This board won me over. My first post

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Posted By: 2dueces

I have been a collector of 1960's football since the '60's. Put a set of baseball together every year, just cause I wanted a set from every year. But lurking here has made me see the real deal. I have been turned off since 1990 by all the junk and hype of new cards, insets, subsets and on and on. I firmly believe after alot of research that the real collectables are the pre war cards. Ok heres my first question. BTW I already own a T206 Steamer Flanagan Pro 5.5. I see there is a lot of low grade T206's(100 graded 1- 3.5 or 4), now at about 6$ a card. Do I start my collection with a hugh lot, and upgrade and add gradually, or do I put the $600 or $700 on a few quality cards and go from there. I do believe no matter what quality they are it will be a great investment as the supply dwindles. I am not doing it for just the investment as I feel I am also a collector. Any thoughts? BTW, glad to be here. Joe

"I had the right to remain silent. I just didn't have the ability" Ron White

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Posted By: DJ

Welcome aboard!

First off, purchase and enjoy cards not for the 'investment' of it. If you are dealing with T206's, the supply really won't dwindle down. If you want to invest, you may want to look at 'tougher' high-dollar issues and even then, some board members would rather you put money into the stock market and such.

Even though cards tend to go up in value, we all enjoy the cards for what they are. As far as your collecting future, it all depends on what you want to do. T206 is a great way to begin as I began this way as well. There are many different ways to view your new collecting venture. You can collect as many as possible, collect different backs, collect Hall Of Famers or try for a set if you are young enough. I have been working on my set for thirteen years and I'm real picky, a real pain in the ass about my T206's.

Just BE careful. I think you are fairly safe purchasing 'raw' (ungraded) cards of the commons in lesser conditions but be VERY VERY VERY careful about the stars. Sellers trim cards and try and pass them off as authentic when they are really reproductions. If you see a Ty Cobb card for $200 when it should sell for $2000, avoid. Trust grading companies like SGC, GAI and...PSA.

Oh, Blue Collar humor is prohibited from the Forum.

Just kidding.

Dj

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Posted By: 2dueces

Thank you for the reply. I believe I will purchase nothing but graded cards. This is not for the investment. It is purely for the joy of hunting, collecting and admiring. But having your passion hold its value only make good sense. Should I buy the big lesser quality lots until I decide what direction I wish to go in. IE...backs or HOF's, or do I buy just quality and build slowly. I have already decided to flip all my bigger priced newer items to start my T206's. I should have amply funds to work with. Joe

"I had the right to remain silent. I just didn't have the ability" Ron White

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Posted By: Robert

Welcome to the board Joe This board rocks! Glad to have another 206 collector aboard. I am fairly new to the 206 set myself and I am definitely hooked! What a beautiful set it is. Reading the past threads as well as chatting with the fine people in the chat room has really helped me. You wont find a better group of people here to help and to give advice. Like you, I didnt exactly know how to "attack" the monster as it were because I had never collected a set so big before. I dont think there is any 1 correct answer but as DJ aptly said, find a niche that works for you in the set and go from there. I have decided to try and get the southern leaguers when I can as well as getting commons to gain a base with so that I would be able to see some progress for myself lol I do try and get a hof here and there but that part of the set is not my focus right now. My mindset is there are plenty of hof cards to be found and had on ebay in varying grades as to ones budget but I didnt want to solely focus on the hof'ers while other harder to get commons and southern leaguers passed by me. Hopefully my strategy wont backfire on me and make it to where I can't afford the hof cards when its time to focus more attention on them. I wish you the very best on your 206 building Joe.


basicgreatguy@hotmail.com

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Posted By: DJ

It's all up to you Joe on how you want to begin.

I started my collection with my first purchase of Arlie Latham back some thirteen years ago for $12 in EX condition.

I have since purchased collections of lots of as many as 30 or so and by buying in bulk, you can satisfy two needs: the need for discounting the lot and the need to expand the collection. I like to work on unique backs, signed cards and different variations for a truly 'mutt set'. I have since worked on other avenues that come with the territory of being a pre-war collector as I have a number of Old Judges, Buchner's, a few e107's, a bunch of T205's, a few Ramly's and so on and so on. Collecting and enjoying pre-war cards is constant education and that's the joy of it! But the seed that grew my collection was the original Clown Prince of Baseball, Arlie Latham- The Freshest man On Earth.

Good Luck!

DJ

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Posted By: David Vargha

Welcome. One piece of advice - Avoid PRO like the plague. 99% of their cards are trimmed (and that figure may even be low).

DavidVargha@hotmail.com

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Posted By: 2dueces

Thnak you David. Yes I do avoid Pro. I bought this card some time ago, before I heard all the bad things about them. Call me wiser now...Never mind, Just call me Joe.

"I had the right to remain silent. I just didn't have the ability" Ron White

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Posted By: Alan

Hi Joe --

Welcome to the board. I am also new to this board. Collect what you enjoy and what's in your budget. There are a lot of bargains around if you don't mind lower graded material... A lot of the fun is just meeting & talking with other collectors & dealers at shows and, of course this message board.

All the best,

Alan
Jewish sports collector