T206 Tips

[landsharkcards]

I have been putting together the graded Cubs team set in scarce backs only for a few years now but have not touched any of the rest of T206. I know prices are higher than ever, but I am looking for some general tips on starting the whole set. I'd appreciate any best practices, other sites, best auction houses, etc.

Also curious how some of you started or did you just pick up whichever ones you can find first? Feel like I've had blinders on everything else while focused on my Cubbies.

Thanks!

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by landsharkcards

I have been putting together the graded Cubs team set in scarce backs only for a few years now but have not touched any of the rest of T206. I know prices are higher than ever, but I am looking for some general tips on starting the whole set. I'd appreciate any best practices, other sites, best auction houses, etc.

Also curious how some of you started or did you just pick up whichever ones you can find first? Feel like I've had blinders on everything else while focused on my Cubbies.

Thanks!

If you're planning to put together the entire set, you may want to simply take what the defense gives you. See a small lot of cards you don't have...in the grade you want...at a price you're comfortable with? It may be the right move to make on that day.

I've learned one thing during the past 10 years collecting these cards. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

[Natswin2019]

I only have about 15 t206 cards total so im not sure how good my advice will be but I do have some ideas. When it comes to places to find them, major auctions houses like REA or Sterling Sports auctions always seem to have a wide varitey. The BST board here has a whole section dedicated to the T206 set. I have also found that there are a few Facebook groups dedicated to tobacco era cards to be pretty helpful in finding a wide variety of t206 related stuff.

Granted i've only ever picked up the specific cards that i've wanted as i've gone along, but these places that I listed have been big helps in finding what ive needed.

[landsharkcards]

Originally Posted by Eric72

If you're planning to put together the entire set, you may want to simply take what the defense gives you. See a small lot of cards you don't have...in the grade you want...at a price you're comfortable with? It may be the right move to make on that day.

I've learned one thing during the past 10 years collecting these cards. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

Appreciate it Eric, I have no rush at all. Want something that is a long, long term project. Looking around yeah it seems grab whatever I can before it is already sold lol.

[landsharkcards]

Originally Posted by Natswin2019

I only have about 15 t206 cards total so im not sure how good my advice will be but I do have some ideas. When it comes to places to find them have been in major auctions houses like REA or Sterling Sports auctions always seem to have a wide varitey. The BST board here has a whole section dedicated to the T206 set. I have also found that there are a few Facebook groups dedicated to tobacco era cards to be pretty helpful in finding a wide variety of t206 related stuff.

Granted i've only ever picked up the specific cards that i've wanted as i've gone along, but these places that I listed have been big helps in finding what ive wanted.

Appreciate it; I am on the BST board and in a couple FB groups: Tobacco Card Collectors and the T206 Marketplace I think.

[G1911]

If going for the set, ignore the commons and get the stars before they go up even more in the long term. No T206 card in a fronts-only set is rare (except the Doyle, I assume you are skipping Doyle and Wagner. If you can afford them, you don't need advice, you can simply buy whatever whenever) and will be offered for sale almost constantly.

[skelly423]

I think this can be applied to nearly any set, but I think it's especially relevant to collecting the T206 set.

Remember that Rome wasn't built in a day. You aren't going to build the entire 520 in a year (unless you are extremely wealthy, overpay, or both). Take little bites on a regular basis, and you'll get there.

Make sure you buy in the condition you like from the start, there's nothing worse than buying a card twice because you made a foolish compromise on condition the first time you bought it.

[unamuzd1]

Originally Posted by landsharkcards

Appreciate it Eric, I have no rush at all. Want something that is a long, long term project. Looking around yeah it seems grab whatever I can before it is already sold lol.

That's the right attitude on so many levels. Building my 520 took somewhere around 40 years, but only became a formal "goal" in the last 5 or so. For most of the time, I bought what I liked, when it came available, and enjoyed what I had.

Now, I don't recommend it as a 40-year project, but having an awareness going in that it's probably going to be incremental is good. I kinda envy folks who jump in with both feet and have the $$ to get it built quickly, but at the same time, I have a lot of memories of the journey that I wouldn't trade for anything.