Type Collecting vs. Collecting wo/Focus

[gregr2]

I collect what I like and can afford with no apparent focus...and I like it!

[garymc]

I collect NY Highlander/Yankee cards. It started as Type collection but before I knew it I became fond of certain types. I am trying to put together E90-1, T202,T205,T206 and T207 team sets. almost done with those. That eventually got me into different types of runs, I'm working a S74 Hemphill color run, a Walter Schang (E121 type) back run, a Chase (E cards) back run and a T206 Chase blue background back run. Even thou my focus is in several directions I still have the opportunity to enjoy the chase of HOF cards, type, team, and color variations..... the joy is not reaching my goals but the joy is in the journey of finding my cards.......

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[shernan30]

I was all over the place when I started collecting again a few years ago. At first I bought what appealed to me, but my personality needed there to be some sense to the collection. I now collect cards of pre-war players that spent time in the Columbus, Ohio minor league program.

I have over 200 players and doing a type style collection. Trying to get as many different set represented as possible. I assembled a sub-set of players when played under Carl Molesworth from 1923-1925. This resulted in 19 different players from 19 different sets. It was a blast putting that together last year.

I throw in boxing, and non-sport cards to help the bank account while fueling my addiction to cardboard. Just purchased an E76 boxing set and now working on 1941 Sky Birds and T37 Automobile Series.

Have fun and make sure whatever you do it makes you happy.

[PowderedH2O]

I have been unfocused since I was six years old. I've been a set collector and a star card collector. I've focused on modern, 50's, pre War... you name it. I've collected comic books, 45's, albums, autographs, programs, and vintage books. When you have a school teacher salary and you bounce around, you have a lot of cool stuff, but no real strength in any one area. Now that I have the Topps baseball and football runs finished from 1970 to the present, I am really falling in love with the cards from the 30's and 40's. Maybe that will focus me. But, I gotta get all of that other stuff out of my garage somehow.

[drcy]

Collecting what you like is a focus.

[Louieman]

I say get what you want to get and discover the focus after the fact.

[T206Collector]

I have found that if I hold myself to a specific plan that I get frustrated. If I just stuck with T206 cards -- even just signed T206 cards -- I wouldn't have picked up some of my favorite cards ever.

I am a T206 collector, but these are not T206s....

[PowderedH2O]

Well, I suppose those are ok if you like rare, good looking cards that are signed by the greatest players from the greatest era in baseball.

Wow!!!

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

+1000!! This really sums up a lot of what I have been thinking and feeling. At any point when I thought something like, "I HAVE to buy this card" or "I HAVE to finish this set" things started going downhill in a hurry. I mean hats off to collectors who can dig in and build those large 1960s Topps sets in nice condition because I am not the man for that job. One of my last efforts in postwar was building a 1965 Topps set. It is in my closet at about 62% complete. I couldn't possibly make myself buy one more card for that. No offense to collectors who are doing this and loving it, but I got soooo burned out.

I just feel free now. A few of you guys have essentially said buy what you like and can afford. That is precisely what I have started doing. Obaks, T205s, and D311s for starters. Perhaps some T210s and T216s down the road. Fun stuff!!

And these are some amazing signed cards, btw...wow!!

Originally Posted by T206Collector

I have found that if I hold myself to a specific plan that I get frustrated. If I just stuck with T206 cards -- even just signed T206 cards -- I wouldn't have picked up some of my favorite cards ever.

I am a T206 collector, but these are not T206s....