What was the salvation of the Prewar card hobby

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by Vintage Vern

I'm actually more curious about the late 1800s to 1950s on how so many where saved before they had value or means to trade. How did people amass so many, and keep them in such good condition. Was there even a thing like collecting or a hobby in those time periods? I just think about USA history, and what took place in those time periods, and how people lived. I just find it amazing so many made it. I know 1939 is the cut off for prewar, but just wanted to expand to the 50s to include WWII, and many that held those prewar cards.

I think people can’t really comprehend true collecting with the haze of money they see cards through today. Burdick didn’t care for value he cared about collecting. This has always been the case with human nature with American Indians trading for colored beads and the prevalence of scrapbooks. People collect to collect, I have so many near worthless collections I just love for memories and the hunt. It is the recollection of me and childhood. There are so many stories of barkeeps sweeping the floors of cigarette cards discarded and just as many of children coming in the pick them off the floor. As they aged they were just as wistful as us in wanting to remember childhood. They were buying memories, not value. And they kept them