More joy: complete sets or individual items

[ullmandds]

i'd recommend you buy cards you like. I used to be a "type" collector...and after years of this I decided I wasn't happy paying thousands of dollars just for a common front with a rare back. My Dots Miller run kept my type collecting urge alive but I focused the rest of my collection mainly on cards I liked.

You'll never go wrong buying cards you like!

[Casey2296]

I've built pre-war sets, still working on a couple, but am a type collector at heart. Agree with Pete, I only buy cards I like so shy away from buying commons for the sake of it.

Your interests seem quite varied, for me I had to focus on what I really wanted, what I was willing to sacrifice, and get rid of everything that wasn't on my focused list. I buy pre-war rare cards and hofers which can run expensive so I have to choose wisely and sell everything else to budget for that.

Good luck on your project!

[doug.goodman]

Everybody has their own style

[z28jd]

I have gone through phases of collecting specific sets, individual players, team sets and just random stuff. I don't think I have any real regrets with the choices, other than passing on a few cards here and there.

Changing up your collecting habits keeps it more interesting. I know people who have gone months/years without buying any cards because they have a specific wantlist of tougher to find cards. That's probably the only thing I wouldn't recommend. You can still get the thrill of the hunt while maybe focusing on something else that doesn't cut deeply into your budget for those rare cards.

[Johnny630]

I prefer individual cards over sets and set building. Never been a fan of looking for cards of players I have no interest in or never heard of...Idk each has their own way to love the hobby which is cool by me :-).

[YazFenway08]

for me, i think you can be a set builder and still focus on individual players/stars/etc that you love

i treat each year as a time capsule of sorts. i try to be as “complete” in a given year as possible. take ‘77 for an example. i have the base topps, o-pee-chee, burger king, cloth stickers, etc all bindered so they are easy to flip though. i like seeing and remembering players i loved then ( liking at you lee mazzilli and john stearns). but then i like to have the key superstars and rookies and red sox players in graded/higher grade slabs. i have this in hard plastic inserts so they fit nicely in the binder (another response talked about this i saw…).

set building just seems to evoke more memories for me than just doing individuals. this is less important for years/sets where those memories aren’t as strong. i’ll unlikely ever build a t206, but would love to have more individual cards there at some point. a ‘34 diamond stars set i would tackle because they were there first vintage cards ever introduced to me by a family friend. that’s how i decide

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

I prefer individual cards over sets and set building. Never been a fan of looking for cards of players I have no interest in or never heard of...Idk each has their own way to love the hobby which is cool by me :-).

I fall into this category with a specific exception. I collect sets that were released between the ages of 6 and 16 for myself as those strike a memory chord. I love to thumb through them as I wanted them so bad in a card shop or the Sears wish book.

Otherwise it's a completely random assortment of "onesy-twosy" cards or any genre ever...the big 4, non-sports, anything. If it strikes my fancy it's in.

I don't think there is any one way as long as you are enjoying yourself. If you are not, then maybe it's time to change something up.

[Shankweather]

I used to build sets and collect a wide variety of things, but I've focused all my energy on collecting the Cubs, 1870-present, and I've never had more fun. I'm determined to have the world's greatest Cubs card collection.

[packs]

I have a lot of respect for set collectors but I don't like the idea of buying commons.