[Harliduck]

Originally Posted by jingram058

When I say I don't care if my cards are fake, I mean it. Could there be fakes in my collection? Perhaps. If there are, I will never know about it. However, that said, I seriously don't believe there are any. They feel right, loupe right, blacklight right, smell right, card stocks block lamp light right, fibers look right, the works. I don't need any grader to offer up an opinion that, quite frankly, I don't want or need or care about. I'm very content with them, I don't lose any sleep at night worrying about them, I'm not building some sort of investment legacy to pass on. I just enjoy them for what they are to me, a link to my youth and a glorious era of baseball.

I'm not condescending your situation in any way, and if taken that way, I formally apologize.

I have bought MANY cards from sellers on eBay. None of them overly expensive. All my really big money cards were either given to me years ago by friends and relatives or bought at card shows or events years ago (90%) or were obtained via trades, in person (10%).

Like you, I feel that after 55+ years in and out of this hobby that I am knowledgeable enough at this point to differentiate between authentic and fake real fast. Much like buying a car, I wouldn't buy from photos any big ticket card.

I guess, since I collect only raw cards, that my "Mason-Dixon Line" for a single card big purchase on line would be perhaps $250. If something went awry, I could live with that. Any higher, I would seek an in person deal or trade.

James...I think we are actually on the exact same page...appreciate the comments. I feel like I could have written most of your post. Totally agree on the $250 comment. Even in the 50's anything under that I don't need grading and if something went wrong, it's on me. When I say I buy 50s graded it was exactly that, anything more than $400ish really. I am on a SGC kick of grading some of my 50s big cards just for consistency and to be fair, I love the way they look. Mays, Aaron, Mantle, Clemente, Ted W, Jackie....only the big boys and most of mine are gloriously in low grade. I am not trying to cash in. I'm enjoying it...but who knows, I may pop them in a couple years...haha...call it a phase.