If you could start your collection from scratch, knowing what you do now...

[Exhibitman]

This is actually a good exercise to undertake if you are contemplating a reduction in the size or scope of your collection. I'd do two things, which are pretty much what I've been doing for a few years now:

1. Pursue the tough stuff.

Uncatalogued issues:







Vintage signed and mailed postcards:









Oddball paper items:





2. Collect mainstream things I like in collector grades on the cheap.

[Scott Garner]

Nice post, Adam!

[Runscott]

You should collect whatever you want at any given time. If you decided that, based on new info, you no longer wanted to collect photos, then time invested should be irrelevant - just keep what you have in photos and move on to your new passion....or don't.

If I could go back in time to my first days of collecting, then based on what I know now, I would certainly have bought different stuff purely for financial reasons, but I still would have primarily collected photographs. Those are the only items that I've always kept a few of, no matter what the situation. I guess I would have bought more of the Van Oeyen photos of famous players - there were some great ones really cheap 10+ years ago. Now I can't afford them.

[David Atkatz]

What I know now is irrelevant.

If I had to start from scratch now, I couldn't afford anything.

[thekingofclout]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

What I know now is irrelevant.

If I had to start from scratch now, I couldn't afford anything.

Well David... hardly anyone could afford your collection if they had to start buying now!

[Oldtix]

Jimmy, I've been thinking about your challenge question for a couple of days. I have to say I'm very comfortable with what I've chosen to collect. It's kept me entertained for over 40 years, and fortunately I never confused collecting with investing so I never took a beating when a market segment collapsed.

The one thing I would change, however, is the approach I followed to find the items I sought. I was a latecomer to ebay, and can't even imagine how many things I missed if I'd been paying attention earlier. I advertised in a few publications and attended conventions and antique shows, but I didn't take the time to travel the countryside and visit small towns and shops off the beaten path.

My biggest mistake, though, was not telling enough dealers what I was looking for. They knew I was a good customer and would regularly hold things for me - but by not making a stronger effort to educate them about the breadth of my interests, I missed out on some wonderful items.

The last couple of years have been among the most productive because I've adopted those strategies and tactics. Better late than never!

PS - That Beatles record is incredible.

[springpin]

I would have been wise enough to know the difference between the thrill of the hunt versus the more sublime gratification of the acquisition. The collection itself is the aftermath of many thrilling (and successful) hunts.

[kmac32]

I would focus more on quality than quantity. Remembering passing up on a E121-80 Peckinpaugh due to price and fact I thought I would find it at the National. I didn't find it and later found one on EBay but not near the quality. Also, no more cards missing large areas of print on the back. I was lucky and was able to sell these off at a slight loss. Quality is very important!

[Mark]

On the whole, I have few regrets. There were a few bats that I passed on 20years ago because they were asking $100 more for them than the going rate, and these 3 or 4 bats (or others like them) haven't surfaced since. And there's a few high end bats that I didn't notice going up for auction that I wish I'd seen and that have also not been offered since. But, for the most part, I've got a lot of great bats at very fair prices through simple perseverance.

[peterb69]

If I could go back in time and restart my collection based on what I know now, I would would collect American gold coins.

[thekingofclout]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

This is actually a good exercise to undertake if you are contemplating a reduction in the size or scope of your collection. I'd do two things, which are pretty much what I've been doing for a few years now:

1. Pursue the tough stuff. - Uncatalogued issues: - Vintage signed and mailed postcards:- Oddball paper items:

2. Collect mainstream things I like in collector grades on the cheap.

Spot on Adam. That's what I started doing a couple of years ago. So it just dawned on me that it may make a good topic.

I recently added this stellar and possibly unique Beatles piece to my collection. And when it arrived, I went through my photos and picked out a few that I can live without, and sent them off to auction. Kinda like a trade, with a couple months window to get the money back. Works for me!

Here was the auction's description...

IS THIS COOL OR WHAT! AN ORIGINAL FIRST ISSUE PERFECT CONDITION MONO COPY OF THE BEATLES CLASSIC 'BEATLES '65' ALBUM WON IN A RADIO CONTEST! (Capitol T-2228).

THIS ONE IS COMPLETE WITH THE ORIGINAL BOX AND LETTER FROM THE RADIO STATION (WABC 95,5 FM IN NEW YORK, AN AFFILIATE OF ABC.)

THIS ALBUM WAS WON IN A CONTEST BY A WOMAN FROM NEW JERSEY WHO WAS SELECTED AS A "RUNNER UP" WINNER FOR THEIR "WABC-Colgate Beatle Bath Contest."
THIS IS TRULY A GREAT ITEM AND THE STORY OF HOW IT WAS OBTAINED IS A HUGE PLUS! THE CONDITION OF THE SEALED ALBUM IS PERFECT!
I MEAN THIS PERSON, WON THE ALBUM AND SIMPLY PUT IT AWAY NEVER TO TOUCH IT AGAIN FOR MANY YEARS UNTIL VERY RECENTLY WHEN SHE DECIDED TO SELL IT.
SHE WON THE LP ON JUNE 21, 1965, SO SHE HAD ALREADY BOUGHT A PLAY COPY OF THE ALBUM PRIOR TO THAT.
THERE WAS NO NEED TO OPEN THIS ONE! THE LETTER WITH THIS ITEM IS ON THE ORIGINAL WABC LETTERHEAD.
THE BOX HAS SEAL TAPE WITH THE "ABC" LOGOS ALL OVER IT! ALSO, THE ORIGINAL MAILING LABEL IS STILL ON THE BOX WITH THE DATE, JUNE 21, 1965. SO YOU REALLY CAN'T BEAT THIS ITEM FOR IT'S SHEER HISTORY AND EXCITEMENT OF HOW IT WAS OBTAINED! AGAIN, THE CONDITION OF THE ALBUM ITSELF IS TOTALLY FLAWLESS WITH A TOTALLY FLAWLESS SEAL!
NO PROBLEMS OF ANYKIND ANYWHERE. THE BOX AND LETTER ARE ALSO IN SUPERB CONDITION!




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[Scott Garner]

Sweet, Jimmy!

[whitehse]

Like others have said I probably would not buy any modern and stick with vintage. I have been collecting since I was 8 years old (I am now 48) and have bought and sold my collection many times over the years. My one regret was not getting into pre-war before the big boom started. I can remember going to shows, which were few and far between during the 70's, and talking with old timers who were selling T cards for a buck a piece. I bought a few just to say I had them but was focused on the cards I could buy at the local dime store. I can only imagine what I could have bought if I was focused on the pre-war cards at that time.

Now I collect mainly the sets I put together as a kid, early 70's Topps as well as a few other 50's sets that catch my eye such as the Dormand post card set. I would love to do pre-war but my budget will not allow it at this time. If I could do it all over again I dont think i would have sold most of the older cards I accumulated. I had a great collection that included Topps sets from 1962 forward as well as many nearly complete 1950's Topps sets. These were all sold when I felt the time was right and the money was good but I misjudged it by about 5 years! Does anyone think I can give Kit Young his money back and get my vintage sets returned to me that I sold to him in 1983? LOL