25 Card Collections

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Posted By: Bill

I remember hearing from one, maybe more people, that they had a limited collectionroughly 15-25 cards. I was just curious as to how you decide what you purchase and would be interested to know of any cards currently in your collections. I think it's very interesting with all of the choices out there in pre-war land!

Change your socks, drink water, and drive on.

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Posted By: Matt

Hey Bill - I've been working towards a 25-30 card collection and it's been great. Everyone has their own criterion, and I arrived at a set of rules that give my collection a nice balance between structure and chaos. I started with a list of my favorite pre-war players, and set out to find 1 card for each that I found to be their most aesthetically appealing pose. I then added a few wrinkles, such as, if the player played any significant time with Cleveland, my home town, then the card had to show him on the Cleveland team and also, I only allowed myself 1 card per issue (i.e. only 1 T206). I've had a great time tracking down the cards on the list I came up with and have just about 3 more to go. I also "upgrade" when I get the opportunity if one in nicer condition becomes available.


Of course, as I am nearing the end, things have slowed down and so I created another project, getting a card of every player who participated in the 1911 Addie Joss Memorial game and I'm down to two "tough commons" to complete that project as well.

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Posted By: barrysloate

"I then added a few wrinkles..."

Matt, most collectors try to spoon out the wrinkles.

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Posted By: Matt

Barry - clearly I don't care about the technical grade of my collection

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Posted By: Joann

Hi Bill,

I am working on two separate collections of 25. The first is Detroiters only (which I've collected for many years), and the second 25 will be At-Large (that I'm only just starting). I have established only very simple criteria for now.

The first is that I get cards I've always liked and sometimes wanted, but that did not fit my Detroit focus. I just picked up a nice T206 Johnson portrait from Barry on the BST this weekend as my first intentional addition to the At-Large collection.

I also want the cards to be either reasonably significant cards or reasonably significant players or both, but this one is not carved in stone. I will probably pick up an E93 Phillippi at some point just because I like that card, as an example.

I'm also becoming more of an appearance snob than I used to be, so fewer cards but better condition will be the third consideration.

I think that making this change represents more hobby experience for me. When I first started collecting, I wouldn't have known which cards were significant or which I even liked. I knew I wanted the Detroiters (and still will keep my Detroit-25 as the major part of my collection), but it took some time to really appreciate the T206 Johnson portrait or Matty White, or the E90-1 Oakes. This collection will allow me to pursue the general hobby interest as well as the more focused Detroit-fan interest.

Good luck. I'll look forward to seeing how it evolves for you.

Joann

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Posted By: Bill

Thanks! I find it interesting that you two are able to stay focused like this! I'm in the process of trying to heavily minimize my collection and find a solid focus. Thanks again!

Change your socks, drink water, and drive on.

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Posted By: leon

I have given a lot of thought to trying to cull down to 25-30 of my favorites. Then I start thinking of which ones I would keep and it ends up being about 10x of that number. Then I forget about it. Good debate though...

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Posted By: jay wolt

Unless space or finances is a factor.
Collect what ya like, be it 25 cards or 25,000.

Many who work on a 25 or 50 card collection seems to specilize
in higher $ cards. I have so many inexpensive cards that mean
something to me like some cards I had when I was a kid.
How can you choose between a card you've had for 40 years over
a Ty Cobb T206 you bought last week, its apples to oranges.
So I would keep both.
Also as a set collector like my Buchner N284's, I have over 50.
So If I choose a 50 card collection, I'd only have Buchners and
would get rid of a lot of other cards I like.

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Posted By: Jeff Prizner

If you have 25,000 cards that all mean something special to you, you need to get out more.

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Posted By: Bill

Leon-

I think I'm in the same boat as you. I don't think I could ever do it. The topic came up with a couple of other folks and I was curious to see again how/why people chose to collect in this fashion.

I do need to find a better focus however.

Change your socks, drink water, and drive on.

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Posted By: dstudeba

How can you choose between a card you've had for 40 years over
a Ty Cobb T206 you bought last week

Very, very easy. My '75 Carew would win every time.

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Posted By: Ted Sherman

I plan on finishing the sets I am working on, and trading each set for ONE pre war card preferably in the highest grade possible. In mind I would like my 55 topps set PSA 7/8 for a 33 goudey #181 Ruth in PSA 8, or a 54 red man set in PSa 4/5 for a 48 Leaf robinson in Psa 6 or whatever the $$ comes out to. A t3 set complete from Psa authentic and up for a t3 ty cobb PSA 5 and so forth to get down to a few cards. Then lock them in a safety deposit box and not look at them

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Posted By: Scott Mt. Joy

I just started a big 30 collection, this is in addition to my set collecting. I really just wanted a grouping of my favorite players that were not in the sets I am collecting. I want to keep them within a certain value range ($500-5000) and only one card from any issue. I wanted to avoid the random buying that I have done in the past, lol. This helps me focus on quality cards I want but some flexabilty to get cards I like. I only plan to add 2-3 cards a year, mainly because of budget and Im really in no hurry, my set collecting is a bit higher on my priorties.

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Posted By: peter ullman

I too have thought about doing this...but haven't been able to. It seems that most of us can't! It seems that most on this board who have a nifty 50...or a 25 alive collection...have this in addition to the rest of their collection.

To me this kinda defeats the purpose of it...totally?! What's the point? I guess it's all psychological?!

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Posted By: Matt

Peter - for me it's definitely psychological - I need to feel like there are some parameters around what I collect - otherwise there's just too much out there.

My Trade/Sale Page

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Posted By: Scott Mt. Joy

I agree totally with Matt, I also need those parameters around what I collect or I end up buying all kinds of stuff and making no progress on my sets/goals, which leads me to frustration. I also do better on ebay and at shows when I have these goals/plans in mind, I can learn as much as I can about the cards I want to purchase and track the sales of them too.

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Posted By: Doug

I just started working on a 25 card collection myself. For me space is an issue (I have a fairly small apartment) and I like to keep my collection small in case I have to sell off anything to cover any unexpected expenses.

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Posted By: Steve F

Doug, That sounds like a cute, little flat. What's the address again?

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Posted By: Jim VB

I like the idea of a limited number of cards in a set. I'm afraid it might be a little too late for me.

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Jim, that is awesome. Sick, but awesome. I'm glad you shared some of your psychological underpinnings with us.

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Posted By: Jim VB

Jeff,

Thanks, but I needed an intervention about 25 years ago.

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Posted By: Matt

So, you have a 25 album collection

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

I couldn't help but noticing a very fat 1939 Goudey Premium binder. Why don't you be a sport and scan all of those and let us see them?