When I resurrected my childhood 1955-1960 Topps & Bowman collection (that, thankfully, Mom didn't toss away!) in the mid-1980s, I started going to local shows and acquiring cards to try to complete these sets as well as earlier and later Topps & Bowman sets. It was then that I first learned that pre-War cards existed! One Saturday, I drove over to Bill Higgins' store in nearby Maryland, and I traded him some 1960 Topps (in pristine condition, as I recall) for my first Pre-War card (see pic below). By the early to mid 1990s, my collecting focus had changed to Pre-War cards.
Val

I remember buying very beaten up '64 Topps Mantle / Mays. I think I got both for $40 at a show when I was 12ish. I thought I got the deal of the century.

My first vintage card was a Ed Killian Portrait I picked up off Ebay after a random search for a new hobby to pass some time.

My first vintage card was a '54 Al Kaline my father bought for me in the early '90s. I was only 10-12 at the time and liked it, but didn't love it. It's funny when you look back and I cherished an '89 Griffey over it at the time.

My dad gave me a '59 Clemente about 30 years ago now. Yikes time is flying by.

My first vintage card I got in a trade on my own was a 53 Pee wee Reese bowman. I got it for a couple of doc goodan rookies in the late 80s.

Shortly after I started collected in 1970 at the age of nine, I came to the conclusion that older cards were more interesting than new cards. Over the next couple years, after my brother and I had acquired older cards from garage sales and older kids, we had an example of every Topps set back to 1953. I got a catalog from Larry Fritsch and ordered a 1952 Topps card of Johnny Mize for about a quarter (I still love the pose!). Finally, in 1974, I attended my first card show and picked up a sharp-cornered lot of T206s for a buck each (HOFers were $3). I also paid $2 for a '33 Goudey of Bing Miller ...

I bought my first vintage from my 8th Grade Science teacher. Best teacher ever, Ben Blazier...

http://www.net54baseball.com/picture...pictureid=5816

My First
 

WG5 National Game near mint John McGraw purchased January 14, 1995 at the Parsippany (NJ) PAL baseball card show. Proudly, I am still the owner.

my first T206 cards, acquired around 1992. still have them.

I collected as a kid from 1987-1992, but always preferred older cards. My first vintage card was a 1954 Bowman Pee Wee Reese (still own it). I treasured it. After that, I got on an early 70s Harmen Killebrew and Lou Brock kick.

I bought my first T206 (Schafly - Piedmont) around this time as well. Rode my bike back to the mall a week later and picked up a T206 Bush - Piedmont.

I always gravitated towards the T206 cards, but I didn't buy another one and start seriously collecting T206 until 17 years later. Had to get through all that high school/college/career/marriage stuff before I could find the time, interest and money to extend the collection. Now I'm down to less than 25 T206 cards to go. :)

Started collecting vintage in 2007 with this card. Maybe it was just the name :) I am a grown man that still collects baseball cards. Obviously I do not deny my inner child.
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...3/scan0002.jpg

2005 I bought a Pro 7 T206. Then I found this site and stopped that quickly. Buying Pro cards not T206's. Didn't pay much for it and still have it. Should cross to a PSA 7 someday. :)

1996-ish
 

I was probably 14 or 15 at a card show, my Dad let me borrow $20 to buy a T206 Evers.

This is what started it all...

http://photos.imageevent.com/vanslyk...20Cochrane.jpg