How do you collect vintage graded cards?

[mrvster]

Hello

I am addicted to t206....there I said it!!


Peace

Johnny

[ChiefBenderForever]

You are doing the right thing by going by eye appeal as many that are a grade lower look much nicer than a grade higher and many times are nicer. One nice thing about the years you are collecting is the price jump between a 4 or 5 is nowhere near the gap of the cards 20-30 years earlier unless it's a Ruth or Gehrig or other premium card. Good luck and have fun !!

[ls7plus]

I collect stars and hall-of-famers, which gives me a lot of freedom to go after what I like, rather than being a slave to finishing this or that set, but that's just personal choice. Since I go after true rookies when I can, I also prefer them graded, generally due to the extra $$$ involved.

Also agree with the importance of eye appeal--cards that are pre-war can be very nice cards and far from near mint or better. Often times, an ex-graded card may be the best available for a really tough issue. With some, even that might not be possible (or might take a long, long time to acquire), as was the case with my 1947 Tip Top Bread Warren Spahn. This is a short print from a relatively rare set to begin with, and I had to settle for a PSA 1 (Mk). I almost passed on that one due to condition, until I checked the pop report and saw that a PSA one was the highest of any of the mere six examples it had graded.

But while the grades may be the same for different examples of the same card, the one with significantly better eye appeal will sell easier and for more $$ virtually every time.

There's a lot to enjoy here, whatever your focus. Best of luck in your hobby pursuits,

Larry

[ls7plus]

Leon, what are you going to do when your type collection is finished? Hope that doesn't happen on 12/21/12--might mean the end is here for all of us!

Best regards,

Larry

[Leon]

Originally Posted by ls7plus

Leon, what are you going to do when your type collection is finished? Hope that doesn't happen on 12/21/12--might mean the end is here for all of us!

Best regards,

Larry

I collect ancillary items to the cards and multiple cards from some sets...as well as a few sets themselves. There is always something to keep a collector interested in pre-war. I was speaking with a friend today about how fun it will be to do a catalog with my whole collection in it. I don't see it happening very soon though....

[ls7plus]

It might make a very nice coffee table book, though Leon, with both some background text and color photos, and you wouldn't even have to sell a thing! Might even be a decent market for it.

Larry

[ethicsprof]

after taming the monster, i focused on type collection:
1900-1939; T era packs; key photographers Conlon,Thompson,Bain, Van Oeyen,
Burke,
Brace---always hoping to get a photo with a matching card, e.g. T3 Paskert
and Conlon's Paskert.
I have all my types framed which keeps me from buying everything known to humankind and helps me truly buy favs.
Some are graded; some are not---usually depends on how much 'double' protection, i'm after.
All my T206s are framed for protection---mainly sgc, a few psa's and gai,
very few bvg's.
Don't much care what the grade is---some are 2's, some are
8's---and loads of others. Key criterion: i love 'em.
best of luck collecting,
barry