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Posted By: RayB

David,
Thanks for posting.
The T-206 set has taught me one thing. You need lots of patience. Entering this set with "ferosity" is often the new collectors ultimate downfall when it comes to this set.
Because of it's popularity and status among collectors of all means ther are definitely waves of pricing strength that might frustrate the budget conscious.
A few important things to note:
First, try to add cards one at a time in the beginning. There is so much product offered that you can let those go that get out of hand price wise.
(Keep in mind that "out of hand" is relative; although prices for T-206s sway back and forth, the trend is upward over time. The premium of today is the bargain of tomorrow, or at least time has showed this to be true.) If you take a deliberate approach, a year or two from now you will wake up to find that you have quite a few cards in the set without much effort at all. One card a week is 10% of the set in a year. Take smaller bites. T-206 set building is a journey and rarely a conquest. It's more of a collector's lifes calling.

Second - Don't calculate what it will take to buy all the cards now. Once you do that type of calculation, the enormity of it will make you destined to fail at this pursuit.

Third - Learn to appreciate and enjoy nice lower grade cards, perhaps with a flaw or two most collectors avoid. (Sometimes a little bit of paper loss, or a small mark or erasure will chase the majority of collectors from a particular card.) This is an opportunity. Many of these have great eye appeal.

Lastly - You seem like you were/are really attracted to the set. You've retained some cards, kept the embers hot, and visit here for your attachment fix. The enthusiasm for the set here is boundless. Feed off of that to get you through the low points and use it as a place to enjoy sharing the new acquisitions. Most of all; keep it about the fun. This is supposed to be fun.

Best of luck with whatever you choose to do. Congratulations also on that nice 52' set you've built.
The "Monster" is calling.
RayB