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Flea Market Finds #100: Less Means More
What happens when you combine 30ยบ weather with a holiday weekend? You get this:
This past weekend, the De Anza Flea Market looked like a ghost town. Okay... maybe I'm exaggerating, but it's safe to say that more than half of the usual vendors didn't show up. The same could be said for shoppers. Normally, the first three floors of the parking structure would be packed. But when I left, there were only ten cars on the 2nd level.
After taking the above photo... I actually considered turning around and going home. My fingers were numb and I questioned whether or not I'd actually find anything to buy. However... I had driven for 30 minutes and figured I could use the exercise.
So I manned up and walked around.
Purchase #1: 1995 Playboy Chromium Wax Box$5
I immediately found a guy with a bunch of wax boxes sitting on the ground, but don't really need to open anymore 1988 Topps or 1990 Scorebaseball. The vendor saw me checking them out and started talking to me about cards.
The conversation eventually led to him showing me this box of Playboycards and the announcement that their magazine will no longer be publishing nude photographs. I was surprised that I hadn't heard this earth shattering news.
I mean seriously... are people really going to buy their magazine for the articles? Anyways... I did a quick check on eBay and noticed that these boxes actually sell pretty well, so I grabbed it. The only problem is the box is in pretty poor condition. Maybe that's a sign that I need use this for a box break post (wink, wink).
Purchase #2: Elvis Presley Bobblehead (SF Giants SGA)$5
Wise men say... only fools pass up on San Francisco Giantsstadium giveaway bobbleheads featuring the King of Rock and Roll. I could easily quadruple my money at the Serramonte Mall Collectibles Show in a few weeks, but I'll most likely just add this to my bobblehead collection.
Purchase #3: Two 1989 Donruss Baseball's Best Factory Sets$5
The Cardboard Gods are looking out for me, because I've actually been looking for the Ken Griffey Jr. inside of this set. Although it's technically not considered a rookie card... it's an oddball issue from The Kid'srookie year. Plus there are cards of Sammy Sosa, Randy Johnson, and Gary Sheffield.
Purchase #4: Team Signed San Francisco 49ers Football$10
I know what you're thinking... it sounds too good to be true... but the Rice and Younglook good and I'd be hard pressed to believe that somebody is going to forge the other thirty signatures on this ball. I compared about ten of the other signatures to ones certified by PSA and they checked out. I figured for the price, it was worth the risk.
Purchase #5: Baseball Cards$10
One of my friends sets up at De Anzaevery month and offers me his leftovers for a fair price. What you're looking at are the remnants of a 2015 Heritage High Numberbox and a few 2015 Topps Update blasters... plus a few singles I needed from his dollar bin.
There isn't really anything worth mentioning, but it helps me restock some inserts and base cards for blogger care packages.
Purchase #6: Legends Magazines$5
Okay. Another head scratcher, right? Five bucks is a lot more than I'd normally pay for sports magazines. However... much like the 1989 Donrusssets... I've actually been looking for the very first issue of Legends for awhile now.
Not exactly a huge bonus... but both of these covers are signed by Christopher Paluso. He's the artist who created the artwork used on these covers.
That wraps up my first flea market adventure of 2016. Six purchases... totaling forty dollars. That was a little more than I anticipated on spending... but to be honest, I'm not feeling any buyer's remorse towards any of the items. The only downside is that all of these purchases are classified as memorabilia... which means they count towards my monthly budget... which translates into less money for the Serramonte Mall Collectibles Show.
Well... that's all for now. Vacation is over and it's time to get back to work. Have a great week. Happy Monday and sayonara!
More...
This past weekend, the De Anza Flea Market looked like a ghost town. Okay... maybe I'm exaggerating, but it's safe to say that more than half of the usual vendors didn't show up. The same could be said for shoppers. Normally, the first three floors of the parking structure would be packed. But when I left, there were only ten cars on the 2nd level.
After taking the above photo... I actually considered turning around and going home. My fingers were numb and I questioned whether or not I'd actually find anything to buy. However... I had driven for 30 minutes and figured I could use the exercise.
So I manned up and walked around.
Purchase #1: 1995 Playboy Chromium Wax Box$5
I immediately found a guy with a bunch of wax boxes sitting on the ground, but don't really need to open anymore 1988 Topps or 1990 Scorebaseball. The vendor saw me checking them out and started talking to me about cards.
The conversation eventually led to him showing me this box of Playboycards and the announcement that their magazine will no longer be publishing nude photographs. I was surprised that I hadn't heard this earth shattering news.
I mean seriously... are people really going to buy their magazine for the articles? Anyways... I did a quick check on eBay and noticed that these boxes actually sell pretty well, so I grabbed it. The only problem is the box is in pretty poor condition. Maybe that's a sign that I need use this for a box break post (wink, wink).
Purchase #2: Elvis Presley Bobblehead (SF Giants SGA)$5
Wise men say... only fools pass up on San Francisco Giantsstadium giveaway bobbleheads featuring the King of Rock and Roll. I could easily quadruple my money at the Serramonte Mall Collectibles Show in a few weeks, but I'll most likely just add this to my bobblehead collection.
Purchase #3: Two 1989 Donruss Baseball's Best Factory Sets$5
The Cardboard Gods are looking out for me, because I've actually been looking for the Ken Griffey Jr. inside of this set. Although it's technically not considered a rookie card... it's an oddball issue from The Kid'srookie year. Plus there are cards of Sammy Sosa, Randy Johnson, and Gary Sheffield.
Purchase #4: Team Signed San Francisco 49ers Football$10
I know what you're thinking... it sounds too good to be true... but the Rice and Younglook good and I'd be hard pressed to believe that somebody is going to forge the other thirty signatures on this ball. I compared about ten of the other signatures to ones certified by PSA and they checked out. I figured for the price, it was worth the risk.
Purchase #5: Baseball Cards$10
One of my friends sets up at De Anzaevery month and offers me his leftovers for a fair price. What you're looking at are the remnants of a 2015 Heritage High Numberbox and a few 2015 Topps Update blasters... plus a few singles I needed from his dollar bin.
There isn't really anything worth mentioning, but it helps me restock some inserts and base cards for blogger care packages.
Okay. Another head scratcher, right? Five bucks is a lot more than I'd normally pay for sports magazines. However... much like the 1989 Donrusssets... I've actually been looking for the very first issue of Legends for awhile now.
Not exactly a huge bonus... but both of these covers are signed by Christopher Paluso. He's the artist who created the artwork used on these covers.
That wraps up my first flea market adventure of 2016. Six purchases... totaling forty dollars. That was a little more than I anticipated on spending... but to be honest, I'm not feeling any buyer's remorse towards any of the items. The only downside is that all of these purchases are classified as memorabilia... which means they count towards my monthly budget... which translates into less money for the Serramonte Mall Collectibles Show.
Well... that's all for now. Vacation is over and it's time to get back to work. Have a great week. Happy Monday and sayonara!
More...