Quote:
Originally Posted by HexsHeroes
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If/when decision comes to sell your collection, it will be both the most agonizing and liberating decision/action you undertake as a collector.
I made that decision twice. Once in 2017, but failed to follow through. But after losing a younger brother to pancreatic cancer in 2018, nearly losing my oldest brother to ulcerative colitis in 2020, and finally recognizing the hidden fear my wife kept from me about prospects of dealing with the volume of my vintage Detroit Tigers autograph collection should I die, I sold nearly the entire collection. I gave up substantial potential gain doing so but it liberated both my wife of her fear and allowed me to redirect attention usually devoted to collecting to other, more worthwhile endeavors. Do I miss it ? Sure, but I have had a great time doing other activities and placing people first since. And to be brutally honest, towards the end, the hunt was nowhere near as fun (or fruitful) as in my earlier years of collecting.
For what it is worth, I created a document for my wife to use to sell my collection had I died while still owning the collection. The document dealer names, addresses, phone numbers, list of items and descriptions, and several thumb drives of images and lists that could be sent to sent to prospective dealers. But in the end actually selling the collection myself while alive was priceless in my wife's eyes.
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I am fascinated by your use of the word liberated. When I talked to Jason May after he sold his amazing 1933 signed Goudey collection he basically told me the same. I recently gave my heavyweight champion collection to REA only missing Marvin Hart- that was easy. I also have every US president but still holding on there along with the HOFers and Jewish guys. (I have the best Jewish collection in the hobby both MLB and milb and I'd be willing to sell for a fair price the vast majority of it). Also probably have the best collection of vintage Japanese HOFers on cards of which I might be willing to sell some. I still probably average spending an hour or 2 daily searching for cards, bidding etc as well as work close to full time, travel alot and see 3 of my 5 grandkids fairly often. On some level having such a nice collection adds to my self worth (I know that is kind of sick) and my whole life I have been a collector of something. I have a list of who to contact should I pass and my younger son knows baseball history well.
I am not ready to sell but might change my mind. Love the sharing