Think about it

[marcdelpercio]

I think that part of the appeal of any collectible item is that it is scarce and has at least the potential to hold monetary value. Would you rather have a stack of T206's or a stack of 1991 Fleer? Why? You've never watched Moose Grimshaw (or Ty Cobb, for that matter) make a diving catch in the outfield. You have no fond childhood memories of cheering on Dave Brain rounding third and charging for the plate. So why would you rather have those cards than a nice EX/MT Felix Fermin? Because they have mystique. They have a story. They are old. They are scarce. Because of these things, they have...yes...value, and they hold the potential of keeping or increasing this value in the future.

Nobody collects things that there are millions of and anybody could have for a nickel. I have seen it suggested many times that those who collect for investment potential or to resell cards for a profit are not "true collectors". For myself...and for nearly every other collector I personally know, it's not nearly so black and white. There are some cards that I intend to keep in my collection until the day I die. Some of these are cards I had when I was three years old. Some of them are cards I bought a couple weeks ago. There are some cards I will keep until I find an upgrade someday...maybe tomorrow...maybe 10 years from now. There are some cards I buy purely with the intention of reselling for a profit. So what does that make me? Probably pretty similar to the vast majority of other collectors on this board, I'm guessing. All three of these categories are aspects of the entire concept of being a "collector" of anything. Without value, there is no demand. Without demand, there are no collectors. Anyone who thinks otherwise...I've got a nice '91 Felix Fermin to trade you for some T206's.