Your entire collection is gone....now what?

[conor912]

I was talking to a buddy the other day and we got to talking about what we would do if we lost our collection (fire, theft, whatever). Assuming insurance paid out on it, what would you do with the funds?

[Cardboard Junkie]

I would give the money to my daughter.

[Sean1125]

I vote you put half in a trust fund for your next generation and rebuild your collection with the other half (assuming insurance pays up).

[freakhappy]

Man, that would be pretty sad if that happened to any of us

I know how much my collection means to me and I'm sure most of the people here feel the same. But if something unfortunate happened like a fire or theft, I think I would start from the top down meaning I would buy a few cards that otherwise I probably wouldn't be able to afford unless I sold off most of my collection. I would go after a nice '51 and '52 Mantle, a few Ruths in ex-ish condition. I would go after other stuff as well, but I'd have to think about what exactly I would want.

I would definitely continue to collect because I love the hobby too much not to.


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[bbcard1]

I would replace my 500 Tommy Gregg rookies...

[rainier2004]

I'd start a 1914 CJ set...

[mrvster]

most of my good cards are 1 of 1's.........irreplaceable


I'd buy a wagner

[KCRfan1]

I have to admit, I am very surprised that " to hell with the hobby " has the most votes thus far. Are you so unhappy with the hobby that you would not collect again? Ever? What has happened to make you feel the way you voted?

[conor912]

Originally Posted by KCRfan1

I have to admit, I am very surprised that " to hell with the hobby " has the most votes thus far. Are you so unhappy with the hobby that you would not collect again? Ever? What has happened to make you feel the way you voted?

I suppose once you get to certain point with your age and/or collection, the thought of rebuilding it or even generating enough interest to start from scratch seems pretty daunting.

I agree, though, that it exposes an interesting underlying sentiment.

[mrvster]

to T206....I can't get it out of me veins

[EvilKing00]

Id start over and replace what i have, um minus the 80's and newer stuff.

[h2oya311]

Interesting that so many said "to hell with the hobby". Perhaps they feel there are better uses for the funds and aren't so much disillusioned by the hobby...well, at least I hope that's the case.

I suppose I wouldn't spend all my money on cards...I'd probably just buy a few great cards and use the other half for other life-related expenses (retirement, college fund, house downpayment, etc). I have quite a few one-of-ones, so rebuilding my collection would be impossible.

I agree, I certainly wouldn't have any modern stuff in my collection!!

[jcmtiger]

At my age I would be done, but still dabble.

Joe

[wonkaticket]

Originally Posted by conor912

I suppose once you get to certain point with your age and/or collection, the thought of rebuilding it or even generating enough interest to start from scratch seems pretty daunting.

+1 That was why I voted that option. Some of my stuff could be replaced but most could not nor would it be "my" stuff anymore. It's not just about replacing items on the monetary level but the emotional level no insurance policy can replace that IMO.

John

[joeadcock]

Originally Posted by h2oya311

...I'd probably just buy a few great cards I have quite a few one-of-ones.......I agree, I certainly wouldn't have any modern stuff in my collection!!

Agreed.
Would be much more selective than I was in past.
Would also not be able to replace some probable unique cards.
Very little modern stuff.

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

I understand why you would consider walking away. It seems that most of you guys who have been collecting for a long time could never afford to replace your collections.

[Bestdj777]

I'd toss my safe, put the money towards a house, and live vicariously through net54.

[z28jd]

How would someone lose their whole collection at one time? I can't answer the question until I know how that happens. I seriously can't imagine someone taking the time to dig up all 100 shoeboxes of cards I have buried on my property and then ignoring my "not baseball cards, put it back!" sign I put on each box. I've tried digging on Wonka's property many times and couldn't find anything except pictures of him when he was on the debate team in third grade.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by KCRfan1

I have to admit, I am very surprised that " to hell with the hobby " has the most votes thus far. Are you so unhappy with the hobby that you would not collect again? Ever? What has happened to make you feel the way you voted?

My collection consists mainly of items that are one of a kind or so scarce that I've only seen them once or twice in a decade. I have the collecting gene so I'm sure I would collect something, but it's doubtful I could ever assemble the same collection lost to a fire. And I think it would be painful for me to try and start over.

If I were strictly a card collector and putting T206 or Cracker Jack sets together my vote would have been different.

[joeadcock]

Dan

Interesting. Not asking for details. Do you mind saying how many items that would run?

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by joeadcock

Dan

Interesting. Not asking for details. Do you mind saying how many items that would run?

I don't think I could give an exact number, but I have game used bats, player owned scrapbook/photo albums, one of a kind photographs, ticket stubs, team signed baseballs, one of a kind real photo postcards, and yes even some cards I've never seen any other copy of. If we're talking individual items I'd guess it's the range of 500 items.

[joeadcock]

Dan
Thanks for sharing that

[drmondobueno]

At least creeps like Peter Nash would not be around.

[dabigyankeeman]

I love my collection, and over the years have settled in on specialties, and once I collected the insurance money, I would have tons of fun trying to duplicate my current collection of Yankee cards from 1904 thru current, and other New York and Jewish cards too.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by h2oya311

Interesting that so many said "to hell with the hobby". Perhaps they feel there are better uses for the funds and aren't so much disillusioned by the hobby...well, at least I hope that's the case.

I suppose I wouldn't spend all my money on cards...I'd probably just buy a few great cards and use the other half for other life-related expenses (retirement, college fund, house downpayment, etc). I have quite a few one-of-ones, so rebuilding my collection would be impossible.

I agree, I certainly wouldn't have any modern stuff in my collection!!

That's exactly what I was thinking I'd do too. Knock out a coupla big boys, and keep collecting on a smaller scale(at least in terms of quantity). Then focus more on other areas of life.. Home remodel/upgrades, and the such. Probably re-invest. Maybe even still use all the money on cards, but more for flipping than pure collecting.. My collection could then be "self-growing" without taking any money out of my pocket, while applying all profits to other areas of life..

This is ideally, of course. More than likely, with me still being somewhat young at 34, I'd probably dive headfirst right back into the hobby full-bore...

[dabigyankeeman]

I am surprised at all the votes for not doing the hobby anymore.

I will be 66 years old in April, and I would dive all in to rebuild my collection, I love it. Age is not a factor for me in being in the hobby, its only a factor in that as I got older I specialized more in the stuff that REALLY intrests me. I cut a 60+ album collection down to an 11+ album collection, but I love that 11+ album collection dearly and would have to rebuild it.

[pawpawdiv9]

Theres too many factors.. If say what if a fire,, then it take the house as well (looking at the bigger picture)..I would say the cards be lesser importance. Still i would search thru the burnt/melted ruble for my Mantle Rc's (51 &52) in my safe.
Being middle-aged, i focus more on the future of retirement and health, and in some cases the family. Thats always #1.
You will always have the great stories and memories to share and perhaps get the next generation to share your love for the cards we love.

Oh, if it was a theft...there be no problem. My dog would lick and pee all over him.

[rdwyer]

I would hunt the person down, and do him like the dude in the movie: Law Abiding Citizen.

[mattsey9]

Originally Posted by drmondobueno

At least creeps like Peter Nash would not be around.

I don't know. I went to a seashell collectors store once at the behest of my wife. The proprietor there was every bit as scummy as the worst baseball card dealer.

[bnorth]

I would probably take a break from collecting for a while and then focus on just the T210 set. A very large portion of my cards are errors with several 100 being the only known copy. The hardest for me would be losing my 5 only known Wade Boggs error cards, they are far from my most valuable just my favorite.

[williamcohon]

I can't imagine simply trying to duplicate a collection that was the result of twists and turns along the collecting path. But it's been a pleasurable journey, and I am pretty sure I would still enjoy looking at, and acquiring, cards.

Come to think, I probably wouldn't mind seeing some of the same scenery a second time. Yeah, I'm all in.

[ibuysportsephemera]

I just turned 50 and have been collecting/selling for more than half of my life. I have over 15k items in inventory (most publications) and they fill my office and 1.5 storerooms. My youngest daughter will start college in the fall. I feel like the publications could start to be a real anchor at some point. I would keep anything that can fit in a 3 ring binder and sell the rest. In fact, if anyone would like to purchase a great collection for resale on eBay, let me know..I am sure we could work something out.

Jeff

[auggiedoggy]

I'm kind of at the "to hell with the hobby" stage. I've sold off much of my collection now but ... I think I will find it difficult to walk away completely from collecting. Maybe I'll just pickup a few raw cards. Anyone have an extra Honus Wagner T206 kicking around? I'll even take a beater!

[WWGjohn]

Most of my collecting interests have shifted from cards to 19th century bats and back to stamps which I collected for 40 years and sold to start a business for my wife. So I'd probably say "to heck" with cards.

John

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

My collection consists mainly of items that are one of a kind or so scarce that I've only seen them once or twice in a decade. I have the collecting gene so I'm sure I would collect something, but it's doubtful I could ever assemble the same collection lost to a fire. And I think it would be painful for me to try and start over.

If I were strictly a card collector and putting T206 or Cracker Jack sets together my vote would have been different.

My sentiments exactly. I would certainly collect again but there is no way to replace what I would have lost and I would not even try. I don't even know where I'd begin.

[sportscardpete]

Would go to vegas.

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

I would curse, get a hug from my wife and then move on. They're just cards.

[jimm]

72 topps sets mlb NFL nhl and sf giants and niners would be all I really HAD to rebuild

[Tomman1961]

While defeating cancer, I took some stock of things. I had far too much stuff. Like a complete run of 1970-1973 Life magazines. I kept the best covers and donated the rest. Now I am thinking about getting rid of my post 1974 cards. No interest. i NEVER look at them. And spnd the money back into the hobby. Like ficishing my Diamond Stars. Before I leave this place my wife knows who to trust to sell or auction the vards, yearbooks, autographs and Street and Smiths. ( I ain't leaving anytime soon!)