Posted By:
DaveI really can't offer much advice on collecting the T206 set. I come here (N54) for my vintage advice. I'm lucky in that I've basically inherited a set that is about 75% complete. I need about 80 cards, 22 of which are Southern League. I've bought 15 cards on ebay, the most expensive was $44. I've obviously started slowly and stayed away from the big tickets. I thought I'd purchased a Matty dark cap tonight, a nicely centered card with stains, but no creases. NR. I was ahead with 4 seconds left, only to get outbid. This was for $122. Oh, well, maybe next time.
My wife was asking about the ground rules on my bb card budget, which is very loose. I think I'm about $7k away from "complete." To me, this means no Cobb-Cobb, Wagner, Plank, Magie, Doyle NY natl, O'Hara St Louis, (S)nodgrass, Shappe, or Wagner. I've got some big tickets left, though. Cobb bat off, 3 Evers, 2 Matty, 3 Marquard. Some $.
I'm pretty particular about my cards, no creases allowed. Most of my set would grade PSA 4 (my estimate) + or - a grade. A few maybe 2.
I think I've had more fun learning about vintage cards than actually buying or looking at them. Believe it or not, I've never purchased any cards but T206's (long lost packs from my youth excluded).
I'm not in any hurry, if it takes me 5 years, OK. If I never get there, well that's OK, too. To me, getting there is most the fun, and the expertise here is what I find most interesting. Despite some of the negatives of personal interaction that have happened.
My 2 cents worth.
Dave