Would you trade your ENTIRE collection for 1 card?

[nolemmings]

Tbob, it's easier to take just the one with you in the casket then have someone have to arrange the whole lot of the rest of 'em. Heirs, schmairs.

[wrapperguy]

No, thanks, for one major reason.
Most of the cards I have collected were picked up at shows with my Dad and even though Dad is 90 and cannot attend shows any longer, all my ebay and BST purchases or trades are shared with him. Every card I have reminds me of the good times we spent together. That is irreplaceable.

[FUBAR]

Jeff

i can totally relate, i used to collect with my grandpa until he died in 1982, and even today i still collect in his honor... it killed me that my ex stole some of my cards that him and i got together.... i will always collect and always honor him.

[cdn_collector]

As my wife and I more seriously talk about having kids, I foresee my already small collecting budget getting even smaller. For that reason, I have been giving a lot of thought lately to the 10-25 card collection.

To that end, starting from scratch, trading that whole collection for 1 card, starting over and trading all but that 1 for another card, etc., etc., until I'm at some cap is something I'd consider very seriously. Something I *am* considering very seriously, in fact.

Regards,

Richard.

[birdman42]

Originally Posted by tbob

You think? Can you imagine several heirs fighting over one card? All the arguments about do we sell it now, do we wait, do we consign it to REA, etc.? What if some of the heirs hate baseball cards and want to get rid of it as quickly as possible and get their money and some of the heirs absolutely love pre-war cards and would like to keep it as a remembrance of their dad's passion? Who keeps the card, do you have joint custody and visitation agreements? Ack! Too many headaches.

Send it to Upper Deck. They'd figure out what to do with it.

(Actually, I'm at least a little surprised they haven't done it already with, say, a mangled '52 Mantle. Can you imagine the trades? "I'll swap you an 'M' and $100 for his right eye.")

Bill

[nebboy]

I could (would) do it, and without regrets. Also would try very hard to not start over. My wife HATES it that I spend time/money doing this. But she is a baseball fan so we do get along---------- -------pretty good.

[thegashousegang]

I don't think I could ever trade my entire collection for 1 card. If I did, it would be gone very soon, since I spend so much time browsing auctions to find the next item to buy. I'm a collector, after all - and I also get bored very easily.

[dstraate]

Couldn't do it.

With nothing else to compare to, I think it would be easy lose appreciation for that 1 card.

[green rhino123]

Every last one of them for a T206 Honus Wagner. Too bad my collection isn't
worth even close to as much as that card in any grade.

[dancollins]

Couldn't do it!!! The problem is 99% of us are collectors not investors. If I were an investor then I would in a second but my heart is in my cards. I remember when I was in sixth grade, that was the first time I ever seen a T206 card some kid was sitting next to me in study hall and he had about 7 beat up commons. He said him and his parents found them at an antique store in PA. I tried and tried for days on end to trade him for these finally he gave in and I got ahold of 2 of them for a ton of newer 80's cards. I used to sit there with books from the library (before internet) and stare at T206 cards and just dream of being able to buy them some day. That is what collecting is all about. Here are those 2 cards I still have them, and never in a million years will get rid of them because they were what started it all over 20 years a go.

[thegashousegang]

Originally Posted by dancollins

Couldn't do it!!! The problem is 99% of us are collectors not investors. If I were an investor then I would in a second but my heart is in my cards. I remember when I was in sixth grade, that was the first time I ever seen a T206 card some kid was sitting next to me in study hall and he had about 7 beat up commons. He said him and his parents found them at an antique store in PA. I tried and tried for days on end to trade him for these finally he gave in and I got ahold of 2 of them for a ton of newer 80's cards. I used to sit there with books from the library (before internet) and stare at T206 cards and just dream of being able to buy them some day. That is what collecting is all about. Here are those 2 cards I still have them, and never in a million years will get rid of them because they were what started it all over 20 years a go.

Dan, that story sounds exactly like myself. Many days were spent being a vintage card 'dork' back in the days before the internet.

[quinnsryche]

Originally Posted by dancollins

Couldn't do it!!! The problem is 99% of us are collectors not investors. If I were an investor then I would in a second but my heart is in my cards. I remember when I was in sixth grade, that was the first time I ever seen a T206 card some kid was sitting next to me in study hall and he had about 7 beat up commons. He said him and his parents found them at an antique store in PA. I tried and tried for days on end to trade him for these finally he gave in and I got ahold of 2 of them for a ton of newer 80's cards. I used to sit there with books from the library (before internet) and stare at T206 cards and just dream of being able to buy them some day. That is what collecting is all about. Here are those 2 cards I still have them, and never in a million years will get rid of them because they were what started it all over 20 years a go.

Great story! That's kinda what I was going for when I originally posted. I myself lean both ways. I like the variety but to have a Wagner like the one posted earlier would be awful tough to pass up. I don't think I would ever tire of looking at that beauty, even if it was the only card I owned.
Thanks to all posters and let's keep it going!

[brian1961]

To strictly answer the question, no, I would not be content with liquidating or trading everything for one card. As someone aptly wrote, you would gradually become tired over gazing at the one card you received for your entire collection.

However, on a somewhat similar vein, in 1989 I found a very rare Mickey Mantle card available (please excuse the postwar example, regardless of how repugnant that might be to your prewar taste). The renown dealer wanted $2,500 for it, a very, very sizable amount at that time. Yes, he was firm about the price, too. Still, he knew what he had, and I knew that he knew what he had. Graciously, he reserved the card for me if I could get the money to him within two months.

With many prayers for God's help, I took out a large ad in Sports Collectors Digest. At this time, the hobby was in its zenith. SCD was THE place, other than shows, to procure or sell vintage cards. I was a very strict grader, and offered a large assortment of postwar cards, though the newest was probably 1973. It was not easy to sell that much in one ad, given I was selling only from my personal collection. However, by the grace of God, I sold the required amount needed. It helped that I had some great repeat business from a couple very satisfied customers.

The dealer kept his word, and upon receipt of my cashier's check, sent me a genuine dream card. I had turned many, many cards into one card. That one card even had a small half-inch front crease that began on the side edge. Nevertheless, I was very, very pleased with it.

At the 2008 National, I traveled the long way to have SGC grade it. It came out a 50 VG-EX, which after almost 2 years remains the highest they have graded. PSA has also graded a 4, but Memory Lane's president, who auctioned that 4, said upon showing mine to him that my card presented much better. Not to keep you in suspense, the card was a 1954 Stahl-Meyer Franks of Mickey Mantle.

I wrote an article for SCD on it. Long enough to require two installments, I was told recently that it would run this spring. Hopefully those of you who at least like certain postwar cards might find it enjoyable.

Take care. --Brian

[Lordstan]

It's an interesting question which I think also relates to the memorabilia side as well.

Would I trade all my stuff for a signed Lou Gehrig jersey he wore in 1927? UMMM let me think...Heck Yeah!
I like being able to look at all my stuff, but most of it I could collect again and have the thrill of the hunt all over again.

I, like many others have mentioned, am also attached to many things in my collection because of memories of my father and our journey together through collecting. Like another mentioned, even though he passed away in 1995, I still collect a few things for his memory. The thing is that I think if I could ask him whether I should trade all the stuff we got together for a once in a lifetime rare item, that perhaps we may have even dreamed about owning together in the past, I think he would emphatically say YES. I know that's what I would say to my child.
Further I do think my dad might be proud of the wheeler-dealer that he raised to be able to wrangle such a great deal.

Just my two cents.
Mark

I guess it all depends on the card. I would definitely start recollecting though.

[Jacklitsch]

No.

[g_vezina_c55]

i said yes

[EGreenwood]

As appealing as a 25-100 card collection is for a variety of reasons, I would have to say no.

[t206blogcom]

No, I don't think I'd sell/trade my collection for one single card, at least that would be my initial reaction. Then again, I've never been presented such a scenario in real life, so who knows. Seems to me several people have done such a thing and end up coming out ahead. Given I don't have a very extensive collection or any 'rare' cards, in theory I could sell/trade to get one card, then somewhat easily rebuild my old collection.

Would I sell my entire collection for a major life changing event such as to buy a home, to avoid defaulting on a mortgage payment, to fund a major surgery, to fund retirement costs, etc? Yes, of course without a doubt.

[darwinbulldog]

I certainly would, but I'm afraid it wouldn't be anything close to a fair trade if I could pick up a Baltimore News Ruth for my modest collection.

[phikappapsi]

I would say no, only because I have a few cards that are true 1/1 types, and I have so much time into those, I could never turn around and lose them...

That said... If I could cherry pick the 95% of my collection that I could sell for 1 card, absolutely. The thrill of the hunt is half of collecting...owning something truly precious is the other 50 (completely my opinion) so if I could get one unbelievable/rare/precious card, and then have the fun of "re-collecting" what I lost, I'd do it in a heartbeat

[GregMitch34]

Hard to imagine enjoying any one card more than the perfectly centered PSA 3 e96 Lajoie that I recently purchased....

[drc]

My entire collection would trade for a 1977 OPC Nolan Ryan. So I guess the answer is No.

And, no, I don't mean a PSA 10 1977 OPC Ryan from the Dmitri Young collection that would sell for about $350,000 at SCP.

[tedzan]

My collection spans from 1869--1941, and 1943--1987. I enjoy every single one of what totals approximately 50,000 cards.
There are a lot of memories and some great human interactions to go with many of these cards.

When, and if, this hobby's $$$$$--wise value diminishes (or collapses)....having diversified will carry the day. This is not so
for just ONE card (Wagner....or whatever card turns you on).


T-Rex TED

[BleedinBlue]

I'd never be willing to own only a single card but I am already in the process of reducing the bulk of my collection into a more manageable size collection. The total value will likely be greater but the number of card will reduce. But all for one? No.

[uffda51]

Nope.

[ullmandds]

uhhhhh.....ted...dare I ask what happened to 1942?

[wonkaticket]

Yes but it would have to be a super deal in my favor which isn't going to happen....the thread might as well be where am I taking Salma Hayek for dinner because that isn’t going down either....but I'd be open to both options should they present themselves.

Cheers,

John

[carrigansghost]

I would guess high school prom.

Rawn

[ullmandds]

Uhhhh....I'm guessing Ted wasn't quite yet born in 1869 yet, either?!?!

[BearBailey]

NO. Not even a question for me.

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

uhhhhh.....ted...dare I ask what happened to 1942?

I would post my GUM, Inc. War Gum battle of Stalingrad (1942) card....but, you'd bust my chops since it isn't BB


TED Z

[philliesphan]

without hesitation.

[caramelcard]

I probably would with my meager collection, but...

Scott B's situation was different in my opinion.

Definitely the most legendary trade in the history of card collecting (that I know of).

Not sure I would have been able to pull the trigger on that one.


Rob

[danmckee]

Answer: NO

But if I had to think about it, the 1914 Baltimore News Schedule card of Babe Ruth which we owned 2 of the blue ones, would be a thought.

My entire collection? NFW

[Fripples]

Considering I only have 7 cards in my collection -- as I am new to this *cough* -- I will say, YES!!!

Interesting that most responses were in the NO department. That means one of two things. Either everyone on here really loves their personal collections OR no one wants to have a card worth $1 million dollars. Fascinating.

[joeadcock]

At this point NO. Dont know if my mind might change. As I slowly build up my collection there are some real nice E107's I wouldn't mind instead of my handful of commons. Or perhaps a high grade Old Judge Cabinet

Excellent question.

[joeadcock]

By the way, like what T206 Collector did. He is slowly building up again, which is another way of doing it.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Leon

As a person who likes variety there is just no way I could do it in a collecting vein. If it were purely monetary, maybe.

I agree w/Brother Leon. For the right $$ sure, straight-up no way. I would trade my entire baseball card collection for a presentable, complete T206 Wagner. I'd even help carry the binders out to your car.

[kmac32]

Wouldn't trade it all for one card.

[mark evans]

No. I get far too much enjoyment from viewing my collection to trade it.