Does anyone collect raw cards exclusively in this age of TPG???

[jerseygary]

When I pick up cards I only buy them unslabbed. I figure if I need to have someone else tell me what it is, what condition it is in and if it even real then I shouldn't be collecting what ever it is. Kind of takes the fun out of it for me. "Fun" is the word here because I tend to only collect for the fun of it. I think the slabs are very ugly and the labels are too "computer-y" for my taste. To me there's nothing as pretty as a free and easy loose stack of '33 Goudeys' sitting on my drawing table!

[tedzan]

This display tells you where I stand on this subject.

I just love to flip thru my albums of card sets contained within quality plastic pages. And for my high value cards,
I prefer high quality mylar, instead of hard plastic rectangles with arbitrary numbers that may not actually reflect
the card's grade.






TED Z
__________________________________________________ ______________________

LOOKING FOR these T206 guys to complete my AMERICAN BEAUTY 460 sub-set

AMES....CAMNITZ....CRAWFORD (bat)....DOYLE (port)....JORDAN (bat)....MARQUARD
McGRAW (port-cap).....McQUILLAN (bat).....TINKER (bat off).....WILTSE (port-cap)

[auggiedoggy]

Originally Posted by tedzan

This display tells you where I stand on this subject.

I just love to flip thru my albums of card sets contained within quality plastic pages. And for my high value cards,
I prefer high quality mylar, instead of hard plastic rectangles with arbitrary numbers that may not actually reflect
the card's grade.

TED Z
__________________________________________________ ______________________

LOOKING FOR these T206 guys to complete my AMERICAN BEAUTY 460 sub-set

AMES....CAMNITZ....CRAWFORD (bat)....DOYLE (port)....JORDAN (bat)....MARQUARD
McGRAW (port-cap).....McQUILLAN (bat).....TINKER (bat off).....WILTSE (port-cap)

A picture is worth a thousand words.

So, I should let the boys loose is what you're inferring?

[ZenPop]

Originally Posted by tedzan

This display tells you where I stand on this subject.

I just love to flip thru my albums of card sets contained within quality plastic pages. And for my high value cards,
I prefer high quality mylar, instead of hard plastic rectangles with arbitrary numbers that may not actually reflect
the card's grade.






TED Z
__________________________________________________ ______________________

LOOKING FOR these T206 guys to complete my AMERICAN BEAUTY 460 sub-set

AMES....CAMNITZ....CRAWFORD (bat)....DOYLE (port)....JORDAN (bat)....MARQUARD
McGRAW (port-cap).....McQUILLAN (bat).....TINKER (bat off).....WILTSE (port-cap)

That's awesome, Ted.

I have yet to acquire a graded card. I will bid on one, every once in a while... but I collect for the love the designs and the team and/or player. The "raw" ones are mostly more affordable and I usually don't spend a lot, so I'm guessing that there's a much less chance of fakes making their way into my collection. An odd scrawl or kid's name can actually add to the charm of the card. (not all the time, mind you... ha ha)

[Leon]

I have most of my more expensive cards graded. I like an impartial and experienced TPG looking at them to see if there was anything I missed. I only want altered cards if I know they are altered. No, of course TPG's aren't perfect, but they fit my needs perfectly. Also, since I don't collect high grade I very rarely worry about alterations in my collection. (of course there could be one or some but I am just not worried about it). I still have hundreds, if not thousands of raw cards.

And yes, Travis, we call cards that aren't professionally encased, raw.

[Theo_450]

Have you ever ridden a horse “barebacked”? Graded slabs are like a saddle. Sometimes you need a saddle, but barebacked really gets you in touch with the horse. Sorry if that is off color, but it is true.

[kmac32]

Originally Posted by Theo_450

Have you ever ridden a horse “barebacked”? Graded slabs are like a saddle. Sometimes you need a saddle, but barebacked really gets you in touch with the horse. Sorry if that is off color, but it is true.

Understand the horse analogy completely.

[jerseygary]

Living in Kentucky and coming from a long line of Polish cavalry officers, I concur with your equine analogy about raw cards!