Collecting Graded Rainbows...
 

When your pretty much done set collecting the challenge is finding a new way to collect for fun. Locally at a card show there were several folks discussing how they were collecting a "rainbow" of grades for the 1989 Upper Deck Griffey card and how there was an actual premium on a nice looking "1".

I found that kind of fascinating...so...I thought why not "rainbow" one of my favorite all time cards? It's been fun chipping away on the 1955 Topps Harmon Killebrew. I first submitted a couple raw cards I had, then I've been just chipping away here and there, and recently added a 3.5 from Net54 (thanks Al!). I figure I will go to 7...so I need a 4.5, 5, 6.5, and a 7 to complete.

I don't like creases, so it was a challenge to find the proper "1"...landed on a beauty thats a bit OC, which I don't mind.

Anyone else doing anything like this???

https://i.ibb.co/CpsZQ2Kh/55-Harmons.jpg

Not my jam, but bully for you for wanting it. I can definitely see how you might want more than one copy of a card, particularly if you really like the card.

Personally, whenever I get a second copy, I sell off my duplicate. Although it can take some time for some of the esoteric stuff, particularly if you want a solid price (read: 5x market).

The times I have had duplicates of, or cards that I just didn't like as much as others, I have used in trades. But I can see having multiple cards of the ones you like. I remember having 6 or 7 84 Topps Don Mattingly rookie cards at one time years ago.

Funny...never put it in the thought of duplicates like that, because I do the same, when I get a double of anything of value I normally sell or trade it off for something I don't have. 98% of my collection is also raw, how I like it...but I do have a lot of graded 50's mostly because I want the high end stuff authentic. I simply don't trust a 56 raw Mantle for example. But yes, I LOVE this card, always have...seeing duplicates on this one is exciting. Collecting these bucks my own trends...lol

I'll add that the two raw ones I submitted on my own, both came back a 2. I kept the best one, sold the other and with the sale funds bought the 2.5 for the same amount. The 2 I kept I've had for years...on the bottom there is a small chip with a tiny ink mark. It's clean and well centered other than that. I thought it would be a 1.5 with the ink...and the other a 2. Was disappointed when I got the same grade to start with! :)

Yep, I'm doing the "PSA rainbow" of the '77 Topps Mark Fidrych rookie card, and I'm also dumb enough to do the half grades. :) I now have 13 of the possible 18 grade levels in the run, so I'm over 2/3 of the way there.

That's a really sharp looking Killebrew run as well, John! You've made some solid progress already. Good luck with the rest!

Here's what I have so far:

https://i.imgur.com/dNgOBSK.jpeg

https://i.imgur.com/qN4M1F4.jpeg

https://i.imgur.com/kCel1q4.jpeg

https://i.imgur.com/N8GSt2u.jpeg

https://i.imgur.com/hoMEyKi.jpeg

some notes on the run:

I've got all the upper grades covered, ie. 8 - 10, so the expensive cards are done. It's the lower half grades that have become tough to find. As of today, only one 4.5 exists, and there's only two 2.5s.

On the bright side, the PSA 1.5 in my collection is currently a 1/1 :rolleyes:, and my PSA 6.5 is a pop 2! While it would be easy to purposely rough up a card to get the PSA 1, I'm going to try to do this naturally by buying & submitting cards just as they arrive. The search continues...

Go on eBay and look for raw copies advertised as VG. :eek:

Got it covered. ;)

https://i.imgur.com/4eKYZtl.jpeg

I hope I dont run out of things to collect :)

Great cards CW and Harliduck. That is one of the few ways I have not collected, yet.:)

Thanks for sharing that CW! Crazy how some are 0 pop or 1...that looks like a fun chase. I remember that card was GOLD in my youth, and still presents a cool vibe.

Not going to lie...it's a real problem. Putting post war sets together is a fun journey, you learn a LOT. Then...your done. I tried starting over, I have duplicate sets in 60, 64, 68, and 69...but it didn't have the same magic. I still love grabbing sets and constantly looking for upgrades, but there is no chase there. I won't do 52 sets, I just can't stand doing anything knowing there won't be a completion. I've wrestled with 52 Topps many times, only to lose interest. There are other post war sets to chase but I have no interest. I've gone through and got most of the variations, fun...but...I love and appreciate pre-war, dabbled in that...but I just can't do it, just an honest zero interest. I am in the minority, when I hold a T-206 I just don't like them. The size, the "paintings". Part of me says, sell it all off, and start over. But I love my cards and I have a ton of memories in those notebooks. I've dabbled in the new shiney stuff...mostly graded 10 Bowman autos of my local Mariners...that's fun but I know its a foolish spend. Plus, the new stuff just kinda sucks. So...that's where I am at...trying to invent ways of having fun and having some sort of chase.

Seeing "the bird" run is rather exciting...I may have to pick a favorite "to me" card from that era and do the same. I like it.

If you get inspired make sure you share it!!! :)

Fun project. It looks cool in photos. I would definitely get that old label Killberbrew SGC 6 reslabbed. Not into reslabs but for your project I would think it's a must since there is an OCD element to it all and you'll want those slabs to have uniformity.

When you send new Fidriches in I wonder if you can tell PSA "either grade this a 5.5 or a 7.5 please."

100% agree with you and definitely have that OCD. That is the plan for sure. I've purposely stayed away from any other old labels to avoid any more reslabbing...