Vintage - what do you collect and why do you collect it?

[WoundedDuck]

I've seen a lot of people that collect vintage in a lot of different ways. I'm just thought it would be interesting to hear some of the backstories for why people collect what they collect.

One of my goals for the new year is to start getting into vintage. I have an idea of how I'd like to do it, but thought some of your experiences might help me narrow my focus.

Thanks for anyone who shares.

 

[jeff550]

Any and All senators. why vintage is sweet. i mean how could you not like a 100 year old piece of Cardboard. or a card from topps first ever year.

And Senators because they were in Washington,where i am

 

[manningmurphyfan]

I've always wanted to collect vintage as I remember going to shows and shops in the 80's when I was a kid and seeing Clemente and Koufax rookies for $100. I only wish I had the money then. I've pretty much collected newer stuff but have really cut down in the last couple years as it doesn't interest me as much anymore. I do have a couple player collections but I only pick up certain items. That and I want to buy things that I feel will hold their value.

I did dabble with a 1977 Topps set in PSA 9 about 8 years ago but sold it because the prices were too high for commons at the time.

Now I'm trying to focus on key rookies of players who started in the 1930s - 1960 and picked up a PSA 6.5 Killewbrew to start it off. I also like Christy Mathewson but the only one I own is a PSA 4 T201 Mecca Double Folder. I hope to pick up at least one of his T206s this year.

The top wants with the rookies are an Aaron and Clemente.

 

[minpin]

Why? I enjoy the chase I currently have two PSA sets I'm working on and you can see the progress in my sig. Second, I enjoy the history of the cards. Third, vintage is vintage! You can't go wrong if you're buying a PSA/SGC 1 or a PSA 10. There's something for all collector's.

Good luck beginning your collection. Matt

 

[manningmurphyfan]

Why? I enjoy the chase I currently have two PSA sets I'm working on and you can see the progress in my sig. Second, I enjoy the history of the cards. Third, vintage is vintage! You can't go wrong if you're buying a PSA/SGC 1 or a PSA 10. There's something for all collector's.

Good luck beginning your collection. Matt

I like both the sets you're collecting. At one time I owned a PSA 8 Alcindor rookie. It was a nice card, but again the prices on the set at the time were crazy.

 

[nixsfan]

Just got hooked on the 1956 set so I'm off any running, I collect vintage for the same reason as mentioned above it's the history of the card wheres it been for the last 50 years who's held it in there hands how many miles has it traveled ect.

 

[Nate Colbert 17]

SETS
1909-11 T206 White Border set (SGC)
513 of 524 (98%)
This is a classic set and is easily collected by nearly all collectors…other than the “biggies”.

1948 Bowman Football (SGC)
49 of 108 (45%)
I like the B&W photography in this set.

1948 Bowman Basketball (SGC)
16 of 72 (22%)
The first real basketball set….although the Mikan rookie card is the set’s version of the T206’s Wagner.

1955 Topps All American Football (SGC)
100 of 100
Topps first football issue.

1959 Topps Football (SGC)
36 of 176 (20%)
I have no idea why I started this set. I tend to like the “commons” more than the stars.

1970 Kelloggs 3D Baseball (PSA 9 or 10’s)
75 of 75

In my childhood, many boxes of Frosted Flakes were sacrificed to work on this set.

1970 Kellogg’s 3D Football (PSA 9 or 10)
60 of 60
Same as 1970 Kellogg’s 3-D Baseball

1970-71 Topps “Tall Boys” Basketball (SGC 88 or better)
25 of 175 (14%)

This appears to be a difficult set to acquire in near mint condition.

Hall of Fame Game Used and Autographs
355 various cards

PLAYER COLLECTIONS

Tony Gywnn
Mr. Padre. This also gives me a reason to occasionally check out more modern issues.

Nate Colbert
The Padres’ first star player.

Randy Jones
The Padres’ first 20 game winner

Reggie Miller
Much like Gwynn, I needed to collect a somewhat modern player to keep my hand in the newer issues.

Artis Gilmore
The “A-Train” should be in the Hall of Fame.

Maurice Lucas
I always like “The Enforcer” and the way he played.

 

[Graymouse]

Why? I enjoy the chase I currently have two PSA sets I'm working on and you can see the progress in my sig. Second, I enjoy the history of the cards. Third, vintage is vintage! You can't go wrong if you're buying a PSA/SGC 1 or a PSA 10. There's something for all collector's.

Good luck beginning your collection. Matt

Your '55 set is coming along nicely man! Keep up the good work.

 

[jay1065]

Whew....taking a break from putting toys together.

I focus on two different vintage collections.

1. Pre-WWII Red Sox Type Collection:

I'm a die-hard Sox fan, and I'm completely enthralled by the history of the team, players, and the cards that feature them.

2. N172 Old Judge (One Card per Team - Emphasis on Massachusetts Born Players)

19th century baseball...doesn't get any better. The N172 set is my favorite of all time. Going after one card per team seems like an attainable goal (except for the Cali. League cards...big $$$.) One of my favorite books is Before the Curse: The Glory Days of New England Baseball, 1858-1918. The book, along with another collector's amazing Nebraska baseball collection, inspired me to go after players that were born in MA.

 

[manningmurphyfan]

Whew....taking a break from putting toys together.

I focus on two different vintage collections.

1. Pre-WWII Red Sox Type Collection:

I'm a die-hard Sox fan, and I'm completely enthralled by the history of the team, players, and the cards that feature them.

2. N172 Old Judge (One Card per Team - Emphasis on Massachusetts Born Players)

19th century baseball...doesn't get any better. The N172 set is my favorite of all time. Going after one card per team seems like an attainable goal (except for the Cali. League cards...big $$$.) One of my favorite books is Before the Curse: The Glory Days of New England Baseball, 1858-1918. The book, along with another collector's amazing Nebraska baseball collection, inspired me to go after players that were born in MA.

The N172s are cool. I lived in Omaha and now in Sioux City and didn't realize both had teams that are in the set until a couple months ago when I was reading some stuff on Net54. I'd like to eventually add a Sioux City player but I've heard the Omaha players are tougher to find.

 

[WoundedDuck]

Thanks for sharing guys! I'm loving reading all these. Keep 'em coming.

 

[pigskincardboard]

I've always found the '48 Bowman set absolutely positively unbelievably hideous. I think that's what makes a lot of the early football cards so interesting to collect. Honestly, when I think about it, Leaf's '48 set was equally as ******* ugly and for the life of me I can't wrap my head around their various jersey colours.

I think the merger in '50 made for probably the greatest set of all time and '52 is stacked big time, or small time, if that's your thing. So I figured I'd go after the '51 set. I really like it, and I'm not getting investment grade cards anyways, just 5 - 100 dollar pieces of cardboard.

Reading their military history on the rear is one of the better parts of these early sets. I'm sure quite a few people collect cards that mention military service, and if I was a Yank, I definitely would.

The '59 Set's pretty, and I love it.

SETS
1909-11 T206 White Border set (SGC)
513 of 524 (98%)
This is a classic set and is easily collected by nearly all collectors…other than the “biggies”.

1948 Bowman Football (SGC)
49 of 108 (45%)
I like the B&W photography in this set.

1948 Bowman Basketball (SGC)
16 of 72 (22%)
The first real basketball set….although the Mikan rookie card is the set’s version of the T206’s Wagner.

1955 Topps All American Football (SGC)
100 of 100
Topps first football issue.

1959 Topps Football (SGC)
36 of 176 (20%)
I have no idea why I started this set. I tend to like the “commons” more than the stars.

1970 Kelloggs 3D Baseball (PSA 9 or 10’s)
75 of 75

In my childhood, many boxes of Frosted Flakes were sacrificed to work on this set.

1970 Kellogg’s 3D Football (PSA 9 or 10)
60 of 60
Same as 1970 Kellogg’s 3-D Baseball

1970-71 Topps “Tall Boys” Basketball (SGC 88 or better)
25 of 175 (14%)

This appears to be a difficult set to acquire in near mint condition.

Hall of Fame Game Used and Autographs
355 various cards

PLAYER COLLECTIONS

Tony Gywnn
Mr. Padre. This also gives me a reason to occasionally check out more modern issues.

Nate Colbert
The Padres’ first star player.

Randy Jones
The Padres’ first 20 game winner

Reggie Miller
Much like Gwynn, I needed to collect a somewhat modern player to keep my hand in the newer issues.

Artis Gilmore
The “A-Train” should be in the Hall of Fame.

Maurice Lucas
I always like “The Enforcer” and the way he played.

 

[nolan34ryan]

I collect Topps Sets.

I have 1974-2008 Completed. I also have 1958 and 1971 complete. It started with my life long dream to own every topps card from my birth year (77) up. Once I did that I started going back. The 58 set was where I started the set in 2001 to get all the all-star cards. Then I found a couple more that I had bought when I was a kid at a flea market so I said what the heck lets do this. I'm not saying it's the best condition set around but it was the most fun I've had working on a set.

I have recently updated my life long dream twice. I at one point figured that I was young enough to get all topps cards minus the Mantle RC. that plan was in effect for about 1 hour. Then I decided that I have better things to do with my money (like raising kids).

I am working on the 72 set and the 73 set and at that point will probably turn into a HOF RC collector.

If anyone needs some 60's vintage let me know as I would love to trade them for 72's that I need. I have quite a few 64's 65's and 66's.