My son's National epiphany

[conor912]

Originally Posted by Jantz

Your son is 15 and in a few years he will most likely be in a better financial situation.

yeah, 'cause when i was 18 i was rolling in cash

Kevin, great choice of name, btw

[steve B]

What I did was to start with a type collection of sorts.
T205
T206
T207
33 Goudey
34 Goudey
35 Goudey
36 Goudey
39 Playball
E91
And eventually
T201
T202
E90
Am N172 (Old Judge)
A couple strip cards.

If you pick them up in VG, maybe Vg-ex ungraded you can handle them and get a good feel for the cardboard, and what an untrimmed one feels and looks like. It's even less money if you look for commons with maybe a bit of back damage.

I picked up beaters of all of those before I was 18. Of course it was a bit easier back then than now IF you lived in a town with a card shop. I eventually spent for a few nicer condition cards once I got a part time job. (Should have bought more nice t206 commons and maybe fewer beat ones. If it's "investment" save up for better cards of stars)

I finally bought an second T207 late last year/early this year. So now I have 2 Although if you could see the first one you might disagree.

I was also lucky to pick up a handful of really beat George c Millers and a T204 that wasn't bad. And a truly awful condition T3. Plus a T222, helmar and Piedmont stamps and a silk.

That makes for a pretty decent prewar type collection.
I collected postwar right up to the then new stuff, as well as other sports and non-sports. Sort of still do, just not all at the same time. I'll take breaks from one set and look for some cards from a different set or sometimes just run across something I like.

Steve B

[kailes2872]

Great counsel - thanks so much.

Jantz,
I appreciate the feedback and I think I'll push him toward decent presentable cards with clean fronts. If the backs are marked or stained, that is a place where he can compromise to save some money. When he had this idea yesterday to head down the pre-war path, he had visions of graded cobbs dancing in his head. He then did a price check and had a quick reality check. So, he is wanting to build a presentable collection at a reasonable 15 year old budget. Where ever he can, I will push him toward higher graded examples

Conor,
I love the T3's at your store. I was like a moth to a flame every time I saw one at the NSCC this past weekend. When i get my last 4 post war sets completed I am going to get some of those for my collection! As far as the name, I won an arm wrestling contest with my wife (it was close) but we have his middle name after her dad who had just passed.

[kailes2872]

Mike and Steve,
Thanks for the feedback. I think I will guide him to pick up examples from different issues versus going head first into the monster.

He is pretty excited so I am trying to help him keep the passion while controlling it - as it is a long game. The CJ 15 set that he wants won't be happening for a while but he can set his sites on a low graded example from the set.

I really appreciate all of the input.

[conor912]

Originally Posted by kailes2872

Conor,
I love the T3's at your store. I was like a moth to a flame every time I saw one at the NSCC this past weekend. When i get my last 4 post war sets completed I am going to get some of those for my collection! As far as the name, I won an arm wrestling contest with my wife (it was close) but we have his middle name after her dad who had just passed.

Thanks, Kevin. It's tough to let them go, but nothing I can't replace down the road.

I'm glad to see your son joined the board. I was going to suggest that, but he was one step ahead of me. I think the BST is a safer place to shop for a greenhorn than Ebay.

[vthobby]

Some good advice so here is my 2 cents. I totally understand the adage "buy expensive cards" but at his age (and I'm sure he is eager to get going) it does not really sound practical.

Ultimately it will be up to your son. He needs to forage. Buy, trade, read books, sell. Peruse NET54 for tons of ideas.

I am close to 50 years old and my first purchase (through the mail) was a T206 Sam Crawford that I bought from "The Trader Speaks" in the 1970s. It was maybe a 2 or a 3 on the grading scale but I will tell you that the $18 I sent through the mail was like a thousand to me since it was all I had at the time. I waited for that card like it was Christmas in July. When it arrived and I saw the colors and held that baby.......well, lets just say I was hooked! Regardless of the condition, at that age, I had to see all conditions to learn about grading and preservation of cards.

It is also healthy to make mistakes as this will build a solid foundation. We all make them but over time, hopefully they will subside.

My opinion and we all have one is to save his $$ each week or two and buy a card or two. Different sets, same set, it does not matter as his interests will change over time and he will eventually find his groove.

Bottom line, is there is no right answer. Try a few different ways and ideas and the light will "click" so to speak. Just this past weekend in Vermont at a local show, I bought 2 different 1933 Goudeys graded a 2 and a 3. The pair cost me $50!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sometimes, the deals will appear out of nowhere. I also buy low grade Goudeys ungraded from time to time and pay around $10 to $15 per and have never bought a fake one or trimmed. To see the difference in real vs reprint have him buy a real Goudey for $15 or so. Have him buy a reprint Ruth say for $2 and when side by side and with the feel of each in his hands, he will know......trust me on this.

Great post. Good luck to him. PM me with your address and your name and I will send him something cool (vintage and real). Au Gratis.

Take care, mike

[vthobby]

Steve,

it looks like you and I were typing at the same time with some similar advice. Good stuff.

Mike

[freakhappy]

Originally Posted by vtgmsc

Some good advice so here is my 2 cents. I totally understand the adage "buy expensive cards" but at his age (and I'm sure he is eager to get going) it does not really sound practical.

Ultimately it will be up to your son. He needs to forage. Buy, trade, read books, sell. Peruse NET54 for tons of ideas.

I am close to 50 years old and my first purchase (through the mail) was a T206 Sam Crawford that I bought from "The Trader Speaks" in the 1970s. It was maybe a 2 or a 3 on the grading scale but I will tell you that the $18 I sent through the mail was like a thousand to me since it was all I had at the time. I waited for that card like it was Christmas in July. When it arrived and I saw the colors and held that baby.......well, lets just say I was hooked! Regardless of the condition, at that age, I had to see all conditions to learn about grading and preservation of cards.

It is also healthy to make mistakes as this will build a solid foundation. We all make them but over time, hopefully they will subside.

My opinion and we all have one is to save his $$ each week or two and buy a card or two. Different sets, same set, it does not matter as his interests will change over time and he will eventually find his groove.

Bottom line, is there is no right answer. Try a few different ways and ideas and the light will "click" so to speak. Just this past weekend in Vermont at a local show, I bought 2 different 1933 Goudeys graded a 2 and a 3. The pair cost me $50!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sometimes, the deals will appear out of nowhere. I also buy low grade Goudeys ungraded from time to time and pay around $10 to $15 per and have never bought a fake one or trimmed. To see the difference in real vs reprint have him buy a real Goudey for $15 or so. Have him buy a reprint Ruth say for $2 and when side by side and with the feel of each in his hands, he will know......trust me on this.

Great post. Good luck to him. PM me with your address and your name and I will send him something cool (vintage and real). Au Gratis.

Take care, mike

I think this ^ post is pretty spot on.

As nice as it would be to buy 'nice' prewar cards as a 15 yr old, it's really not practical at all. I mean if he wants to save up for a month or two at a time to get enough cash to buy one card, so be it, but if he is like I was at that age, I wanted cards...and more than one per month. I know they won't be flowing in like crazy either way, but there are plenty of decent looking 1's and 2's floating out there for $15-$25 a pop that your son would be ecstatic over...at least in T205's and T206's.

I don't think your son can go wrong with whatever way he wants to collect...I mean, that's a lot of the fun...being able to pave your own way to collecting and not really be forced one way or the other. As far as condition goes, I've learned to appreciate the aged look on my vintage cards...really adds character to them. Sometimes it can be hard going from modern to vintage because most modern cards are Mint or bust.

My advice would be to buy some low grade...maybe a few graded and a few raw to see what he prefers. If it looks untrimmed, go with that or ask someone with enough knowledge to help out. For T206's, most commons in poor condition go for comparable prices with trimmed examples, so he won't be losing out even if it is trimmed.

I wish your son the best of luck collecting, even if he goes back to modern...I actually collect some modern and love it! Vintage and prewar is not for everyone...just remember that To each his own.