Hello, Paul! Welcome aboard. My name is Bill, nice to meet you.
If there is anything I can help you with, please feel free to ask. My inbox is always open. I check my messages a few times a day, though the frequency and hour may vary depending on how I feel. But I will usually respond within a day's time. So, if you need some help finding something, or if you are looking to have a few quick questions answered, I would be more than happy to share the knowledge I have amassed since joining the forum. When I came here, I'd collected cards as a kid, and I'd returned to the hobby a little more than a year earlier, though to that point I'd just collected modern cards, for the most part (focusing on Bowman Chrome prospect autos). Before I really felt comfortable buying my first few pre-war cards, I spent at least six months intensively researching. When it came time to begin, I felt confident that I had what I needed to proceed.
The best advice I can give you is this: you will get out of the forum what you put into it. There are a lot of great people on Net 54, and the collective level of expertise is unsurpassed anywhere in the world. I truly believe that. If you are wanting to learn about pre-war collectibles, from baseball cards and memorabilia, to ephemera, you'd be hard pressed to find a more knowledgeable group anywhere. By establishing yourself as part of the community, you will be setting yourself up to be a successful collector.
Most importantly, just have fun. Be respectful of your fellow members, observe the few rules that are in place, and you'll do well. And don't be afraid to ask questions. Usually, when I have a question, I use the forum's advanced search function, and Google, to see if the question, or a similar question, has already been posted on the forum. That only takes a minute or two. If I don't see that has been covered, then I will start a topic. And I've always gotten a lot of outstanding feedback when I've asked questions. I have a long way to go, and a lot to learn yet. Yet I feel that I've learned a lot since joining, and the knowledge I've gained has given me a lot of confidence.
There are a few resources you might look into if you're serious about collecting pre-war baseball cards.
There are two publications I highly recommend. One is current, one is no longer in print. The first publication is
Old Cardboard Magazine. This magazine started in 2004, and has been in production ever since, though they now produce one issue annually (the next one will be sent out to arrive on March 1st). You can also order back issues. The magazine is beautifully done. If you click on the "sign up now" link, you'll see a list of the back issues, and by clicking on each cover, you can see a list of the topics covered in old issues.
The second is called the
Vintage & Classic Baseball Collector. The first issue appeared in the spring of 1995. In total, I think there were approximately 33 issues done. I have two issues, and just ordered three others from eBay.
Typically, you're going to pay between $7.50-$10 for an issue of
V&CBC, and $10 for a back issue of
Old Cardboard. You really can't go wrong with any issue. Just find some, look at a list of the topics covered, and order whichever tickle your fancy.
If you get into the Old Judge cards, you might look into Lew Lipset's
Old Judge Newsletters. There were 50 of these, and I think they, too, can be found on eBay. I've never read one of these before, though I have seen snippets. All these publications are/were held in high regard.
I would also highly recommend purchasing Lew Lipset's
Encyclopedia of Baseball . It's edited and published by Dennis C. Purdy, Sr., the publisher of the
V&CBC magazine. It combines the three different volumes written by Lew Lipset in one book. The breakdown of the Encyclopedia by volumes:
I. 19th Century Baseball Cards. 137 pages
II. Early Gum and Candy Cards. 100 pages
III. 20th Century Tobacco Cards. 114 pages
I got mine for $16 in like new condition. There is one on eBay now for $34.95 + $4.00 shipping. I don't know how often it is sold, you might look into that. It is worth the $35, but you might be able to do better on price if you are patient. That's up to you. I highly recommend it. The seller of said copy, the BaseballHobbyist, is a good seller. I've bought past issues from them before, and have had excellent interactions with them.
One other thing that I find has helped me, Old Cardboard offers two
very nice type-card gallery prints on their website. Both delivered for $24.95. The prints are gorgeous. They present all the Pre WWII-issued baseball cards, organized logically by type according to Jefferson Burdick's
The American Card Catalog. Seeing the prints on a daily basis has really helped be understand the relationship between the cards. Two years ago, my folks asked for a suggested Christmas present to do with my hobby, and I asked for these prints framed. They got them for me, and had them custom framed. Now they hang in my bedroom, and they are the first thing I see every day. I love them.
Just a FYI, I am not in any way connected with these publications or companies. I'm just recommending things that might help you. I don't benefit in any way.
Good luck!!
Bill