Set collecting advise?

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Posted By: Paul S

Dave - if you sold some cards from a set you are "collecting" to finance the "completion" of purchases of cards you don't have, would that make you any different than some of the set registry people? (Only half joking.)

To me it's a frame of mind. I came back to the hobby after a very long layoff and saw how much it had changed, and the prices boomed. The idea that some people actually sold cards was a bit of a revelation to me, after all, I always fancied myself a collector, not a seller. I still had about half the E90-1 set (beaters), with some tough ones like Cobb and Upp. I tested the waters and saw that I'd never be able to score the Mitchell or Jax. Oh well, maybe I'll sell some to get some. This is not at all a knock on set collectors because who wouldn't mind having a whole set?

Probably the best day I've had as a card collector was last spring. I had a days worth of appointments in NYC. However, when I got out of my driveway I turned left instead of right, used my cell to cancel the day's appointments, pulled of my tie, and drove the offroads the whole day, stopping at small antique stores, thrift shops, et al, looking for the elusive card (believe it or not a Boston Garter was on my mind!) Well, I did pick up a few small inexpensive pieces...none of them cards!! The whole thing was thrilling. If there's a moral here, maybe it's that sometimes I have to unstick my preconceived notions and just go do it. (sermon over.)