Showing your collections/room off to others

[vintagesportscollector]

I enjoy looking at my stuff, day and night. It brings me immeasurable joy - but then again nothing in my collection has much great monetary value beyond how it makes me feel.

[ALBB]

interesting topic,

I find very very few people/ friends/ family are even remotely interested in looking at baseball cards and such

Ha,..there they sit, alone..in plastic and cardboard boxes ! what joy they bring LOL

[darkhorse9]

Any non-collector would have a hard time knowing what valuable stuff I have.
That's why I have a section of my collection that I call the "uninformed cool" stuff. That's what I'll show them.
It's a type collection of cards from prior to World War 1. About 200 or so total cards. Mostly baseball, but some non-sports 1870-1880's They tell a really good story about how baseball card collecting started (everything from N342, trade cards, etc. through Old Judge, T206 up to Cracker Jack). But they're all commons and the entire thing looks better than it costs.
Anyone who knows nothing about cards would think it's cooooooool. Those of us here on the board would just say.."that's cool"
Non-sport are in a binder

[jakebeckleyoldeagleeye]

I show mine every now and then. I have a loud mouth dog, security system, neighbors around and a handy snub nose .38 and 1911 Colt 45 among other fire arms so if one want's to chance it so be it.

[steve B]

I've shown friends some stuff, usually when they ask after a casual mention like saying I was at the card show (or other show)

I usually show them a card from each decade and talk about how it represents that time period by it's technology and art.

I rarely talk value except as a social artifact.

But my family knows what the few valuable items are, or the ones that are special to me for some reason despite not having much value.

[campyfan39]

My card room has a separate alarm on it in addition to the main house one. I go in there almost daily.

[JollyElm]

I don't have a collection room, per se, but I do have a wall which prominently displays my most prized possession, and I love showing it off to everyone...


jefferiesRCstapledtowall.jpg

[bmattioli]

My father told me years ago to never ever tell anyone what you have..

[brunswickreeves]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

I don't have a collection room, per se, but I do have a wall which prominently displays my most prized possession, and I love showing it off to everyone...


Attachment 651284

Throw some duct tape across that bad boy and it might fetch $6MM?!

[Fred]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

I don't have a collection room, per se, but I do have a wall which prominently displays my most prized possession, and I love showing it off to everyone...


Attachment 651284

Just think about this, if someone can get $6M for a banana duct taped to a wall, just think how much you could get for a Jeffries rookie stapled to a wall. Call it a piece of art and give it a snazzy name.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by jakebeckleyoldeagleeye

1911 Colt 45 among other fire arms so if one want's to chance it so be it.

The finest way to protect ones collection is with a classic of the same vintage as the pre-war cards.

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by jakebeckleyoldeagleeye

I show mine every now and then. I have a loud mouth dog, security system, neighbors around and a handy snub nose .38 and 1911 Colt 45 among other fire arms so if one want's to chance it so be it.

Excellent setup to protect your collection, but as the perps get more sophisticated and sometimes wear body armor, perhaps you need a slightly higher caliber to make sure the job gets done when you are defending your T206 Plank. How about a 50 cal Barrett?

[Brick442]

Lots of great insight here! Since I started the thread, here is an older pic of my baseball room pre-furniture (the opposite wall is also full of balls).

Like I said, I am weary of telling adults I don't know about it, but my sons love to look at 'their' collection from time-to-time, and I did let the travel ball team I coach in for a look (they really only enjoyed the 2000-up section).

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by Brick442

Lots of great insight here! Since I started the thread, here is an older pic of my baseball room pre-furniture (the opposite wall is also full of balls).

Like I said, I am weary of telling adults I don't know about it, but my sons love to look at 'their' collection from time-to-time, and I did let the travel ball team I coach in for a look (they really only enjoyed the 2000-up section).

Do you have a Bob Uecker autographed ball to go with the Major League movie poster?

[philliesfan]

A friend of mine who is also a member here, but does not post much does not have a card / memorabilia room.......he has a memorabilia HOUSE! Every room in his home has collectibles from floor to ceiling. Just an unbelievable collection.
Hopefully he will see this thread and chime in with his collection. I think he should start charging admission to anyone who enters is house.
Bob

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by philliesfan

A friend of mine who is also a member here, but does not post much does not have a card / memorabilia room.......he has a memorabilia HOUSE! Every room in his home has collectibles from floor to ceiling. Just an unbelievable collection.

I know a locomotive engineer who also owns the house next door to his own which he uses to store his monster items collection!

[jakebeckleyoldeagleeye]

Originally Posted by Yoda

Excellent setup to protect your collection, but as the perps get more sophisticated and sometimes wear body armor, perhaps you need a slightly higher caliber to make sure the job gets done when you are defending your T206 Plank. How about a 50 cal Barrett?

Well I also have a pistol grip Mossberg shotgun so I think when they hear the cocking sound it's a nice let me think about this moment smart guy.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by jakebeckleyoldeagleeye

Well I also have a pistol grip Mossberg shotgun so I think when they hear the cocking sound it's a nice let me think about this moment smart guy.

It is more of a think about it moment when you have a gun pointed at their head and they say "MFer please" and you can see in their eyes they actually mean it. Trust me it is a whole different story from talking a big game and having it happen at 3:08 on a Saturday morning.

[jingram058]

It's all well and good to have weapons. Odds are, though, no one is coming to get your stuff while you're sitting back locked and loaded. They're coming when you're gone, and the neighbors aren't looking. What then?

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Originally Posted by vintagesportscollector

I enjoy looking at my stuff, day and night. It brings me immeasurable joy - but then again nothing in my collection has much great monetary value beyond how it makes me feel.

Damn Joe those cases are amazing! One of the best looking displays I've ever seen. The lights make the stuff pop.

[cubman1941]

I have a 13x20 room dedicated to my Cubs, Bears etc. If fact, this room is the reason we bought the house. My wife said she saw the look on my face when we saw this room while touring the house. Anyway it is filled to the brim with pennants on the ceiling, an 8 ft showcase and a 4 ft showcase filled. The walls are full and I have spilt over into another room. My wife has no idea the value of my collection. My son does as does my daughter. Fortunately no one has to go in there to do anything. When I have service people come to the basement, while the door has been taken off, you can't really see much. I used to share on sites like these, pictures, when asked, but now I do not. I do not talk about my collection and those friends that have seen it just say "Boy, you have a lot of stuff"" and I just agree. I see no value in talking about the value as it would just bring unwanted attention.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by cubman1941

I see no value in talking about the value as it would just bring unwanted attention.

Nor should the "value" matter to you anyway so there's no reason why you should mention it.

[cubman1941]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Nor should the "value" matter to you anyway so there's no reason why you should mention it.

Same reason as why you mentioned this 1-23-25:
"But I have found fault with my collecting! I've admitted that it's a ruinous (financially) addiction, have I not? What more do you want?"

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by cubman1941

Same reason as why you mentioned this 1-23-25:

"But I have found fault with my collecting! I've admitted that it's a ruinous (financially) addiction, have I not? What more do you want?"

But I'm still pursuing it despite the ruinous financial element!

[cubman1941]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

But I'm still pursuing it despite the ruinous financial element!

Rog that!! Keep hunting for those sets. They can be fun but frustrating at times.

[UKCardGuy]

Collection? I can not confirm nor deny the existence of any collection.

[LEHR]

Originally Posted by vintagesportscollector

I enjoy looking at my stuff, day and night. It brings me immeasurable joy - but then again nothing in my collection has much great monetary value beyond how it makes me feel.

Joe,

So I'm assuming you went to Ohio State?

In all seriousness, you have one of the best focused collections I've seen, and it's displayed beautifully. Your website is fantastic as well.

Thanks for sharing that.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by vintagesportscollector

I enjoy looking at my stuff, day and night. It brings me immeasurable joy - but then again nothing in my collection has much great monetary value beyond how it makes me feel.

Joe, as a Cornell alum, thanks for posting the pictures of your collection. An amazing collection of early Big Red memorabilia.

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by vintagesportscollector

I enjoy looking at my stuff, day and night. It brings me immeasurable joy - but then again nothing in my collection has much great monetary value beyond how it makes me feel.

Here are a couple of early Cornell athletes for you to view:

jones-jp-redo1.jpg

John Paul Jones - competed in several track events at the 1912 Olympics. He also played in the baseball demonstration game. His time in the mile in 1913 was the first world record recognized by the IAAF.

richards-&-brundage-redo.jpg

Alma Richards - gold medalist in the high jump at the 1912 Olympics. This shows him with Avery Brundage, probably after they competed in the 1916 AAU decathlon championships.

Lazarus, Joseph.jpg

Joseph Lazarus - competed in boxing at the 1924 Olympics. This is a part of a collection of 25+ personal photos taken in the Olympic village of the U.S. boxing team.

[vintagesportscollector]

Originally Posted by Michael B

Here are a couple of early Cornell athletes for you to view:

Thanks Michael for sharing those great photos of Jones, Richards and Lazarus. Here is a Paul Thompson Photo of Alma Richards, c1916, and the same sweater he is wearing. It’s not his exact sweater (although it possibly could be, but no evidence of who owned it).

[B O'Brien]

My collection is pretty small in size so it doesn’t take up much space. I’m starting the process of moving, but plan to hang my two wall display cases in the new place. I keep the good stuff in the safe and could probably replace the things in the wall displays for 2k. I do get the good stuff out and put it in the case if I know I’m not going anywhere for a while. I had them loaded up a couple weeks ago before going to the bank during the transition and safe moving.

I’ve always had some solid security. Lots of cameras that don’t run on the house power, and lived “out of the way” and the post office just thinks the comings and goings are old pictures that my wife sells online, couple bucks apiece. I could for sure get lots of footage of anyone running around.

It may sound weird, but I make it known that I’m a gun owner and target shoot a lot. In the small towns, sometimes it’s best to make it publicly known that there is risk involved. I’ve also got some distractions around (tools) that might make for much easier meth cash that going full bore to see what’s inside the house.

The new house, we actually bought from a guy that is a retired way up the food chain cop that has spent the last ten years running security for one of the large companies based here in ATL. The security he is leaving behind for us is a couple steps above my usual setup, to say the least. It’s crazy! There are also a number of hiddy holes built in the house. I was hoping for a safe room when he asked us to do a walk through with him before closing, not a full room but lots of interesting “extras” he had done with the place.

I sure loved having the T206 HOFer set (near set) and near backs line out for a couple weeks before heading to the bank.

Hope the long weekend is treating you all well,
Bob

[JollyElm]

1976bondsbevacqua.jpg


I have a theory why people from my collecting era are loath to display things for all to see.

We all remember that long-ago summer barbecue in the 1970s, where Dad got a special delight in knowing the aroma emanating from his grill-work was making the neighbors drool,
the smashing plastic sounds of Wiffle balls echoed out into the endless sunshine, and you and your brothers were slyly trying to steal sips of beer each time you refilled an uncle's glass (Of course they were on to you! Duh!!).

When the glorious day ended and your yawning self went to your bedroom to sleep the righteous sleep of a happy childhood...you suddenly realized that not only your treasured Bobby Bonds,
but also your Kurt Bevacqua blowing that ridiculous bubble were missing from the top of your desk, where you had left them after innocently showing your cards to the kids of your Mom's work friend.

Like those delicious sips of Schaefer, those beautiful cards were gone forever...stolen by a random twerp in an Alfred E. Neuman t-shirt.
And as you screamed curses to the heavens, you made a vow to never leave yourself openly vulnerable like that ever again!!!!!! NEVER!!!!!!!!!

Or something like that...

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Attachment 651531


I have a theory why people from my collecting era are loath to display things for all to see.

We all remember that long-ago summer barbecue in the 1970s, where Dad got a special delight in knowing the aroma emanating from his grill-work was making the neighbors drool,
the smashing plastic sounds of Wiffle balls echoed out into the endless sunshine, and you and your brothers were slyly trying to steal sips of beer each time you refilled an uncle's glass (Of course they were on to you! Duh!!).

When the glorious day ended and your yawning self went to your bedroom to sleep the righteous sleep of a happy childhood...you suddenly realized that not only your treasured Bobby Bonds,
but also your Kurt Bevacqua blowing that ridiculous bubble were missing from the top of your desk, where you had left them after innocently showing your cards to the kids of your Mom's work friend.

Like those delicious sips of Schaefer, those beautiful cards were gone forever...stolen by a random twerp in an Alfred E. Neuman t-shirt.
And as you screamed curses to the heavens, you made a vow to never leave yourself openly vulnerable like that ever again!!!!!! NEVER!!!!!!!!!

Or something like that...

Wow, Kurt Bevacqua. Surely you have seen this:

https://youtu.be/fzjWQF1oP2M

This is priceless!

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by vintagesportscollector

Thanks Michael for sharing those great photos of Jones, Richards and Lazarus. Here is a Paul Thompson Photo of Alma Richards, c1916, and the same sweater he is wearing. It’s not his exact sweater (although it possibly could be, but no evidence of who owned it).

Joe, I checked out your Cornell website and was absolutely blown away. Has to be the finest collection in the world by a mile. I have a Duke collection that pales in comparison. Truly impressive stuff and I hope that one day Cornell displays it an appropriate forum.

[vintagesportscollector]

Originally Posted by calvindog

Joe, I checked out your Cornell website and was absolutely blown away. Has to be the finest collection in the world by a mile. I have a Duke collection that pales in comparison. Truly impressive stuff and I hope that one day Cornell displays it an appropriate forum.

Jeff, and all, thank you for the very kind words. Not too many people really appreciate and understand the passion and zeal, so I really appreciate the comments from those on the forum.

[yanks87]

I follow the Gandalf approach, "Keep it safe, keep it secret."

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by vintagesportscollector

Jeff, and all, thank you for the very kind words. Not too many people really appreciate and understand the passion and zeal, so I really appreciate the comments from those on the forum.

Count me as "appreciative" as well. Awesome Cornell collection, Joe!