Burdick Collection at the Met

[metroac]

I was at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York earlier this week. My wife wanted to see the Dutch Masters exhibit and she'd read that some of the Burdick collection would be on display. I'm not sure where she read it nor am I sure of the exact wording of the announcement, but if you read anything similar, don't rush to get there. There are about 150 cards displayed, from N284's to 1954 Topps. Here's a few pics. It's hard to focus a straight-on shot due to the glare, but these didn't turn out too badly.

[mrreality68]

Those are cool photo’s I love the way the collections are displayed

[Pat R]

That's cool Mark, I would like to go see it one day myself.

You may already know but you can view them online. I'm not sure if the old link in this thread works if not I'll see if I can post a new one.

https://www.net54baseball.com/showth...hlight=Burdick

[Kawika]

My wife and I visited the Met many years back. The place is enormous, like an aircraft carrier full of art and a rat's maze to boot. We accidentally stumbled across the Burdick gallery in an out-of-the-way hall on the way to see Washington Crossing the Delaware. My understanding is that the old guy's cards are on continuous display and changed periodically. These are some snaps from 2007. Apologies for blurry images.

[Leon]

One of my best pick ups last year. The only actual picture I have ever seen of him..(shown before but whatever )

[Piratedogcardshows]

I won't rush now lol but do hope to make it up one day.

[x2drich2000]

I haven't been, but do have a question, does anyone know how the cards are adhered to the matting so that they aren't damaged yet remain in position?

[Snapolit1]

Modest, but very cool.

Actually my wife, the art history major, was really impressed by the beauty of the cracker jacks and other cards. I think it went a long way in getting her to accept my crazy obsession with buying old cardboard.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Back in the day you could, by advance request, view the albums themselves in a private room. That may no longer be the case.

[Exhibitman]

You need to be a 'legitimate' researcher to get a reservation. I got in simply by saying I was writing a boxing card book BUT I was expressly told there would be no looking at baseball cards.

[Rhotchkiss]

Yikes, are the cards glued to the background? How are they staying on the mount like that?

[KMayUSA6060]

Side bar question: does anyone know if he had a relative named Arnie?

[BeanTown]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

Yikes, are the cards glued to the background? How are they staying on the mount like that?

My guess would be yes. I’m sure the Met does a much better job than the NYPL in keeping track of donated items. At least Burdick chose a better place to donate some of his collection to than Al Spaulding did back in the 20s.

[Bestdj777]

I enjoyed going several years back but agree it’s definitely not worth a separate trip.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

I made the appointment and viewed the entire collection when I was 17. T206 Wagner is not glued but almost everything else is. It was mind blowing to view album after album. Security guard standing over my shoulder the whole time. So glad I did it, since it doesn't seem to be available any more.

[MVSNYC]

Been there many times. His collection is very large, and they rotate the display (not sure how often, or what themes they create). It's quite cool.

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by Bestdj777

I enjoyed going several years back but agree it’s definitely not worth a separate trip.

I believe the photo you posted to be a photo of the Goulston collection at the New York Public Library, shown fully below.



That Wagner is still pasted in the book.

More details here:

http://www.signedt206.com/goulston-t206-collection

[Webster]

I believe that Burdick mounted most of the collection in albums himself (much of it after donating to the Met).

The cards do not appear fully glued to the pages; it looks more like the cards are attached with the type of "hinges" used for mounting stamps (but perhaps larger and/or multiple mounting hinges).

They do rotate the displays. I have seen OJs, N173 Cabinets, as well as post-war at various times.

[Bestdj777]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

I believe the photo you posted to be a photo of the Goulston collection at the New York Public Library, shown fully below.



That Wagner is still pasted in the book.

More details here:

http://www.signedt206.com/goulston-t206-collection

That’s bizarre. That’s definitely the same card/book. I’ve been to both so I guess I was mistake and all this time thought I saw Burdick’s Wagner… hmm. Thanks for correcting that memory for me.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Pat R

That's cool Mark, I would like to go see it one day myself.

You may already know but you can view them online. I'm not sure if the old link in this thread works if not I'll see if I can post a new one.

https://www.net54baseball.com/showth...hlight=Burdick

They have really great scans too.
Except for star players, who are only available in lower res smaller size scans.

[lumberjack]

Maybe everybody knows this story by now.

The New York Times did a profile of the Burdick Collection May 5, 1012, "A Hobby to Many, Card Collecting Was Life's Work for One Man."

This article fills in all the blanks about Burdick and how he put the collection together for the Met.

By the way, there were 306,000 pieces and the Met agreed to accept it only if Burdick catalogued it himself.

In case anybody is wondering, he used water-based glue on backs of the cards.

Read....
lumberjack

[polakoff]

Yes, the cards are changed out periodically. I believe 3 or 4 times a year is what I was told. Cards are hinged to the paper and this was done by Burdick himself.

No need to rush, but I loved seeing it. If you're a student of card collecting as a hobby, seeing cards owned by Burdick, arranged by Burdick on a paper, is still a thrill. But, you don't need more than a few minutes to view it, and then go on your merry way to see all the other amazing stuff there.