t206 collection starting

[the 'stache]

Welcome to the forum, Sebie.

Though you might change how you collect the set down the road, it's a good idea to narrow down your focus right now, or you may find yourself jumping around a lot, costing you money.

I happen to be collecting just the 520 (minus the big four) without backs being taken into consideration. I look for strong eye appeal more than anything. If and when I complete it, then I might branch out into working on some back runs, but the set itself is so expensive, and adding rare back combinations into the equation is cost prohibitive right now as there are other cards I want beyond the T206 set.

One common way of collecting is to work on the high dollar cards/Hall of Famers first. If you do this, and change your collecting goals at some point in the future, those cards will maintain their value, and could always be resold. It's also more likely they will go up in price more than your average common, so if you knock a Christy Matthewson dark cap out now, for instance, it will ultimately cost you less than if you bought the same card a year from now. I look at white border cards the same way I look at stocks. If a company has strong investment upside, it's better to buy it at IPO, or once it initially hits the secondary market, than a year after it's been on the market. Much better to spend a few hundred per share on Google than $1,000.

Most importantly, collect what you love. If you want to finish the set, and your favorite team is the Chicago Cubs, maybe work on them first. Having the entire Cubs team together to look at might motivate you more. Or, maybe save them to last. Make them the cherry on top of the sundae. Once you have all the other cards, then treat yourself to those Cubbies!

Just have fun with it, and share your collection with us as you go. And be sure to tell Frank what your monster number is. Being able to share your progress with other monster collectors will serve as motivation, too. Seeing that you're not the only warrior trying to slay the beast can only help you.

Good luck!!

Bill