Collecting Whims

[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.