What Are Your Earliest Card Show Memories?

[oldjudge]

Like most, I collected as a kid. The early-1990s was my second stint. It coincided with my kids being old enough to collect with me.

[scgaynor]

My first card show was 1982 Oxon Hill Md. I don't remember what I bought, but I got Joe Dimaggio's autograph for $10 (he was the only signer at the show).

First show that I set up at was 1985 somewhere in Northern Virginia. I remember that I made just enough money to pay my table fee, and purchased a box of 1985 Donruss which had just come out and was super hot. My local card shop could not get their hands on any so I had to buy one at the show. It was selling for $25-30 a wax box, at a time when Topps and Fleer was like $10-15 a box.

[tedzan]

My teenage Daughters got me back into this hobby in the late 1970's. My first two BB card shows were small ones in New Jersey.
In the Spring of 1981, my first major show was the Willow Grove Show in Pennsylvania (at the George Washington Motor Lodge).

The best way to describe this Show is....it was absolutely SURREAL !





I acquired many cards that weekend to fill out my sets, and here are the two cards I remember the best....

My very 1st T206......





A 1949 LEAF color variation of Stan Musial for my LEAF set...…




TED Z

T206 Reference
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[ullmandds]

I don't have a whole lots of specific memories from my first show(s)...but my dad took me...it was definitely in the northern nj area.

I DO remember being offered a beat up t206 white cap matty by someone just walking around the show...which I DID buy and was my first t206...it was $2.50.

At another early show I was offered a mayo lave cross by another person just walking around the show for a few bucks. I ALSO bought that...which turned out to be fake!!!!! It didn't/doesn't have a black back...a novice error!!!!

I still have both.