Collecting Whims

[Cmvorce]

Does anyone else have their collecting focus shift on a whim for no apparent reason? I spent the last several months largely focused on Topps 1952 - 1956. Completed the 52 low number set and about 30 high numbers, got about 1/4 of a way through 56 including all the superstars. Picked up a number of hall of famers from 54-55. But there is still a lot of work to be done - I want to complete the 50s Topps sets.

Anyway, over the last few days, I all of a sudden couldn’t stop thinking about t206, and I can tell already I’m about to jump ship on the 50s and dive right back into prewar. And I bet that will last for a few months and before I have my goals met I will turn to early Bowman or 1972 Topps or something.

Does anyone else shift their priorities and habits on a whim like this before meeting all their collecting goals for a specific area?

[BeanTown]

T206 Centered Cobbs with big borders.

[slightlyrounded]

Originally Posted by Cmvorce

Does anyone else have their collecting focus shift on a whim for no apparent reason? I spent the last several months largely focused on Topps 1952 - 1956. Completed the 52 low number set and about 30 high numbers, got about 1/4 of a way through 56 including all the superstars. Picked up a number of hall of famers from 54-55. But there is still a lot of work to be done - I want to complete the 50s Topps sets.

Anyway, over the last few days, I all of a sudden couldn’t stop thinking about t206, and I can tell already I’m about to jump ship on the 50s and dive right back into prewar. And I bet that will last for a few months and before I have my goals met I will turn to early Bowman or 1972 Topps or something.

Does anyone else shift their priorities and habits on a whim like this before meeting all their collecting goals for a specific area?

Big time. But view this as a healthy thing - if you focused strictly on projects until completion you’d either be regularly overpaying or spending long amounts of time as an inactive buyer. In my opinion it’s better to diversify your interests and follow your curiosity or particular interest dujour. You can always abandon projects or certain segments that don’t fit your collection in the future, often at a profit.

One recommendation for going in new directions: always start with some of the bigger cards or more liquid pieces - pouring a bunch of time and money into commons and saying you’ll buy the ‘big ones’ later usually doesn’t work out very well.

[Gorditadogg]

Nope never

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[icurnmedic]

Every week it seems. Even bought some Golf and non-sport recently.

[chadeast]

Originally Posted by slightlyrounded

Big time. But view this as a healthy thing - if you focused strictly on projects until completion you’d either be regularly overpaying or spending long amounts of time as an inactive buyer. In my opinion it’s better to diversify your interests and follow your curiosity or particular interest dujour. You can always abandon projects or certain segments that don’t fit your collection in the future, often at a profit.

One recommendation for going in new directions: always start with some of the bigger cards or more liquid pieces - pouring a bunch of time and money into commons and saying you’ll buy the ‘big ones’ later usually doesn’t work out very well.

+1 to all. At the risk of sounding like a greeting card, follow your heart and you can't go wrong.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by Cmvorce

Does anyone else have their collecting focus shift on a whim for no apparent reason? I spent the last several months largely focused on Topps 1952 - 1956. Completed the 52 low number set and about 30 high numbers, got about 1/4 of a way through 56 including all the superstars. Picked up a number of hall of famers from 54-55. But there is still a lot of work to be done - I want to complete the 50s Topps sets.

Anyway, over the last few days, I all of a sudden couldn’t stop thinking about t206, and I can tell already I’m about to jump ship on the 50s and dive right back into prewar. And I bet that will last for a few months and before I have my goals met I will turn to early Bowman or 1972 Topps or something.

Does anyone else shift their priorities and habits on a whim like this before meeting all their collecting goals for a specific area?

I wonder if you'd feel the same had you focused on your favorite set from 1952-1956, rather than trying to tackle them all at the same time. I would feel overwhelmed trying to work on 5 vintage Topps sets all at once. Then after completing one set, re-evaluate and choose another set, maybe tobacco, or Bowman, or another early Topps set, whatever strikes your fancy.

Start a set, complete it, re-evaluate.

[sportscardpete]

I think it keeps it fresh and gives you a new perspective on collecting. I've spent more time on modern and it gave me a new appreciation for vintage, while also broadening my knowledge base.

[mrreality68]

My situation is different but similar

I lose focus but not on what I collect but I get distracted by other cards.

I am always focused on my core collection

But at an Auction I will see a Good Looking Card, A Rare Card, or something different that just catches my eye.

I want it, bid and sometimes win it.

But then I get it and it is nice but it does not fit my collection so not only buyers remorse but then i need to flip it fast so I can regroup the funds to refocus on my collection.

Worse part many times I miss out on a card while I am trying to sell the card that I should not have bought because those held the funds to the cards I really want

[Carter08]

Originally Posted by slightlyrounded

Big time. But view this as a healthy thing - if you focused strictly on projects until completion you’d either be regularly overpaying or spending long amounts of time as an inactive buyer. In my opinion it’s better to diversify your interests and follow your curiosity or particular interest dujour. You can always abandon projects or certain segments that don’t fit your collection in the future, often at a profit.

One recommendation for going in new directions: always start with some of the bigger cards or more liquid pieces - pouring a bunch of time and money into commons and saying you’ll buy the ‘big ones’ later usually doesn’t work out very well.

Plus one.

[Johnny630]

No Never

[T205 Hunter]

My primary focus is on t205s - obsessed.
However, in the past couple of months I have purchased golf cards, Star Wars, 1964 BB coins, silks, comics, etc. It’s fun looking for value elsewhere.


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[Yoda]

I have done it my whole collecting career. For me, it keeps things fresh instead of searching high and low for the same old cards on my want list.
Right now, I am pursuing the following:
1. T206 McGraw Gove Showing - back run.
2. George Sisler cards and memorabilia.
3. Dead Ball HOF player autographs.
Expanding collecting horizons is fun and potentially lucrative.

[Jewish-collector]

Collect what you enjoy and enjoy what you collect !!!

[Leon]

Just try not to go too far off track. Recent pick ups...

[Cmvorce]

Leon, what are those?! And why?

[jb217676]

I'm always switching gears too! For the last couple of months I've only bought Skateboard cards, Skateboard Album Stickers, and Skateboard Postcards! I see a trend there! Started at zero, here's what I've picked up so far in the last couple of months (not counting stuff in the mail or at SGC):

https://imageevent.com/jeffintoronto...lit10s2ul3.cow

[parkplace33]

Interesting topic. I will start off by saying they are your cards so ultimately, it is your decision.

My one recommendation is to please do research into whatever series you want to collect next. I have seen many a collector start collecting a cards without doing their due diligence on what the set entails, how hard it is and average prices. More than likely, they end up not completing their goal and move onto something else.

Good luck with your collecting journey!

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Cmvorce

Leon, what are those?! And why?

They are postcards and 2 of the 3 actually fit in my postcard collection. I am not sure about the other.

And then too you can always become a type card collector.
There are almost an unlimited amount of different cards to collect.

[Seven]

I find myself passively putting together a 52 topps set, at least in the lower numbers. It started with me picking up a Bob Feller from the set, and then randomly grabbing a star here and there. Since then I've grabbed some commons as well. I believe I'm up to 40 cards, It's sort of a lifelong thing that I'm going to commit to, as I do eventually want to get #311.

Other than that, Mantle still is the focus of my collection. With the occasional star rookie every so often.

[skelly423]

I have a five year collecting plan that changes daily. One day it’s t206 hall of famers, the next day it’s building a 1965 Topps complete set. Today’s plan is a complete Jackie, Willie, Hank and Roberto Topps run. Tomorrow will be Diamond Kings. Yesterday I grabbed a few Cracker Jacks from the BST section.

I’m passionate about baseball cards, but I can’t seem to figure out which specific cards I’m passionate about. I like set collecting, but if I buy common cards first, I don’t want to spring for the key cards when I need them. If I start with the key cards, I don’t want to waste money on commons to complete the set. I think I may have a problem….

[Cmvorce]

Originally Posted by skelly423

I like set collecting, but if I buy common cards first, I don’t want to spring for the key cards when I need them. If I start with the key cards, I don’t want to waste money on commons to complete the set. I think I may have a problem….

I hear you. I just spent over $1000 buying commons to complete my 1956 set (and I still need about 30 more to do it) and once I hit “complete purchase” I immediately started asking myself if I would have preferred hall of famers from the 55 set. Never ending battle. I think I’m like you - I want it all.

[Cmvorce]

Originally Posted by Seven

I find myself passively putting together a 52 topps set, at least in the lower numbers. It started with me picking up a Bob Feller from the set, and then randomly grabbing a star here and there. Since then I've grabbed some commons as well. I believe I'm up to 40 cards, It's sort of a lifelong thing that I'm going to commit to, as I do eventually want to get #311.

I have the same goal and I’m into the high numbers and it’s killing me to spend what you have to spend on guys like Ebba St. Claire. Nothing against Ebba but every time I pick up another high number common, knowing I could have purchased a nice t206 or 60s star with those funds, I question what I’m doing. Especially since I will most likely never be able to get the Mantle.

[egri]

My main project is completing the signed 1953 Topps set, and every once in a while I'll have a side project pop up that I'll work on when that slows down. Right now it's a Red Sox signed Bowman run from 1949-52; when that started slowing down, I picked up Carl Yastrzemski and Carlton Fisk rookies that are out right now getting signed. There were even a couple cards in the recent Collect auction that didn't fit into any of those that I considered going after.

[Piratedogcardshows]

I use to get off track but have been more disciplined of late.