How did you start collecting?
 

Posted By: <b>Anson</b><p>I thought it would be interesting to see how some of you got into collecting vintage cards. Also, what was your first true vintage card?<br /><br />I grew up collecting the cards from the time, 70's and some early 80's. While over at my next door neighboors, I noticed he had boxes upon boxes of 60's cards in his garage. I explained to him what he had and, for the education, he gave me a Mantle and a few other cards. <br /><br />While in school, I started working for the local sportscard store to help keep myself afloat. I was turned on to the prewar stuff by my boss and picked up my first prewar card (a clean, Mcbride T206). Since then, I have collected players that I have interest in and have started trying to build this pesky E101 set.

How did you start collecting?
 

Posted By: <b>Joan</b><p>My very first card was a Jack Barry t206 which I bought for $9 at a show in Fort Washington while accompanying my brother on his Pokemon binge. I couldn't believe the blue background, it looked like the sky in a Giotto fresco. I still have that card and love it.

How did you start collecting?
 

Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p>9-year-old son got me hooked in '79; when he quit 3 years later, I tumbled back in history, winding up in the 19th century.<br />First card I bought (for son--I thought):<br /><img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/jphotos/image001.jpg"> <br />Last card I bought(for ME):<br /><img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/jphotos/kellymas.jpg"> <br /><br />(when my son quit, he told his father to tell me--he was afraid to tell me himself--thought I'd drop dead, or something!)

How did you start collecting?
 

Posted By: <b>Brian</b><p>Bought my first baseball cards in 88, I loved going to Toys R Us and searching the rack packs. 88 and 89 Donruss kept me entertained.<br /><br />First vintage, a few years ago I picked up a T206 Red Cobb for a few hundred on Ebay. Had it shipped to me while I was serving in Kosovo. That Cobb eventually led to a dozen more Cobbs.<br /><br />Brian

How did you start collecting?
 

Posted By: <b>godvls</b><p>I started collecting Topps when I was a kid in '67 and never really stopped until the late 80's (with a one year hiatus in 1977 - my senior year of high school.) My first vintage card was a T205 John McGraw that I picked up for $5 at a card show in Anaheim in 1976.

How did you start collecting?
 

Posted By: <b>Rob</b><p>1977 - I was a flipper, not a collector<br /><br />1992 - my friend Joe introduced (seduced?) me into the world of hot rookie cards that were worth tens of dollars; I start with football since I didn't know about horseracing cards at the time<br /><br />1993 - collected football and basketball; insertmania arrives; went to a National in Westchester, saw a lot of cards, bought Japanese baseball packs, and saw some beautiful tobacco cards that were white, borderless, and looked like a miniature painting... "Ooooo, rookie cards at the next table" - so much for that miniature painting<br /><br />1994 - I actually believed rare insert cards were going to outperform RCs in the long run; "Who collects vintage? It's crap."<br /><br />1998 - I give in and collect baseball, rookies, inserts, and all; prospecting to make a big hit; traded "$200 worth of Dan Marino inserts plus $50 cash for an ungraded EX-MT 1962 Topps #1 Roger Maris" because I saw that card in an episode of ST:TNG<br /><br />1999 - become disgusted with the high price of RCs and last year's RC's becoming yesterday's news; I stop collecting cold turkey<br /><br />2005 - January.... looked at my collection for the first time in a long time; it was fun, but was it worth it?; what would I do if I started all over again?; "collect to keep, not for financial gain"; Hmmmm.... fine homes display fine art, and fine art is mostly composed of old masterpieces; the Metropolitan Museum of Art displays baseball cards; would my collection be worthy of that?; old cards.... vintage.... tobacco...; a 1977 Ron Guidry card I hold in my hand - one of two cards that I hacthed with my own hands from a pack back in 1977; if not Sotheby's, at least a museum, or something that has great significance to me; a mention of this board from the Beckett board led me to here; since I was going to purchase tobacco cards, I got a T206 Willetts as my comparison card should I buy a raw card; I came upon and got that miniature painting I saw back in 1993 - the N28 King Kelly; came upon a couple of T206 Kid Elberfeld Washington portraits; and back to my first love combined with my new love - thoroughbreds on tobacco issues<br /><br />I am one with the universe since I now collect out of pure love and enjoyment<br /><br />Bottom line: I learned the hard way, but I learned

How did you start collecting?
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>For many of us long time posters, you can find this info with the search function since this thread theme has been repeated many times. Besides, I too lazy too retype my story.<br /><br />Jay<br><br>My place is full of valuable, worthless junk.

How did you start collecting?
 

Posted By: <b>Rob</b><p>There IS the Select All|Copy|Paste method. <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

How did you start collecting?
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>very true. I just woke up when wrote that, so my brain wasn't fully engaged. Not that it ever has been.<br /><br />Jay<br><br>My place is full of valuable, worthless junk.