[robw1959]

For those among us whose collecting focus has shifted over the years, how and why has it shifted?

In my case, I recall glomming onto the Goudey Wide Pen and Fine Pen premiums that always came up in Frank Nagy's mail auctions. I told myself that those babies were sure to appreciate in value in the years to come because they were so cheap for being so old at the time. But I always found money to spend on one of Topps's first issues ever - the 1950 team cards. For some reason, I thought they were quite rare at the time, so I could justify spending $20 apiece on those, and wound up with a half-dozen or so at a time when I believe I could have had a Goudey Ruth or two for the same cost as all of those. I also had some "fun" cards that seemed to be priced just about right - regular Topps and Bowman issues of 1950s Hall of Famers. I had a bunch just because I liked them.

In time, it was those cards that I liked that grew in my collection, while those I owned strictly for their upside value dwindled away to nothing.

Aesthetics and value were and still are my two main reasons for collecting, but I have shifted my buying decisions toward buying only cards I personally enjoy having in my collection, reasoning that my own preferences are valid enough to solely drive my buying decisions. I think that formula has worked out pretty well for me.

How about yourself? Has your focus been similar, or have you taken a different route. I imagine some of us have been down a long and winding road on the way to where our collections stand today. Feel free to share your story and inspire us with your collecting passions.