How many cards total in your collection?

[mrreality68]

Currently 17 cards in my collection.

But that is because I focused on fewer but higher quality cards(within my budget)

I used to have a lot more cards but decided to change my focus and how I collect.
I used to have so much money tied up in a lot of cards that when some of the higher end cards I wanted I could not get because I was not liquid and I could not sell them fast enough.

So I liquidated all of them and then slowly and strategically started to get 1 quality card at a time.

[kmac32]

300 prewar cards but post war, have thousands in my Topps Cubs collection 1951 to current.

[John1941]

Is this talking about total cards you have, or cards you really care about? I have about 15,000 cards in the first category, and more like 3,500 in the second. Most of my cards aren't worth much.

[Carter08]

More than I can afford.

[BobC]

Are you asking about just pre-war cards, or all cards? Many collectors who have sizable pre-war collections will possibly have sizable post-war (1942-1980) collections, as well as also possibly having what I call junk-era (1981-1999) and modern (2000-today) collections. Also, are you strictly talking cards or are you including PCs, exhibits, pins, stamps, silks, felts, etc.?

And if anyone does any type of set collecting, getting to 1,000 cards is nothing. I would have suggested adding a couple more levels, say 5,000 and then 10,000 cards/items as well.

[Eric72]

My leftover junk wax era common boxes alone would vault me into the top category. Not sure if that’s what you’re truly asking, though.

[Casey2296]

Probably just under 500. I have a very specific list of what I want my collection to look like and don't really deviate from it that much.

[egri]

I estimate in the 500-1000 range. It used to be more, but most of it was junk wax or shiny stuff and I jettisoned that a while ago to focus on vintage. Fewer cards total, but more high-value ones.

[Fred]

Originally Posted by BobC

Are you asking about just pre-war cards, or all cards? Many collectors who have sizable pre-war collections will possibly have sizable post-war (1942-1980) collections, as well as also possibly having what I call junk-era (1981-1999) and modern (2000-today) collections. Also, are you strictly talking cards or are you including PCs, exhibits, pins, stamps, silks, felts, etc.?

And if anyone does any type of set collecting, getting to 1,000 cards is nothing. I would have suggested adding a couple more levels, say 5,000 and then 10,000 cards/items as well.

How about "how many pre-war cards in your collection?" or "how many hundred year old cards in your collection?"

[rjackson44]

Hmmm

[Carter08]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

Currently 17 cards in my collection.

But that is because I focused on fewer but higher quality cards(within my budget)

I used to have a lot more cards but decided to change my focus and how I collect.
I used to have so much money tied up in a lot of cards that when some of the higher end cards I wanted I could not get because I was not liquid and I could not sell them fast enough.

So I liquidated all of them and then slowly and strategically started to get 1 quality card at a time.

This was my plan, although not at the level of your cards. And then I got sucked into rabbit holes and which I had fewer cards. Sigh. Fun problem I suppose.

[MuncieNolePAZ]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

Currently 17 cards in my collection.

But that is because I focused on fewer but higher quality cards(within my budget)

I used to have a lot more cards but decided to change my focus and how I collect.
I used to have so much money tied up in a lot of cards that when some of the higher end cards I wanted I could not get because I was not liquid and I could not sell them fast enough.

So I liquidated all of them and then slowly and strategically started to get 1 quality card at a time.

This is exactly what I did. I traded almost all of my cards the last few years to focus on Cobb and WaJo. I have 37 total cards. 23 are Cobbs or WaJos. Probably will get rid of most of those 14 non Cobb/WaJo. Might keep 5 of them.

Chad

[Ricky]

I have about 500 prewar cards and thousands of postwar cards.

[midmo]

I'm always surprised when collectors have under 10,000 cards. I'm somewhere in the 50,000-100,000 range and my collection is WAY smaller now than it was in the 80's.

[mrreality68]

Wow

I am now better understanding the Thread we have going on about Inheritance and how complicated it can be to sell, or split etc.

I know alot of people with tons of cards but I never realized so many not only had over a thousand but some over 10K plus.

I would not know how to keep track of them, locate specific ones that I want to look at or sell, keep track of what the cost of each was etc. let alone my "estate" doing it for me.

WOW I am impressed with thee forums level of Card Addicts and those truly dedicated to the chase of a card and the completing of sets.

[midmo]

Mine are definitely not all high value. Last weekend I bought over 10,000 cards at an estate sale for $60. Mostly 90's football, with some 80's baseball (including an 85 Topps complete set) thrown in. Still going through them. It's been good cheap fun.

Originally Posted by mrreality68

Wow

I am now better understanding the Thread we have going on about Inheritance and how complicated it can be to sell, or split etc.

I know alot of people with tons of cards but I never realized so many not only had over a thousand but some over 10K plus.

I would not know how to keep track of them, locate specific ones that I want to look at or sell, keep track of what the cost of each was etc. let alone my "estate" doing it for me.

WOW I am impressed with thee forums level of Card Addicts and those truly dedicated to the chase of a card and the completing of sets.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

Wow

I am now better understanding the Thread we have going on about Inheritance and how complicated it can be to sell, or split etc.

I know alot of people with tons of cards but I never realized so many not only had over a thousand but some over 10K plus.

I would not know how to keep track of them, locate specific ones that I want to look at or sell, keep track of what the cost of each was etc. let alone my "estate" doing it for me.

WOW I am impressed with thee forums level of Card Addicts and those truly dedicated to the chase of a card and the completing of sets.

But that is part of the fun. Digging through an old box or binder you maybe hadn't looked at in 5, 10, 20 years, and re- discovering something you forgot you had. It is a similar rush to opening a pack of cards and getting a surprise seeing what you pulled.

[jingram058]

I haven't counted my modest collection of cards, but I will estimate somewhere between 500 and 1,000 all total. I have:

1 notebook/binder of 1953 Bowman, complete set

1 notebook/binder of pre-war up to 1976, no sets just cards I like

1 album of tobacco, n172, n284, n28, t205, t206, t207 and steam locomotives, of all things

Here is my collection, and where I keep them. Some of my stuff will be going to the safe deposit box soon.

[rats60]

t206 set, over half way there. 1933 Goudey set and t205 set, over a thousand.

[Ricky]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

Currently 17 cards in my collection.

But that is because I focused on fewer but higher quality cards(within my budget)

I used to have a lot more cards but decided to change my focus and how I collect.
I used to have so much money tied up in a lot of cards that when some of the higher end cards I wanted I could not get because I was not liquid and I could not sell them fast enough.

So I liquidated all of them and then slowly and strategically started to get 1 quality card at a time.

This is fascinating to me. Jeff, what did your collection look like before you sold it off to focus more?

[nolemmings]

My answer is a paradox, since the question does not distinguish among pre-war, post-war and junk wax:

Not nearly enough and way too many.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by Ricky

This is fascinating to me. Jeff, what did your collection look like before you sold it off to focus more?

Actually I was all over the place as an early collector. Always focused on pre 1930’s stuff but I chased cards of early Hall of Famers cards, autographs, photo’s. But never focused on a set, or an item or type of item.

Started by seeing friends collections and then going into baseball card shops thru out Long Island and got Mostly Raw cards but got addicted to graded cards so to my lack of experience, easier to compare and determine pricing, easier to sell. Had all different Stars from all different sets. But then I wanted a Joe Jackson Rookie CARD And other rare jackson Cards. But was not liquid and missed out on them.
Sold/traded all and had my first Joe Jackson Rookie card low grade but it was my 1 and only card and I was hooked. Then I wanted 1 Ruth card earlier the better. So I got a nice 1921 e121 Ruth throwing Pose ( I believe it was an SGC 5). So now 2 cards over budget but done and happy. Then picked up some other nice cards and again small collection and nice for me.

Then before I knew it I was addicted and got some other cards ie Pinkerton Joe jackson. But I really wanted a Redsox Ruth Card. So I sold my all my Jackson’s (regret selling the Pinkerton Joe jackson) and my 1921 Ruth and some stocks and bought the Ruth Rookie card I have now.

From their I tried staying focused on my goal of a Ruth Card of every year if possible and every joe jackson card I could get if possible.

So those are and always will be my priorities

But along the way I want to try and get rare cards of some of the big stars from the early days.

Like everyone I sometimes see something I like but not in my focus area and buy it then need to flip it to get back on track. Sometimes that causes me to miss cards.

I budget myself to approx 2 cards a year but this year so many auctions with so many cards I want and that I have not seen in years and/or may never see again for a long time.

So I blew it the last 90 days or so and bought to many cards but no regrets all within my target and focus of my collection

Until the next auction with the next card I want. But now I will probably have to sell something to buy something or trade something (which is tough because I get attached to my cards) and it is tough because I feel like if I sell a card then it takes away or diminishes my collection.

My card count 9 Joe jackson, 4 Ruth, 2 Wagner, 1 Cobb, and 1 Mathewson.

So what do I trade or sell for my next card is a tough call for me.

But that is the joy of collecting

[Ricky]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

Actually I was all over the place as an early collector. Always focused on pre 1930’s stuff but I chased cards of early Hall of Famers cards, autographs, photo’s. But never focused on a set, or an item or type of item.

Started by seeing friends collections and then going into baseball card shops thru out Long Island and got Mostly Raw cards but got addicted to graded cards so to my lack of experience, easier to compare and determine pricing, easier to sell. Had all different Stars from all different sets. But then I wanted a Joe Jackson Rookie CARD And other rare jackson Cards. But was not liquid and missed out on them.
Sold/traded all and had my first Joe Jackson Rookie card low grade but it was my 1 and only card and I was hooked. Then I wanted 1 Ruth card earlier the better. So I got a nice 1921 e121 Ruth throwing Pose ( I believe it was an SGC 5). So now 2 cards over budget but done and happy. Then picked up some other nice cards and again small collection and nice for me.

Then before I knew it I was addicted and got some other cards ie Pinkerton Joe jackson. But I really wanted a Redsox Ruth Card. So I sold my all my Jackson’s (regret selling the Pinkerton Joe jackson) and my 1921 Ruth and some stocks and bought the Ruth Rookie card I have now.

From their I tried staying focused on my goal of a Ruth Card of every year if possible and every joe jackson card I could get if possible.

So those are and always will be my priorities

But along the way I want to try and get rare cards of some of the big stars from the early days.

Like everyone I sometimes see something I like but not in my focus area and buy it then need to flip it to get back on track. Sometimes that causes me to miss cards.

I budget myself to approx 2 cards a year but this year so many auctions with so many cards I want and that I have not seen in years and/or may never see again for a long time.

So I blew it the last 90 days or so and bought to many cards but no regrets all within my target and focus of my collection

Until the next auction with the next card I want. But now I will probably have to sell something to buy something or trade something (which is tough because I get attached to my cards) and it is tough because I feel like if I sell a card then it takes away or diminishes my collection.

My card count 9 Joe jackson, 4 Ruth, 2 Wagner, 1 Cobb, and 1 Mathewson.

So what do I trade or sell for my next card is a tough call for me.

But that is the joy of collecting

Very unique Jeff! Don’t know if I could do what you’ve done but super cool.

[jcmtiger]

I had over 25,000 at one time + 1000 + memoribilia pieces. Sold most, now down to maybe 100 because 19th. Century is what I collect now.

[steve B]

Prewar is probably 400 ish?

up to i970? Probably 3000?

After that.... I might be up around 50,000 maybe more

[68Hawk]

About 65 pre and post war cards, another 10-15 memorabilia cards.
I collect other stuff tho.