

Ironmanfan · September 9, 2008 1:50AM

<< To me, "vintage" means anything that I can't afford.

>>

I think this definition is the best

billwaltonsbeard · September 9, 2008 2:14AM

<< At this point, I'd have to say up to 1980 would be "vintage". Enough years have passed, and with the introduction of Fleer and Donruss in 1981, the hobby entered a new era. For a while, I would have said 1973 and back (with the change to 1 series in 1974), but that no longer seems to be sufficient. >>

I agree with this opinion as well.

Blackborder · September 9, 2008 2:18AM

<< pre WW2. >>

Agreed.

11235813 · September 9, 2008 2:24AM

I'd go with Ron's definition...

Personally, though, I'd say that true vintage is anything pre-1976....

PoppaJ · September 9, 2008 2:41AM

Pre-1970

PoppaJ

msassin · September 9, 2008 5:23AM

<< Pre 1909
1909-1947
1948-1979
1980-Pres

I look at these as the 4 Era breakdowns. I think vintage has to fall somewhere 1969 or before. >>

Pretty much agree with this breakdown other than I group the 1st two together (since I really don't have anything from the late 1800's)

perkdog · September 9, 2008 5:25AM

Pre 1960 when Im looking for Vintage Football

shouldabeena10 · September 9, 2008 5:42AM

Pre 1980 when I'm trading
Pre 1960 when I'm buying
Pre 2008 when I'm selling

Wana buy some vintage?

PoppaJ · September 9, 2008 6:27AM

<< Pre 1980 when I'm trading
Pre 1960 when I'm buying
Pre 2008 when I'm selling

Wana buy some vintage? >>

Great Avatar ... Peter Griffin for Pres!

BobaFett72 · September 9, 2008 8:02AM

pre 1970.

DrJ · September 9, 2008 9:08AM

Anything from the previous millenia.

nearmint · September 9, 2008 9:29AM

I'll go with pre-1970.

LEHR · September 9, 2008 9:54AM

I've always considered pre-1970 as vintage.

bikerider60 · September 9, 2008 11:02AM

1960 or earlier....

Boopotts · September 9, 2008 2:16PM

<< I'd go with Ron's definition...

Personally, though, I'd say that true vintage is anything pre-1976.... >>

Agreed. I've always thought of 1975 as being the cut-off, although now that I think about it I don't know why.

RipublicaninMass · September 9, 2008 2:34PM

Anything older than me!! Pre-1976

nearmint · September 9, 2008 10:25PM

<< Personally, though, I'd say that true vintage is anything pre-1976.... >>

Agreed. I've always thought of 1975 as being the cut-off, although now that I think about it I don't know why. >>

I was trying to think of a logical place to draw the line. Something like vintage cards are cards that only kids collected, and they played with them and banged them around. So out-of-the-pack condition is somewhat rare. Modern cards are those printed after adults started getting into the game, and people started taking care of them right out of the pack.

estang · September 9, 2008 10:49PM

1981 as it marks the end of Topps' monopoly & signifies the transition of cards as a business. Beckett was in its 3rd year of publishing an annual price almanac/guide & the proliferation of storing cards in plastic pages.

I have to agree with Beckett Grading when using vintage as pre-1981.

I'd rather think of things in "eras" as opposed to "vintage or not vintage". Vintage can be very subjective to one's personal age & recollection. I don't see a difference between 1969 to 1970 or 1975 to 1976 --- nothing significant happened between these years.

A tobacco card collector would scoff at my post.

nam812 · September 9, 2008 10:58PM

I've always thought of 1973 as the cut off for vintage because, as stated above, 1973 was the last year you could buy packs by series.

fattymacs · September 9, 2008 11:21PM

I agree with 1973 and older.

fkw · September 11, 2008 1:51PM

Topps cards are NOT Vintage! Period IMO

19th Century (1868-1899)
PreWar (1900-1941)
PostWar (1942-1969)
Modern (1970-Now)

Vintage = Pre-Topps (pre1950)

cardbender · September 11, 2008 1:56PM

<< I've always thought of 1973 as the cut off for vintage because, as stated above, 1973 was the last year you could buy packs by series. >>

That's my cutoff too. Anything prior to Topps issuing cards in one series, so that would be 1973 and earlier. It's 35+ years old too which is more than one generation.

What do you guys consider &quot;Vintage&quot;?

Comments

What do you guys consider "Vintage"?