Selling Off Sets in Favor of Singles

[Exhibitman]

If it will be a DIY effort, I suggest you break down the set into the following components:


--commons

--scarce series (whether hi or middle depends on the year)

--popular players and minor HOFers

--superstars

and liquidate in that order. The commons are going to go at a discount, but you may be surprised at what you get for a run of them. The stars and popular players may be sellable as singles if you don't mind doing lower dollar, volume retail. The big names are worth selling as singles.

Or you can just consign the sets to a decent AH and let them run with it. They will sell.

[Orioles1954]

First off....WPS! Secondly, I've noticed that set collecting is on the decline. Why spend several thousand dollars on commons that sit in boxes or binders when you can take that $$$ and buy any number of Hall of Famers?

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by Orioles1954

First off....WPS! Secondly, I've noticed that set collecting is on the decline. Why spend several thousand dollars on commons that sit in boxes or binders when you can take that $$$ and buy any number of Hall of Famers?

James, to your first point...WPS!
To your second point, that is what I am thinking of doing: adding additional HOF cards by selling off the pieces of these sets I no longer want.



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[jasonc]

Good discussion here so far.

I definitely could see the point. As the fun to me is the chase of getting the cards to complete the set.

A while back I put together a 1956 topps set, had it for about 6 months complete, then decided to sell it as the fun of working on it outweighed owning it.

Now, for some reason, due to collecting as a kid in the 80's, I am completely content with keeping my 1980's sets because once in a while for nostalgia reasons, I like flipping through the sets.

Another thing I could suggest since Prewar HOF's are hot, you could not only pick up some key 1950's graded rookies/HoF's -- but, also some prewar -- if that interests you, maybe picking up some T206 HOF's, etc. Now obviously the grades would be lower, if you're looking for the same value of the postwar key cards.

[glynparson]

It’s your collection. It should reflect what you want it to I don’t understand these types of posts. Do what you want and what we bring you the most joy in owning. Why solicit someone else’s opinion about your collection?

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by glynparson

Why solicit someone else’s opinion about your collection?

LOL at this statement. I actually agree with what you're saying, but isn't that what grading is all about?

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by jasonc

Good discussion here so far.



I definitely could see the point. As the fun to me is the chase of getting the cards to complete the set.



A while back I put together a 1956 topps set, had it for about 6 months complete, then decided to sell it as the fun of working on it outweighed owning it.



Now, for some reason, due to collecting as a kid in the 80's, I am completely content with keeping my 1980's sets because once in a while for nostalgia reasons, I like flipping through the sets.



Another thing I could suggest since Prewar HOF's are hot, you could not only pick up some key 1950's graded rookies/HoF's -- but, also some prewar -- if that interests you, maybe picking up some T206 HOF's, etc. Now obviously the grades would be lower, if you're looking for the same value of the postwar key cards.

Jason, it's funny you mentioned the 80s because I have been going through the same nostalgic phase for the last year. It has been a blast picking up the cards I couldn't afford as a kid! Regarding your point about T206 HOFers, that had crossed my mind as well. I appreciate your perspective. You have been there and done that.

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[PowderedH2O]

I was putting together all of the Topps and Bowman sets and I was doing pretty well. I found myself spending large amounts of money for high number cards of common players that I didn't care about. When I found myself dropping hundreds of dollars for guys named Grant Jackson, Frank Campos, and Mike Shannon, I realized that I was approaching it wrong for me. I am gradually selling all of my 50's and 60's sets and I decided to collect this way: 10-15 graded cards of each set that I like. At least 5 will be HOFers and the others will be guys that may/may not be HOFers, but I like personally. This allows me to collect virtually any set and pick and choose which ones I want. I turned a bunch of 1953 Topps into a T202 Mathewson, a T202 Cy Young, and several graded exhibit HOFers. I'm much happier, and the bookcase is getting much lighter.

[Jewish-collector]

Robert - You gotta do what makes you happy in this hobby. Only you can decide for yourself. Because sometimes you just gotta say, WTF.