The John D Wagner Hobby Letters - 1930s on...

[Leon]

Resurrected with another letter to early collector, John Wagner. It reminds me of our BST but with days, weeks or months in between feedback.

[trdcrdkid]

Originally Posted by Leon

Resurrected with another letter to early collector, John Wagner. It reminds me of our BST but with days, weeks or months in between feedback.

The writer of this letter, James N. Colkitt, died four years letter, thus prompting J. R. Burdick to hold the first-ever card auction in the pages of Card Collector's Bulletin in October 1943, in which an anonymous collector bought Colkitt's entire collection for over $400. Lionel Carter described all this almost exactly 30 years after the letter in the August 1, 1969 CCB, which I posted here:

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=218786

Leon, you mentioned in the comments to that post that several of the people Carter mentioned make appearances in the Wagner hobby letters, and here is a perfect example.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by trdcrdkid

The writer of this letter, James N. Colkitt, died four years letter, thus prompting J. R. Burdick to hold the first-ever card auction in the pages of Card Collector's Bulletin in October 1943, in which an anonymous collector bought Colkitt's entire collection for over $400. Lionel Carter described all this almost exactly 30 years after the letter in the August 1, 1969 CCB, which I posted here: ....


Leon, you mentioned in the comments to that post that several of the people Carter mentioned make appearances in the Wagner hobby letters, and here is a perfect example.

That is very cool. If we think our collecting world is sort of small now, back then it was probably 10000x smaller.

[1880nonsports]

I can read it a second time! Thanks.

[familytoad]

From post #21
Paraphrasing...
"Trouble with Maytag Washing Machine and the city is under martial law"

1958 is sometimes referred to as being part of the good old days!
Imagine those conditions...dirty clothes and oppressive rules?

Yikes

At least the baseball cards were cheap...

[Leon]

Another one but with a bit difficult to read handwriting, probably still better than I could do today

[trdcrdkid]

Here's my best shot at a transcription:

Austin, Texas
3-27-39

Mr. Wagner

Yours of March 20th came while I was out of town. I am glad to hear from you again. You did not mention that book of yours I still have so I am inclosing my check for $5.00 for it, as I figure you are weaned away from it by now. If this check sticks to your fingers, then I'll know everything is agreeable.

Yes I need several of the Generals and inclose a list of them I need. Please send me all you can.

Now I can use some duplicates too as I have located a couple of fellows who will swap with me for some they need. Also I have had an enquiry for cigarette pictures such as those you sent me on approval - which I kept for several weeks then returned to you. Now just bundle up a lot of stuff and send it on to me - all you want to send. I will immediately pay you for the booklets I need but please let me have the other items you may send - even duplicate booklets of Generals or the Poor Boy or Actor series or what ever title they're known by. (Poor boys who became famous - booklets!) You pick each item or set of items as you did before, and if you can get that party to turn loose the bunch of 25 you spoke of - let me know what these will cost and I'll see if I can handle 'em. I am still pepped up about these little booklets. Send me another bundle of all items you can send. The cards or pictures - I wish you'd give me at least 30 days time on, in order to have time for me to find out if my party can use any of it. I personally am not warmed up to the pictures as far.

I like your point of view in regards to parties who are ignorant of real values, yet imagine some scandalous prices are paid, yet some parties would not give 1/20 of what they ask. But no use fooling with such birds, any way; it takes some of the kick out of collecting. All collectors like to get what they think is a bargain - that's the fun of it.

I am always glad to hear from you and am happy to know you are thinking of me. What else do you have? I run into lots of collectors traveling around Texas: such as book collectors, stamp collectors, arrow head collectors, guns, glass in fact the whole run of 'em. Speaking of stamps - right now a fellow wrote me to get him some #33 U.S. 3c unperforate or covers. Got any?

Sincerely,
Frank Caldwell
108 East 17th
Austin, Texas