Would you trade your ENTIRE collection for 1 card?

[quinnsryche]

Another weird question from me :) If you had the opportunity to trade your entire card collection for that 1 special card, would you do it? Now I don't mean your stockpile of 1987 Topps Bobby Thigpen rookies for a T206 Wagner! What I am getting at is a fair value trade, if your collection books at 10K or 50K or a million dollars and the other card also is valued as such, would you do it? Now the pretext is the single card is your "holy grail" and for argument sake, this would be the only chance for you to EVER own said card. Would anyone or everyone be comfortable owning 1 single, special card as their "collection" or is it the whole that does it for you? If you answer yes you would, what would that card be? My only hope for this post is to see what the different mindsets there are out there.
Thanks!:D

[Robextend]

That is a good question, I would say no. I'd rather have hundreds of quality cards over just one.

[botn]

Ok. I'll play...

I would trade what ever it took from my collection for an E135 Jackson and/or an E107 Wagner.

[T206Collector]

I had 521 of the T206 set and sold about 400 of them to make a run at Lionel Carter's Eddie Plank in the April 2007 Mastro Auction. Fortunately, I did not have to part with my Mathewson or my Cobb cards (full disclosure), but I did essentially liquidate my T206 set in order to get 1 T206 card. I have never regretted this decision, although I do occasionally miss 1 or 2 of my former cards....

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vQgdcfP1v8VowzOpc8lpJw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ys7fw31kTDs/Rro7PLIOUrI/AAAAAAAABCE/ing6Ej1hPh4/s800/Plank%20SGC%2010.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/pmifsud3d/SGCGradedCards?feat=embedwebsite">SGC Graded Cards</a></td></tr></table>

.....and now I am slowly putting together a raw PR-VG set and am about half way there. So, I am getting them back, to some degree. :D

[FUBAR]

Definite No from me, i collect what makes me happy and personally would rather have 100 cards valued at $500 then 1 card at 50k.

[Matt]

Not a chance - even at greater value. You can only look at a single card for so long.

[JamesGallo]

It's funny I never thought I would consider this, but after talking with someone over the weekend that maintains a small 25 card collection and not more then that it is something I am considering. His reasoning was if something ever happened to him it would be a lot easier for his wife to deal with 25 expensive cards over 500 or more cheaper cards. This really got me thinking about my set collecting and I will probably narrow down the set collecting.

So at this point I would say yes I would do it, and depending on the card I might have always done it.

James G

[tbob]

Absolutely not. Not even for the best T206 Wagner on the planet. :cool:

[Leon]

As a person who likes variety there is just no way I could do it in a collecting vein. If it were purely monetary, maybe.

[Wesley]

I would do it in a heartbeat. If for one of my dream cards (T206 Wagner, E107 Wagner or T210 Jackson) I would be happy to trade an entire collection worth similar value.

[teetwoohsix]

Great question Tony. I've often asked myself this,and each time I end up thinking "no".Right now,I really enjoy going through them all,staring at each one for awhile,and it never gets old.I don't know if I would get the same pleasure of pulling out just one card,staring at it,and putting it away.

T206Collector,I don't know if I could've done what you did,but look what you have now!!I am always very impressed with your signed T206 collection!!!It is amazing that you have so many signed T206's (and a Plank to boot!!).

Sincerely,Clayton

[JasonL]

Umm,....no

[T206Collector]

T206Collector,I don't know if I could've done what you did,but look what you have now!!I am always very impressed with your signed T206 collection!!!It is amazing that you have so many signed T206's (and a Plank to boot!!).

Sincerely,Clayton


Thanks Clayton! Now, I wouldn't have traded my entire signed T206 card collection for that Plank -- but I might do it for a nicely signed T206 Cobb card!

[Bosox Blair]

Nope.

I am a collector - I have an urge to collect. For me this means a long-term goal (or goals) I chip away at. I have already put years into this, and I would never trade it all away for any dream card of equivalent market value.

Cheers,
Blair

[deadballera]

I am with the majority and prefer to keep more cards that are worth less than just own one card.

[ChiefBenderForever]

I would say no because I enjoy my Bender collection very much,but to get started and maintain it I sold most of my previous collection so call me hypocrite!

[brianp-beme]

Absolutely not...that would require too much focus on my part, and like a magnifying glass in the sun, this would result in a little burn hole in the card.

Brian

[birdman42]

Does the "Big One" make any sense without the context of the rest of your collection? Do you want the Halla because it's a beautiful object on its own, or because it completes your 1911 Zeenuts? If you don't have any other Zeenuts, what would you do with the Halla?

On the other hand, (yes, I am a trained economist) I think I would be tempted to make the trade. I could consider my former cards as my very enjoyable way of saving up for the "Big One." And, as in the set-for-a-Plank trade, you can always begin "saving up" again. I suppose that if your trade bait contained items that were just as hard to find as your Grail, you might not ever have the chance to replace them at any price. Nevertheless, it's worth considering.

Bill

[HRBAKER]

No, maybe it's the Tiger Woods in me but I prefer variety.

[ethicsprof]

No.
there are so many wonderful types to love and so many beloved T206s.

No, never.

best,

barry

[Wesley]

No, maybe it's the Tiger Woods in me but I prefer variety.

:D

[Bicem]

nah, would get bored with just one.

[B O'Brien]

No way.
Bob

[sb1]

Not all it's cracked up to be :(

[4815162342]

Not all it's cracked up to be :(

What did you trade and what did you trade for?

[sb1]

Got this, traded some irreplaceable cards.

[shammus]

I don't think I could do it, even if the monetary advantage was well in my favor.

At the end of the day, I'm a collector and I'll break cards out of their plastic prisons so I can look at them and their "same-set-bretheran" in a binder. There's too much enjoyment in a "group of cards" for me and I think that even if the one card was really spectacular, I'd miss having the "quantity" too.

Another thing, much of what's in my collection now came from a lot of trades, a lot of effort, a lot of chasing, a lot of waiting, a lot of sacrifice...etc..etc..etc... I don't think I'd want to eradicate all my hard work and then just have one really special card to show for it all....

[bbcard1]

Different answer...I collected all through the wild 80s days and dealt pretty heavily...I probably have 500,000 cards in all. And I am quite sure I could be very happy if I could whittle it down to 100 cards plus my Marshall University collection. On the other hand, I am constantly looking for new dragons to slay. Currently, I am thinking of a t206 short set (one of each major leaguer, allowing comparable size substitues for the super rare ones) and a really comprehensive Bill White collection (he seems underappreciated).

[base_ball]

If I had a large collection and I knew my end was near I would absolutely trade many cards for one card of equal value. It would make life so much easier for my heirs.

[36GoudeyMan]

Like many others who have posted, I collect, and I like the variety and goal-orientation of collecting. But if I could think of a single card I wanted THAT badly (and I don't really want a T206 Wagner, honestly), I might dump everything, get it, and then probably re-start the collecting again after that (or is that a viuolation of the hypothetical rules here?)....

[Kawika]

The only single item I would remotely even consider trading my entire collection for would be a check for an obscene and life-changing amount of money. Otherwise, no way, Jose.

[T206Collector]

Not all it's cracked up to be :(

Um.... I don't know what you traded, but if they were cardboard pictures of baseball men, you did pretty good, in my opinion.

[4815162342]

Got this, traded some irreplaceable cards.

Well now that my jaw is up off the floor, I will just say that is awesome! :)

[mark evans]

No way. I like all my cards and look at them frequently. Plus, like Shammus, a good deal of time, effort and persistence went into numerous acquisitions which makes me appreciate them all the more.

[T206Collector]

I think it certainly has to be a function of replaceability. For me, the 400 T206 cards I parted with are available right now on ebay. I may not be able to technically afford a 400 individual T206 purchases on ebay at the moment - but the right budget can make it happen over a reasonable period of time.

The question does become harder when you turn to my signed card collection, for which it would be impossible for me to replace many of them regardless of money or time. Then it purely becomes a question of which item(s) I like more.

[DixieBaseball]

Easily no, would be the answer. I can only get a certain amount of joy from 1 card. I would not trade my collection for a card worth 25-50% more as I just can't imagine parting with a decade of enjoyment from building a collection.

[Exhibitman]

I suppose everyone has their price. If it meant a significant bump in value I can definitely see swapping the whole thing for one card, then selling that card and starting again. If it was a par trade, no, I'd probably not do it. If I had to swap more than the value of the one card for it, definitely not.

I could more easily see trading either my whole collection for a group of what I consider to be the all-time classic cards, or a chunk of my collection for one such card. I've effectively done that a few times selling off chunks of my collection to finance runs at certain cards at auction.

I will say that the choice definitely gets tougher as my collection expands and improves, especially as I've added really rare cards to the pile over the years, ones that I have waited years or even decades to find. They might not even have that much relative value but their replacement value is off the charts. I mean, how do you value a card with no other known examples? Is it "worth" more than a common yet pricey card?

[SteveMitchell]

Tony...

Interesting question but, for me, an easy answer: definitely No. There isn't a single card I desire that would get my relatively poor collection - unless it could be swapped. In which case, I'll take the finest T206 Honus Wagner and really have some fun!

Also, I believe you mentioned in a post sometime ago that you are Pat's son. If so, please pass along my best regards. We go back (through mail contacts mainly) about 40 years and I remember picking up lots of small original Conlon photos from him (for literally a song) not too many years ago at an early 1980's midwest show.

Steve
Just a Double-A ballplayer pretending to be a Big Leaguer

[Cat]

No, but there isn't a card out there that I want more than my favorite single card in my collection. A few years ago, I may have said yes. If I could take my favorite handful of cards off the table and trade everything else for a special card, then yeah I would do it.

[calvindog]

And then will you retire already, damnit?

[Easy506]

I would definitely do it because it would be much easier to reaquire the lower value cards than to ever have a shot at the one dream card.

[Cat]

And then will you retire already, damnit?

Well, then I would have to replace all those cards I just traded off. :)

[brickyardkennedy]

Nope. Derive great enjoyment from the variety of my cards. How long would the pleasure of admiring just one card, no matter how rare and desirable, last? Speaking, of course, only for myself, the thrill would fade, sooner or later. Also, I'd just start over, obtaining the cards I traded away, and who would want to go through that again? :(

[rc4157]

I would also find it difficult to reduce to just one card, I enjoy the variety of cards available but to each their own.
RC

[JP]

Yes. I would. But only for the PSA 10 1952 Topps Mantle....and only if I'm allowed to start over afterwards....

[Abravefan11]

I'm not a condition "rare" collector, so with that being said there aren't a lot of cards that interest me that would eclipse the entire worth of my collection. So it would have to be something truly "rare" and more than likely I wouldn't be interested at the cost of my entire collection.

[clamendo]

I think you need to differentiate a "collection" from an investment. One card is not a collection. A Collection is "a gathering of objects , as works of art, literary materials, etc.; a quantity of anything collected together into a mass; an assemblage" - per Google

[kmac32]

simple answer.......no

[nolemmings]

simple answer.......no

Agreed.................well, offer me a Just So Young and give me a chance to change my mind. Still probably no but what a great dilemma to face. I'm up for it....go ahead, offer it here.

[tbob]

If I had a large collection and I knew my end was near I would absolutely trade many cards for one card of equal value. It would make life so much easier for my heirs.

You think? Can you imagine several heirs fighting over one card? All the arguments about do we sell it now, do we wait, do we consign it to REA, etc.? What if some of the heirs hate baseball cards and want to get rid of it as quickly as possible and get their money and some of the heirs absolutely love pre-war cards and would like to keep it as a remembrance of their dad's passion? Who keeps the card, do you have joint custody and visitation agreements? Ack! Too many headaches. :eek:

[nolemmings]

Tbob, it's easier to take just the one with you in the casket then have someone have to arrange the whole lot of the rest of 'em. Heirs, schmairs.

[wrapperguy]

No, thanks, for one major reason.
Most of the cards I have collected were picked up at shows with my Dad and even though Dad is 90 and cannot attend shows any longer, all my ebay and BST purchases or trades are shared with him. Every card I have reminds me of the good times we spent together. That is irreplaceable.

[FUBAR]

Jeff

i can totally relate, i used to collect with my grandpa until he died in 1982, and even today i still collect in his honor... it killed me that my ex stole some of my cards that him and i got together.... i will always collect and always honor him.

[cdn_collector]

As my wife and I more seriously talk about having kids, I foresee my already small collecting budget getting even smaller. For that reason, I have been giving a lot of thought lately to the 10-25 card collection.

To that end, starting from scratch, trading that whole collection for 1 card, starting over and trading all but that 1 for another card, etc., etc., until I'm at some cap is something I'd consider very seriously. Something I *am* considering very seriously, in fact.

Regards,

Richard.

[birdman42]

You think? Can you imagine several heirs fighting over one card? All the arguments about do we sell it now, do we wait, do we consign it to REA, etc.? What if some of the heirs hate baseball cards and want to get rid of it as quickly as possible and get their money and some of the heirs absolutely love pre-war cards and would like to keep it as a remembrance of their dad's passion? Who keeps the card, do you have joint custody and visitation agreements? Ack! Too many headaches. :eek:

Send it to Upper Deck. They'd figure out what to do with it.:rolleyes:

(Actually, I'm at least a little surprised they haven't done it already with, say, a mangled '52 Mantle. Can you imagine the trades? "I'll swap you an 'M' and $100 for his right eye.")

Bill

[nebboy]

I could (would) do it, and without regrets. Also would try very hard to not start over. My wife HATES it that I spend time/money doing this. But she is a baseball fan so we do get along---------- ;) -------pretty good.

[thegashousegang]

I don't think I could ever trade my entire collection for 1 card. If I did, it would be gone very soon, since I spend so much time browsing auctions to find the next item to buy. I'm a collector, after all - and I also get bored very easily.

[dstraate]

Couldn't do it.

With nothing else to compare to, I think it would be easy lose appreciation for that 1 card.

[green rhino123]

Every last one of them for a T206 Honus Wagner. Too bad my collection isn't
worth even close to as much as that card in any grade.

[dancollins]

Couldn't do it!!! The problem is 99% of us are collectors not investors. If I were an investor then I would in a second but my heart is in my cards. I remember when I was in sixth grade, that was the first time I ever seen a T206 card some kid was sitting next to me in study hall and he had about 7 beat up commons. He said him and his parents found them at an antique store in PA. I tried and tried for days on end to trade him for these finally he gave in and I got ahold of 2 of them for a ton of newer 80's cards. I used to sit there with books from the library (before internet) and stare at T206 cards and just dream of being able to buy them some day. That is what collecting is all about. Here are those 2 cards I still have them, and never in a million years will get rid of them because they were what started it all over 20 years a go.

[thegashousegang]

Couldn't do it!!! The problem is 99% of us are collectors not investors. If I were an investor then I would in a second but my heart is in my cards. I remember when I was in sixth grade, that was the first time I ever seen a T206 card some kid was sitting next to me in study hall and he had about 7 beat up commons. He said him and his parents found them at an antique store in PA. I tried and tried for days on end to trade him for these finally he gave in and I got ahold of 2 of them for a ton of newer 80's cards. I used to sit there with books from the library (before internet) and stare at T206 cards and just dream of being able to buy them some day. That is what collecting is all about. Here are those 2 cards I still have them, and never in a million years will get rid of them because they were what started it all over 20 years a go.

Dan, that story sounds exactly like myself. Many days were spent being a vintage card 'dork' back in the days before the internet.

[quinnsryche]

Couldn't do it!!! The problem is 99% of us are collectors not investors. If I were an investor then I would in a second but my heart is in my cards. I remember when I was in sixth grade, that was the first time I ever seen a T206 card some kid was sitting next to me in study hall and he had about 7 beat up commons. He said him and his parents found them at an antique store in PA. I tried and tried for days on end to trade him for these finally he gave in and I got ahold of 2 of them for a ton of newer 80's cards. I used to sit there with books from the library (before internet) and stare at T206 cards and just dream of being able to buy them some day. That is what collecting is all about. Here are those 2 cards I still have them, and never in a million years will get rid of them because they were what started it all over 20 years a go.

Great story! That's kinda what I was going for when I originally posted. I myself lean both ways. I like the variety but to have a Wagner like the one posted earlier would be awful tough to pass up. I don't think I would ever tire of looking at that beauty, even if it was the only card I owned.
Thanks to all posters and let's keep it going!

[brian1961]

To strictly answer the question, no, I would not be content with liquidating or trading everything for one card. As someone aptly wrote, you would gradually become tired over gazing at the one card you received for your entire collection.

However, on a somewhat similar vein, in 1989 I found a very rare Mickey Mantle card available (please excuse the postwar example, regardless of how repugnant that might be to your prewar taste). The renown dealer wanted $2,500 for it, a very, very sizable amount at that time. Yes, he was firm about the price, too. Still, he knew what he had, and I knew that he knew what he had. Graciously, he reserved the card for me if I could get the money to him within two months.

With many prayers for God's help, I took out a large ad in Sports Collectors Digest. At this time, the hobby was in its zenith. SCD was THE place, other than shows, to procure or sell vintage cards. I was a very strict grader, and offered a large assortment of postwar cards, though the newest was probably 1973. It was not easy to sell that much in one ad, given I was selling only from my personal collection. However, by the grace of God, I sold the required amount needed. It helped that I had some great repeat business from a couple very satisfied customers.

The dealer kept his word, and upon receipt of my cashier's check, sent me a genuine dream card. I had turned many, many cards into one card. That one card even had a small half-inch front crease that began on the side edge. Nevertheless, I was very, very pleased with it.

At the 2008 National, I traveled the long way to have SGC grade it. It came out a 50 VG-EX, which after almost 2 years remains the highest they have graded. PSA has also graded a 4, but Memory Lane's president, who auctioned that 4, said upon showing mine to him that my card presented much better. Not to keep you in suspense, the card was a 1954 Stahl-Meyer Franks of Mickey Mantle.

I wrote an article for SCD on it. Long enough to require two installments, I was told recently that it would run this spring. Hopefully those of you who at least like certain postwar cards might find it enjoyable.

Take care. --Brian

[Lordstan]

It's an interesting question which I think also relates to the memorabilia side as well.

Would I trade all my stuff for a signed Lou Gehrig jersey he wore in 1927? UMMM let me think...Heck Yeah!
I like being able to look at all my stuff, but most of it I could collect again and have the thrill of the hunt all over again.

I, like many others have mentioned, am also attached to many things in my collection because of memories of my father and our journey together through collecting. Like another mentioned, even though he passed away in 1995, I still collect a few things for his memory. The thing is that I think if I could ask him whether I should trade all the stuff we got together for a once in a lifetime rare item, that perhaps we may have even dreamed about owning together in the past, I think he would emphatically say YES. I know that's what I would say to my child.
Further I do think my dad might be proud of the wheeler-dealer that he raised to be able to wrangle such a great deal.

Just my two cents.
Mark

[Pup6913]

I guess it all depends on the card. I would definitely start recollecting though.

[Jacklitsch]

No.

[g_vezina_c55]

i said yes

[EGreenwood]

As appealing as a 25-100 card collection is for a variety of reasons, I would have to say no.

[t206blogcom]

No, I don't think I'd sell/trade my collection for one single card, at least that would be my initial reaction. Then again, I've never been presented such a scenario in real life, so who knows. Seems to me several people have done such a thing and end up coming out ahead. Given I don't have a very extensive collection or any 'rare' cards, in theory I could sell/trade to get one card, then somewhat easily rebuild my old collection.

Would I sell my entire collection for a major life changing event such as to buy a home, to avoid defaulting on a mortgage payment, to fund a major surgery, to fund retirement costs, etc? Yes, of course without a doubt.

[darwinbulldog]

I certainly would, but I'm afraid it wouldn't be anything close to a fair trade if I could pick up a Baltimore News Ruth for my modest collection.

[phikappapsi]

I would say no, only because I have a few cards that are true 1/1 types, and I have so much time into those, I could never turn around and lose them...

That said... If I could cherry pick the 95% of my collection that I could sell for 1 card, absolutely. The thrill of the hunt is half of collecting...owning something truly precious is the other 50 (completely my opinion) so if I could get one unbelievable/rare/precious card, and then have the fun of "re-collecting" what I lost, I'd do it in a heartbeat

[GregMitch34]

Hard to imagine enjoying any one card more than the perfectly centered PSA 3 e96 Lajoie that I recently purchased....

[drc]

My entire collection would trade for a 1977 OPC Nolan Ryan. So I guess the answer is No.

And, no, I don't mean a PSA 10 1977 OPC Ryan from the Dmitri Young collection that would sell for about $350,000 at SCP.

[tedzan]

My collection spans from 1869--1941, and 1943--1987. I enjoy every single one of what totals approximately 50,000 cards.
There are a lot of memories and some great human interactions to go with many of these cards.

When, and if, this hobby's $$$$$--wise value diminishes (or collapses)....having diversified will carry the day. This is not so
for just ONE card (Wagner....or whatever card turns you on).


T-Rex TED

[BleedinBlue]

I'd never be willing to own only a single card but I am already in the process of reducing the bulk of my collection into a more manageable size collection. The total value will likely be greater but the number of card will reduce. But all for one? No.

[uffda51]

Nope.

[ullmandds]

uhhhhh.....ted...dare I ask what happened to 1942?

[wonkaticket]

Yes but it would have to be a super deal in my favor which isn't going to happen....the thread might as well be where am I taking Salma Hayek for dinner because that isn’t going down either....but I'd be open to both options should they present themselves. :)

Cheers,

John

[carrigansghost]

I would guess high school prom.

Rawn

[ullmandds]

Uhhhh....I'm guessing Ted wasn't quite yet born in 1869 yet, either?!?!

[BearBailey]

NO. Not even a question for me.

[tedzan]

uhhhhh.....ted...dare I ask what happened to 1942?

I would post my GUM, Inc. War Gum battle of Stalingrad (1942) card....but, you'd bust my chops since it isn't BB :)


TED Z

[philliesphan]

without hesitation.

[caramelcard]

I probably would with my meager collection, but...

Scott B's situation was different in my opinion.

Definitely the most legendary trade in the history of card collecting (that I know of).

Not sure I would have been able to pull the trigger on that one.


Rob

[danmckee]

Answer: NO

But if I had to think about it, the 1914 Baltimore News Schedule card of Babe Ruth which we owned 2 of the blue ones, would be a thought.

My entire collection? NFW

[Fripples]

Considering I only have 7 cards in my collection -- as I am new to this *cough* -- I will say, YES!!! :D

Interesting that most responses were in the NO department. That means one of two things. Either everyone on here really loves their personal collections OR no one wants to have a card worth $1 million dollars. Fascinating.

[joeadcock]

At this point NO. Dont know if my mind might change. As I slowly build up my collection there are some real nice E107's I wouldn't mind instead of my handful of commons. Or perhaps a high grade Old Judge Cabinet

Excellent question.

[joeadcock]

By the way, like what T206 Collector did. He is slowly building up again, which is another way of doing it.

[Exhibitman]

As a person who likes variety there is just no way I could do it in a collecting vein. If it were purely monetary, maybe.

I agree w/Brother Leon. For the right $$ sure, straight-up no way. I would trade my entire baseball card collection for a presentable, complete T206 Wagner. I'd even help carry the binders out to your car.

[kmac32]

Wouldn't trade it all for one card.

[mark evans]

No. I get far too much enjoyment from viewing my collection to trade it.