Vintage collector books and magazines

[Archive]

Posted By: John H.

Hello everyone. I discovered this forum a couple of weeks ago and, being almost as interested in reading about collecting as collecting itself, I would very much like to hear your opinions on the Vintage & Classic Baseball Collector and Old Cardboard magazines. I assume the contents are quite similar but I would like to hear about the differences, if there are any, before I take the plunge and start buying either or both of them. Does either of them make for better "reading"? Is one of clearly higher quality than the other? Does anyone know of an outlet from where to purchase the defunct Vintage & Classic Baseball Collector magazine?

Also, can you give me a brief synopsis of the contents of Lew Lipset's Encyclopedias? Is there a lot of text history regarding the sets in these books, are they mostly pictures and player lists, or are they a good combination of both and possibly some other items I haven't mentioned?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a lot.

John

[Archive]

Posted By: Max Weder

John

I recommend both. VCBC is out of print, but sets are almost always available on ebay. Here is the tiny url for a set: http://tinyurl.com/y2u29c

VCBC also reprinted Lew Lipset's 3 volume set in one volume, and it is often available on ebay.

Max

[Archive]

Posted By: barrysloate

VCBC tended to focus a little more on memorabilia; Old Cardboard's focus is almost entirely vintage baseball cards. But there are plenty of card articles in the former, too.

[Archive]

Posted By: John H.

Thanks guys. Do you know approximately how many pages are in the two magazines? I believe that, going by the website, Old Cardboard is about 50 pages? Are they roughly the same?

Can you speak to the contents of Lew's encyclopedias?

John

[Archive]

Posted By: davidcycleback

Lipset's Encyclopedia is considered the standard reference in the area.

[Archive]

Posted By: PaulPaulPaul

OK. What's a tiny url?

[Archive]

Posted By: Frank Wakefield

John,

If you're going to collect any particular set of old cards, and if you want to really understand what you're collecting, then you need Mr. Lipset's works. There are 3 volumes, the first was on 19th century stuff, Old Judges, Harpers woodcuts, and the like. Another volume is about E cards, the American Caramel stuff, Cracker Jack, Zeenuts, other caramel cards, great stuff in it. And the other work is about T cards, T200, 205, 206, 207, 208,9,10,11,12,13,14,15 T222, and a few more. These books have MUCH more information than you'll find in a modern card catalog. There are a few typos, and some of the info is dated. IT is truly great, though. All of us should send Mr. Lipset a note of gratitude, if not money!

If you're collecting a particular issue or two, that are covered by his encyclopedias, then get the ones that cover your interest.

The Standard Catalog is a good reference. I like Mr. Sugar's old Sports Collectors' Bible. And I find myself looking at Mr. Burdick's American Card Catalog every few months.

Frank W.

[Archive]

Posted By: FYS

"Mr. Burdick's American Card Catalog every few months"

Is there only one version of this Catalog? I have seen a copy from the 60's for sale, but my understanding was it was made in the 50's? I thought it might be a reprint, but I think the covers were slightly different?

[Archive]

Posted By: FYS

"Mr. Sugar's old Sports Collectors' Bible"

Make sure you get the 4th Edition.

[Archive]

Posted By: Rich Klein

And I could have sworn one of these was in one of the big auctions -- the ACC goes back to 1939.

The common reprint you see is from the 1960 book but there are several editions. The only version I own is from 1962

Rich

[Archive]

Posted By: barrysloate

FYS- I have two copies of the Sports Collectors Bible and thought they were the same, and just yesterday realized one is a 3rd edition and one is a 4th. What was added to the 4th that makes it the best?

[Archive]

Posted By: leon

As Bert Sugar went along in versions (1-4)of The Sports Collectors Bible he made very needed revisions. The first one was a good first step but very poorly done otherwise. The 4th version was the most accurate and pretty good, imo.....It's where a lot of our pseudo-ACC numbers came from too...such as WG, N (for 19th Century) etc.....regards

[Archive]

Posted By: Rich Klein

Is also significantly tougher to acquire IIRC. I have seen very few copies of this over the years

Rich

[Archive]

Posted By: barrysloate

Thanks guys, a real board of scholars. Rich, I am terrible with abbreviations, what is IIRC?

[Archive]

Posted By: FYS

"And I could have sworn one of these was in one of the big auctions -- the ACC goes back to 1939.

The common reprint you see is from the 1960 book but there are several editions. The only version I own is from 1962"

Is the content completely the same, just reprints? What is the master ACC book and how do I get a copy?

[Archive]

Posted By: Griffin's

Barry-
IIRC = If I recall correctly.
Stumped me for a year as well.

[Archive]

Posted By: leon

You should probably get the latest revision (1960) as there were changes and it's the most up to date. I got my from Larry Frisch, he always has them, and it was about $27.00......you might be able to find one cheaper but I bit the bullet. What did I hope to save? $10?, maybe.......take care

[Archive]

Posted By: barrysloate

Wouldn't have guessed IIRC in two years. These are brutal.

[Archive]

Posted By: barrysloate

Both my editions are softcover, and the 4th went through several reprintings, the last in 1983. I got them a long time ago in a box lot but they are extremely useful.

[Archive]

Posted By: leon

I think FYS was asking about the ACC not the Sports Collectors Bible....both are useful and I would get the last versions of both, if I had to pick...which would be 1960 and 1983 respectively....regards

[Archive]

Posted By: barrysloate

Leon- at 8:20 last night FYS wrote that he recommended the 4th edition of Sugar's book- that was the post I was citing.

[Archive]

Posted By: Max Weder

Paul

A tiny url is nothing to be embarrassed about

If a website has a long url (the web address) and you'd like a shorter reference address, you can copy that address (highlight it and copy with ctl-c), then go to http://www.tinyurl.com. You can then paste (Ctl v) your long web address into the tiny url spot and it will give you a much shorter url you can use instead of the long one.

Max

[Archive]

Posted By: Frank Wakefield

As they have said above, for Mr. Sugar the later edditions are better. As for the ACC, mine is a 1960 edition. You can live without that, but it is nice to have if you start chasing type cards instead of entire sets, and if you spill over into non-sports. Mr. Lipset's works are vital if you're seeking a higher level of understanding beyond what is in a Becket's or the Standard Catalog.

[Archive]

Posted By: John H.

Well, I dove into the deep end and placed an order for a subscription and all of the back issues of Old Cardboard and also the Lipset Encyclopedia.

Next on the horizon will be the run of VCBC magazines but that will have to wait for a while.

Thanks for all of your comments.

John

[Archive]

Posted By: robert a

Just recently won on ebay a bound book full of Lew Lipset's Old Judge newsletters.

Recommended reading.

Thanks Mr. Luckey.

Rob

[Archive]

Posted By: joe

1953 issue sold in Leland's June 2005 auction.


Lot 1104. Rare 1st Edition American Card Catalogue
The first ever edition of the book that started it all. Rare 1953 American Card Catalogue covers everything from baseball cards to silks, blankets, rugs, coffee, soda, candy, cigars, and even the Bible. No '52 Bowman's. The catalogue (subtitled "A Gateway to Enchantment of days gone by" on page 1) is VG-EX, with familiar cover of a maiden spewing a cornucopia of cards. As tough to find as some of the cards inside.

Reserve: $175
Number of Bids: 8
Final Bid: $487.17
Price Realized:$572.42
(Price Realized Includes Buyer's Premium)


Ty Cobb, Spikes flying!

[Archive]

Posted By: peter chao

Guys,

I see that Mastronet published Cardboard Gems a book about cards from 1869 to 1969. Has any of you read the book. Does it do a good job of reviewing pre-war cards.

Peter