MINT CONDITIONq
 

So I just started reading Dave Jamieson's MINT CONDITION. After page 26 I had to stop to say that if you haven't read this book yet, you should. I'm already so engulfed in the history of Peck & Snyder which I never even knew existed. This is so informative and enjoyable. An easy read. Although this may be a dumb question, has anyone else read it yet?

Book
 

Read it, but a few years ago

I read it last summer at Al's recommendation I believe. It's definitely a good one. If you are looking for other reading material, check for one of my prior threads soliciting advice. I ended up picking up a few books from that thread, and they were all great reads.

Im gonna look into them. Thanks

I read it about two years ago. A very good book; it and Smithsonian Baseball are both must-reads.

Baseball Books
 

Thanks a lot!

"Mint Condition" was also the source of a few of the questions posed to the audience during the Topps Meet and Greet with collectors and dealers at the 2011 National Show in Chicago.

A few that I remember:

1. Who sat with Sy Berger at Berger's kitchen table to help design the 1952 Topps baseball cards layout?

2. What was the name of the street on which Sy Berger lived in Brooklyn during that time?

I had just read "Mint Condition", so I was able to provide some correct answers. I left the Meet and Greet with a few prizes. One was a signed and numbered 2011 Las Vegas Summit Topps (duh) card of Starlin Castro. The enthusiastic gentleman next to me really wanted the card and offered his 1973 unopened wax pack (which he just won) to me for it. I extended the card toward him with a yes and he pulled his arm back. He immediately changed his mind. I should have paused a minute and pretended to actually think about it. :)

Great book!

Dave Jamieson did a superb job covering the history of how baseball cards became a national obsession with boys, beginning with the tobacco cards of over a century ago. Disturbing of course, for the deep desire for the cards actually made heavy smokers of more than a few of those lads. Anyway, his history of the tobacco card era through the history of the Goudey and Topps gum card companies was very fascinating.

Definitely "required reading" for any PRE-WAR and immediate POST-WAR collector, as well as any collector period, who is interested in learning about the history of the hobby (obsession!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) itself.

---Brian Powell