How we look at our cards...and what is old?

[ullmandds]

I've been a collector of mostly prewar cards for over 25 years now...as a kid collecting in the mid-late 70's I always coveted cards from the 50's-60's because they were "older" and cooler imo.

Now the cards I collected as a youth...bought in packs...completed sets...are now over 40 years old...but I just can't consider them "old?"

And the thought of grading them seems preposterous to me!!!! Similarly junk wax cards are now 30 years old...but I still consider them junk!!!!!

My rookies from the 80's-90's are in binders and I could not image wasting the $$$$ to have them graded?

I suppose this is common...as we age...the denial of aging...that I'm "not old?" I suppose it's all relative?

Do others feel similarly??

[DeanH3]

I agree Pete. When I started in 1983, 1953 Topps seemed ancient. Now cards 30 years old (1992) don't feel old to me at all. I'm an age denier too. LOL!

[Deertick]

Here is a recent similar discussion on "Vintage"

https://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=319665

"I believe the age of a person has a lot to do with its interpretation as well. As we age, our frame of reference tends not to shift easily. In 1980, I considered 1920's coins and 50's to 60's cards to be OLD. Today, I would not consider 60's coins or 70's to 80's cards in the same context. "

In the same vein, the 'old people' I vividly remember in my youth at family gatherings were not much older than I am now. Whaaaaaa?

[Leon]

I am older than the old people I used to talk about .

.

[Touch'EmAll]

Pete, I also grew up collecting in the mid/late 1970's.

I would walk to the store after school with friends to buy packs. Would ride my bike to Toy City to buy the 3 pk cellos. Go to a local show and ohh-ahh and marveled at all the cards. Traded at school lunchtime with other kids. Go over what we had waiting at the bus stop.

At the time, 1970, 71 & 72 cards seemed old, almost ancient.

Now, old to me is pre-1952.

But back to the more important note - old ? I'm not old, er, am I ? Sigh.

[Casey2296]

I collect post-war cards that had some significance to me as a kid in the late 60's early 70's, really have no interest in anything younger than that so they're all old to me. My pre-war bug was planted back then with the Kelloggs all time greats 3-d set (curse you Mr Kellogg) and dabbled a little bit of pre-war when I was 21.

Now I need to attend weekly "pre-war anonymous" meetings at the local church to control my habit...

Every thread needs a card so here's a couple of oldies.
_

[Stampsfan]

As a kid, I collected from the late 60's to the early 70's. Never got rid of my cards.

Fast forward to the late 80's, and my nephew brought me a price guide. This was my first inkling into the hobby as an adult. I was shocked at the prices on single cards that I had paid 5-10 cents for a pack (a dollar a card or more).

I was quite surprised that cards I collected as a kid were considered old.

[RCFire82]

Well this is a depressing 3:00 am read... 40yrs old in October. As a 90's kid, cards never started feeling old until about the 70's.