I think the not shipping to the US is a combination of reasons.

One being the different approach to doing things.
A bike I bought from Italy, from a guy I knew from online took long enough that I was getting worried. When a set of wheels that were "right" for it with the same provenance were for sale I got worried enough to ask a couple questions. Apparently shipping something when they get to it is a thing there. (Perhaps not for all countries, but I've come to expect something ordered from a hobbyist in Europe may not ship anytime soon unless it's Ebay or another venue that requires it. )
It's a pretty big mismatch with most of the US which has come to expect very quick shipping, and returns for any reason at all. To some, we're simply not worth the hassle.

There may also be odd customs delays. Another seller did pretty big volume from the Netherlands, and eventually moved his business to California because every shipment was subject to months waiting to be inspected. and that pre-covid. (there was apparently loads of ecstasy coming from the Netherlands at the time)

They also have peculiar to us laws about some things, and there may be a lot of paperwork involved in exporting and expensive item in a way that it's not subject to VAT.

Most of the bike guys in the UK or elsewhere that buy bikes in France end up having the seller hold it for "a while" until they can take a small vacation and pick it up in person, as most French sellers simply won't ship anything.

Another interesting thing is that for British tobacco cards, the common sets are collected very differently than they are here.
Hardly any dealers sell singles, or worn cards. Most are very presentable and sold as complete sets.
That's not bad, since they're usually small sets.

I bought the FOTOCOLOR OLE packs in Rio de Janiero, Bazil from a news stand in 1986. The Bebeto I got from Italy, along with the Comic Book and the recent soccer packs from my past trips to Italy

Cool stuff shown.

I think this came from Canada...

finds
 

That's a nice card. Lots of great cards from north of the border. They used to be undervalued, but now, not so much...

Oh , Canaduh !
 

..http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/204295...AS1937_NEW.JPG


.. These two mugs are from the Toronto and Montreal teams that make up most of the Goudey 1937 Wide Pens Premiums known as "R 314 Type 5 . ;: 39 Canadians and 11 Detroit Tigers . Canada lovingly annexed the Tigers into their sports world because of geography , a love of American baseball , and a powerful radio station signal.

..http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/204295...7TYPE5_NEW.JPG

Very nice!

Gus Dugas was of French Canadian descent, so that's a great connection, too. He lived to a ripe old age.

The other three depicted didn't have as long on this earth as Gus. Poor Bissonnette (another French name!) took his own life. I've never seen a sadder face in my life.

If you a pre-war golf collector, the only good source is the UK and the best opportunity for Bobby Jones, Tom Morris and Henry Cotton.

finds
 

I have to agree, that is the saddest face i have ever seen as well.....

There is another cool Japanese Jackie Robinson card in addition to the one I posted earlier. I do not own it, but the guy who I bought my Menko Jackie from does, and he sent me a scan of it. It is the only known copy of this card in existence. A true pop 1. Pretty cool image.

finds
 

That is one fantastic Jackie card! Why don't I ever find things like that when I am in Japan?

Thanks for sharing.

Returned to London today from my 36 hours in Milano for the Derby Della Madonnina between Internazionale and Milan.

My team of Internazionale (“Inter”) won 5-1.

I didn’t purchase any memorabilia and didn’t have the opportunity too - I was more focused on the match and the social element. However, I do have a large Inter collection, mainly of autographs and type 1 photos, many of which are pre WWII.


http://https://i.ibb.co/vYp6mGv/IMG-2699.jpg

I recently picked up the Edwards, Ringer variation of the Churchman card to "complete" (hopefully) the different variations of this card, including the newer Spanish one.

That is a boatload of Churchmans. And I did not know about the variations--you learn something everyday. Are some variations more difficult than others?

PSA has graded about 400 Churchman’s, about 55 Edwards and 50 BAT. The newly found Spanish version that Gary has is the only one found so far.

I have studying the “ British American Tobacco Company Booklet” published by the Cartophilic Society of GB in 1952.
The “Spanish Churchman’s” was apparently distributed by the British Amercan Tobacco Company in Argentina in 1926-1932. At the time of the Publication of the booklet (1952) the card was known but was not seen.

In addition the 1930 British American Tobacco Card Ruth was distributed in Malaysia and probably in other areas of Southeast Asia and China.

Anyone ever consider hopping on a plane to Venezuela and hunting for Topps Vennys?

I don't know about Venezuela, but I sure did not come across any 'finds' in London in December.........everything is on eBay!