NAT'L UPDATE???

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Posted By: Bob

Sorry for the delayed report, my laptop didn't make it to the National and the computers at the Sheraton have been horrible in connecting.
In any event, after the initial sticker shock wore off on Wednesday night, I found myself buying some cards. I came in with a narrow focus of cards I needed for sets I am working on but since those cards were not available, I ended up buying cards which just appealed to me. I bought a nice Red Sun Hickman in a GAI 4 holder from Dan McKee and a horizontal E100 Bishop (didn't even know there was a horizontal card in that set) from Tony Arnold. I bought what purported to be a PSA E93 Lajoie which was a blazer with cherry red background for a nice price and then crossed it over in to an SGC holder as an E98 which is what it was. It was the best (possibly only, real deal I got). I found some nice T207s with red Cycle backs and bought a beautiful Birmingham and a couple of other nice ones which went for about what I thought. The people I bought these from insisted on charging sales tax. It was the only dealer(s) that charged me tax. I finally convinced them to take a little off to make up for the tax they were charging me so I got them for the sticker price. It was a hassle but they were sharp.
I saw several big transactions take place. While I as purusing Tony Arnold's caramels, a collector came by and dropped about 80k on cards from him. He bought some nice caramels and 19th century stuff. Yesterday it looked like Tony made another huge sale when a collector bought several E98s from a high grade set Tony had broken out. The guy went after the Cooms, Vaughn, Walsh, etc. so he knew what he was doing, grabbing the tough cards in the set.
One of the highlights of the trip was supper last night at the 100 Bomber Group restaurant with Bill Cornell, Mike Peich, Matt Sears, Tim Newcomb, Robert, Andrew Jerome, Richard Wong, Bryan Long, Jimi Thayer and several others.
I got the chance to finally meet Matt, Andrew, Jay Miller, Zach Rice, Ken Cohen, JoAnn, Brooks Newell, Ed Hans, Todd Schultz, Mark Twylicki, James Gallo, Bruce McPherson, Brian McQueen and many other guys for the first time. Sorry, I know I am forgetting names here. Also to renew acquaintances with Scott Brockelman, Tim and Mike, Bryan and Jimi, Peter and Chris Thomas, Gary Nucherino (my favorite dealer), Scott Mosley, David Bryan, John Billingsley, and many others.
And I can not forget, last but certainly least, Leon. Leon not only put on a great dinner but we had a chance to shoot the breeze last night for a couple of hours and had a great talk about cards, the hobby, the people in the hobby, etc. I enjoyed it Leon and I look forward to seeing you again in Chicago.
A wonderful time. My calves are sore from climbing the steps in the parking lot (we parked on the top floor) at the Jake, but I had a great time. This is truly a wonderful hobby and if I hadn't picked up a single card, the comeraderie itself would have been worth the trip.
Thanks to everyone I met for being great to meet and/or hang with. See you next year at Wrigley.
tbob