1866 Baseball Cards

[rhettyeakley]

I'm sure I'm in the minority on this issue but I strongly advise against donating items to museums/historical societies/etc. UNLESS there is strong indication that they will actually be on display (permanently). There are so many great treasures that have been donated that never see the light of day and languish in a box or a back vault forever, and also keep in mind that the museum can and will sell things whenever it wants or needs to. Thinking of the Burdick collection (for example) always gets me upset as nobody really gets to appreciate it in its present location and they have a lame display of a few cards and that is all. Honestly, I think the collectors of the world appreciate this stuff much more than any historical society/museum ever could.

Obviously, if the item being donated is of MAJOR historical significance and will always be on display then I have no problem donating those types of items. A large or small baseball card collection rarely ever fits into that situation wheras a T206 Wagner probably would.

Just my 2 cents,
-Rhett