In the same vein, I got this red ink #/10. I thought it would be fun to have one of several different types of Allen & Ginter minis, because I love them so much. Currently, I have:
glow, red ink, subway token /5, black framed gold ink /5, metal /3, silk /10, red /5, stained glass, wood 1/1, superfractor 1/1, 4 1/1 buyback autos, and mayhaps some others, but that is the variety I look for when collecting.
Up next are two absolute stunners. When it comes to new cards, I typically ONLY stick to 1/1s ... and special 1/1s at that...plus some low number premium relics. These blow that notion out of the water. I don't know if I've seen any others live for sale before on these, and my goodness, they are just drop dead gorgeous. Get into mah collection! 2020 Topps Aoki /5 and /10.
Several years ago, Topps came out with a really neat set that included a coin and a stamp. There are penny, nickel, dime, and quarter variations #/25 ... and then you have the autograph version #/10. Here is the /10! It is one of those cards that I let go and after a while, I said to myself "why did I do that?" (That happens from time to time!)
Canseco has *very few* licensed auto patch cards, so this one #/10 from 2004 SP Game Used is a treasure. Jon beat me to the punch on this one on eBay! The design and die cut in the design is all top notch, making this one of his better licensed auto patch cards.
Did I say licensed auto patch cards of Canseco are rare? Try Topps ... this is one of his only on card auto patch cards outside of Dynasty. If I recall correctly, this is a redemption. I've seen two others, neither of which had a sleeve patch like this one does. Ever since I got rid of my copy, I've wanted one back.
Next to my Gypsy Queen 1/1 auto button, this is my favorite button card of his. The card just shines amazingly! Plus, there is a bit of a mystery to this one. This card has variations of /8, /5, and the 1/1, so a total of 14 different cards. I've seen about 6 of them (a few being /5 and the one of one) - this is the only with a button! Did Panini goof and put the wrong relic in the 1/1, and instead put it in this beauty? Oops! For more fun, if you checked my research, assuming this gray jersey/button is from Panini's Rangers Canseco gamer, it is likely, this button was part of his jersey he was wearing when the ball bounced off his head, and pitched in a game, changing his career forever.
While many may not know of any connection of these players, or reason to put them on the same card, there is a bit of a story here off the field. In 1990 or so, Jose Canseco took then-rookie Frank Thomas out for a spin in his Ferarri. They got into a race going 120+ mph against a Porsche, and nearly wrecked, which could quite possibly have killed them both! I've met both fellas, they've both seen my work, and both said my work was great! Having a double barrel booklet with both of them having signed the barrels is simply put, a very special card to behold!
Bat knob cards are always fun, but this one is a bit different. Instead of it being the knob, it is actually the end of the bat! Put that in a Sterling card, and you've got a home run (bwahahah).
Last but not least, here is the final card of the trade that I got! This one was dealt to our buddy Joe, who dealt it to Jon. And once again, it is back in my collection! As a collector who likes to have his collection tell a story, and have one of each "type" of premium relic card, an autographed knob card was a must. Jose has very, very few.
Oh, and yes, I also got back the Topps Black Superfractor shown above (along with a few others cards, too.)
All in all, I can't really say this was just a big trade. It was the biggest trade I can remember being a part of! It is one of those deals that keep you up at night trying to formulate counter offers, have a better than average day once a deal has been struck (while questioning yourself 100 times if you did the right thing,) freak out once the cards are in the hands of the postal service, and once they arrive, geek out like a 9 year old who felt like he hit the lottery when he was able to open an entire box of 1989 Topps by himself. Phew, that was some type of sentence, wasn't it?
It is funny to think my obsession as an adult with cards and trading all started with a 9 year old boy, and his lunch sack of 1989 Topps.
As always, thank you for reading, and of course - if you have any rare Canseco cards available, please let me know!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9-OqoNatcQ>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9-OqoNatcQ