New to This/Any Advice?

[Markus_and_Friends]

Hello All,
I just wanted to introduce myself and ask for advice.
Long story short, I grew up collecting cards in the 90’s. I loved the hobby. I was aged 10-15 and I did it for fun. I would go to large card shows…searching up and down the aisles for my boys Paul Molitor and Robin Yount. Once I got to High School it seems that my interests shifted from Cards to Music and Art. I spent High School and College heading to the record shop and built a large collection of Cd’s and Vinyl’s. Now with the world we live in of the digital downloading, ive lost interest in collecting albums.
Two months ago I read an article about the T206 set of cards and my interest peaked. I have recently become obsessed. They look amazing. I want to start collecting!
I don’t want to flip these, I want to collect the entire set (Over years and years I am assuming. It seems an expensive-ish hobby), but a super fun one. I have researched and learned a lot over the past two months. This is the first forum I have joined, and I just keep getting more and more excited.
I purchased my first card last week, a Jack Knight w/ Bat PSA 3 Piedmont 350. One Card Down, Many more to go!
My question for all of you is,

Am I doing this right? Should I get into this? Is there anything I need to know before starting to do this? What’s the best part about collecting these? What is the worst part?

Any advice would help a fresh beginner who wants to collect.

Thanks Everybody.

[npa589]

I think the fact that this forum exists and has flourished will tell you that many of the replies to your post will be along the lines of:

"Yes, you should definitely get into this. The best part about collecting them is collecting them, and the worst part about it is when you're not collecting them."



I started a couple years ago and have loved every minute of it. Am I correct to assume you grew up in Wisconsin?



.

[drc]

Your number one concern is that there are reprints, fakes and altered cards out there. If you buy a PSA or SGC card that shouldn't be a problem, and you can ask about cards on this board. Luckily, if you own and observe T206s, most reprints are pretty obvious as they are different in one or more ways than the real cards.

T206 is my favorite baseball card issue, so I have no objection over your set choice.

[Jewish-collector]

Welcome !!!

Take the time to read a lot of the past threads on this forum plus the old OLD Net54 message board at: http://www.network54.com/Forum/153652/

[drc]

If you post a scan of a T206 card on this board, there are a plethora of board members who can tell you if its real or fake. So the board will be your collecting friend.

[g_vezina_c55]

Welcome in the t206 addiction.

[steve B]

Collecting the set depends a lot on what you like.

If you're into nicer condition cards it will take longer and cost a lot more.

But if you don't mind cards that have been around the block a few times (or more) It can be done for a lot less.

The good stuff is that they look good even if they don't grade all that well. And there are plenty out there with a light crease and a bit of corner wear that won't cost much.

It might be worthwhile to pick up a batch of lesser condition cards just to get a good look at them without the plastic in the way.
One of the auctions coming up has a few batches like that.
http://www.b-lauctions.com/

Start around lot 96.
(Not my cards)

One of the things newer collectors don't usually get a chance to do is handle the cards in any quantity to get good feel for what they look like and what the cardboard is like. In the early 80's many dealers had stacks of them just loose or rubber banded together. Once you've done that spotting the fakes gets really easy since they all just look wrong.

If you get into the tougher backs and misprints it's very different. Lots of expense, and cards don't come up as often.

A few things that might help make it easier if you get discouraged by looking at a big batch and thinking "X years and I'm only 1/2 way there" is to work on a subset. Maybe a favorite team, or just portraits, something like that where it's a more limited group within the set. The non southern league minor leaguers is one that isn't done much. Only a few HOF players, (I think 3? But I could be wrong) And no really rare ones.

I've been collecting them off and on since probably 78, and I'm not even halfway there. So much other stuff to collect and usually not much of a budget.

Steve B

[E93]

Don't give up on vinyl. The sound is far superior to the compressed digital download stuff today and probably the vast majority of cds ever produced. And the artwork is unmatched.
JimB

[EvilKing00]

u have deff come to the right place - take your time and read as many old posts on the set (t206) your looking to collect. welcome!

[AMBST95]

Welcome to the forum. I'm very much like you in that I'm probably similar in age and also collected a lot of cards as a kid. Columbia House and BMG quickly replaced my cards as I could get 10 CDs for a $1.

I just returned to card collecting 2 years ago and went to rebuild and enhance my Cal Ripken card collection. That shifted to Orioles Team Hall of Famers, which shifted to PostWar HOF RCs, which has then brought me to Prewar where I'm starting 3 different sets (T206, E210, and R319). It took me awhile to get my focus, simply because there was so much out there that as a kid I wish I could afford which now, I can somewhat kinda afford.

I feel real settled in with the T206s and I couldn't be happier with that choice. There are so many options within the set and ways to collect it that you can always change focus while ultimately working on your end goal (a complete set). That's what I like about it. At first I was eating up anything I could get my hands on, but then I started looking for specific backs and higher quality which has slowed me down significantly due to cost. I'm in no rush and this forum has been a big help. The members are always quick to help you out and the B/S/T forum has helped me a bit too. I would invest in the book named The T206 Collection: Players and Their Stories. It is a great book to learn more about the players in the set. Every time I get a card for a new player, I always read the page on them. It has enhanced the collecting process for me.

Anyways, good luck with your collecting and welcome aboard.

[Markus_and_Friends]

Thanks All. This has really helped.
I think I will start getting some raw cards so I can have an idea as to the feel and design of them.
I will also bring in my sights a little and focus on a subset of the entire collection so that it is not as daunting.
Thank you again for all your help. I will see you around the forum.

Also, I have not given up on my vinyl.

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

Originally Posted by Markus_and_Friends

Thanks All. This has really helped.
I think I will start getting some raw cards so I can have an idea as to the feel and design of them.
I will also bring in my sights a little and focus on a subset of the entire collection so that it is not as daunting.
Thank you again for all your help. I will see you around the forum.

Also, I have not given up on my vinyl.

Markus,

This is a great place to learn. I am pretty new at this as well and I am pleased to say that I am getting to the point where I feel confident saying whether or not a t-206 is real or not.

As for learning about the players I would recommend this book. Some of the players had really fascinating lives. Every time I get a new card I read about the guy and try to imagine what type of person he must have been.
http://www.amazon.com/T206-Collectio.../dp/1931807949

[Leon]

Welcome to the forum. Not a lot more I can add except I always like the analogy of the hobby to a race. It's a marathon and not a sprint. Collecting subsets of T206 sounds like a great idea. You will have a lot of good company too. See ya' round...

[ethicsprof]

welcome aboard!!!
all the best,
barry