How we react to collectibles

[atx840]

Thank you for sharing Blitzu, great story!

[deadballfreaK]

I think if I saw a Wagner in person I would salivate a bit, but I know (aside from finding one at a yard sale) it will never happen, so I could quickly let it go. Finding something on my want list that I can afford is a better feeling. For instance a T207 Mike Donlin.

[cmoore330]

I got to see Wagner as a kid...in rural Oklahoma...at Walmart. This was at the height of the hobby and it was some sort of promotional tour. Pretty cool experience for a kid! In fact, I think there is some sort of promotional card from the event hiding in my collection.

[tonyo]

Loved the story Blitzu!

This pales in comparison, but just answering Steve's question:

I started collecting pre-war in 2009. Since that time, I have only been to one show and zero b&m stores. The show was a small one in a hotel conference room and as per usual only one, two, or three tables with any vintage cards.

One guy had some t206's and also had a Fatima team card and a T3 or two. It was the first time I had seen either type in person. I remember staring at those two for a pretty good while and being surprised at the actual size of the cards. Made me smile and to put it simply, I thought it was pretty cool.

That's about the extent of my reaction, but I do love to receive new type cards that I have never seen before. Have similar feelings when that happens. It's one of the things I love about type collecting, unfortunately I must have gotten all the "easy" pre-war types (up to 89 now) because it's pretty infrequent that I'll score a type that I don't already have an example.

As far as seeing a t206 wagner? It would probably be similar to when I saw the Stanley Cup..... pretty cool to see and now I can say "I have seen the Stanley Cup up close and in person" but not much beyond that.

My prevailing thought would probably be: Perplexed that anyone could/would spend 6 or 7 figures on that little piece of cardboard.

[t206blogcom]

I've been fortunate enough to have seen and held a few Wagners over the years. While they were neat experiences, the wow factor quickly faded. I'd love to own one of course, but I no longer get giddy over them.

[hangman62]

Not to kick the " holy grail" T206 Wagner whens its down...but ..I too would look at it with awe...( actually I think I saw one in the baseball hall of fame years back)..but after a bit ..move on to stuff I - a) had more intertest in,b) I could afford..

Ive put together many olders sets over the years...1952T....after a while it started bothering me..paying for/trading for so many "incredibly no name" players,..
same with the 1933 Goudey set..to a lesser extent here..as this set is filled with HOFers.
Id have a real tough time with a T206 ( not that I have the money or desire).. but so many obscure names..just dont think id be able to have a passion for that set

[wonkaticket]

The way we react to collectibles has changed thanks to the digital age. As has most of our experiences to media, sex, violence and anything else that we today think of as ehhh and 30-50 years ago would have a been a shocker.

In terms of many rare items we are bombarded with images, auction catalogs, websites, and forum experts both real and claimed. This gives common collectors way more insight, experiences and information both good and bad than most collectors from the past. Many of these collectors put collections together via the US mail and hand written letters along with the occasional local paper want ad.

Now we have the information and inventory at our fingertips. Along with access and insights to rare items within folk’s collections that were simply not available 20-30 years ago.

It’s not surprising that items like the Wagner aren’t as exciting to many anymore. Just remember at one time just a sight of a woman’s ankles got men excited.

Cheers,

John