How we react to collectibles

[steve B]

I'd written most of this for the "viewing the Wagner" thread, but decided it wasn't really appropriate there.

I find it interesting how differently people within the same hobby can view the same item. And sometimes specifically the Wagner or a similarly expensive or heralded item.

I guess we're all different in how we view some stuff within the hobby.

The Wagner is a great card. And Everyone should see one sometime.

But having seen one I must say that for me the experience was an odd one. Went to the auction, registered, looked for the Wagner. Found it was in its own case for display and gave it a look. After a few moments of looking and the auction person showing me both sides the coolness wore off. Replaced by meh, it's a card, a creased written on T206. And I moved on to looking at stuff I could actually afford. I bought a T205 minor leaguer. They actually held the Wagner and did other lots waiting for one particular buyer to get there. He did win it for 30,000. Yeah, that was a few years ago.

Maybe if it was as nice as the one being sold now I'd have been more impressed? I've since seen other collectibles In the same sort of category as a Wagner. US C3a plate block(The upside down airplane stamp) 1c Z Grill.(Another insanely rare stamp, only one in private hands traded for the C3a plate block that had sold for 3 million.) Both got a similar reaction to the Wagner. "That's pretty cool, but not as special as I'd thought....."

I can sort of see why so many of them are sold every few years.

But I've seen a number of cards stamps etc that have left a much bigger impression. And were worth a very small fraction of the very top items.
I mean stuff I WANT.....But usually can't even come close to justifying the cost. Maybe it's because some of that is just out of reach? Or for some reason I just like it that much more.

Anyway, enough of this rambling, what do you think?

Steve B