Mr. Toshi's Mailday

[hayn]

Before I start, as always, I try to describe how I obtained my card in "Showcase" or a story that segways into my new additions. In a recent "Showcase" thread, a collector had questioned on unopened packs produced during the Sports Cards Junk Years, the 90's.

My most important fact was that of Market Value. I also want to add rarity, demand and availability, and popularity of the player depicted. I've said this a million times and I will continue my mantra a million more times; "I Collect to Collect"! I'm very adamant on this very crucial fact. My second fact that is just as important as my first is these three issues; "Organize, Organize, and Organize"! Oh yes, I almost forgot to add; "Organize"!

Let's start with the first point. A moot point in fact. Yes, I collect to collect, I will buy card(s) because of the player depicted, the same reason like all collectors of this forum would base their purchases on. Just look at forum members needs list. What many fail to realize is market value. Sure, we all want to get a card for $0.05, and ten years later this very card is now worth $100.00! Yahoo! Yippee! Unfortunately this is not the case. Yes, there are the inevitable Brady rookie cards, but these are far and few between. Remember these words, "Long Term Growth"! As a guide, your best indicator is eBay then Beckett.

Take the draft class of 2012 as an example. Oh, my god, would you have ever imagined a rookie 2012 Topps Chrome Andrew Luck card to book at $20.00? What's even harder to contemplate, eBay sellers will sell this card at or near book value and get buyers to pull the trigger. Especially after last nights game. Market value is a key point to understand what your collection is worth. Now, my collection is old. It's only one year old. There's not much of a reference on my collection. But as I view others entire collection, I use the 5, 10, and 25 year rule. Here is how it works.

In 5 years, will this player still be in the NFL? What about 10 or 25 years? Would your grandchildren say; "Wow grandpa, you've got a auto jersey card of Andrew Luck who we saw last night on TV at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony or grandpa? Who is Kellen Moore"? This is not a science but it is a very accurate indicator of the worth of anyone's collection. Now utilizing Beckett, just look at rookie cards from 5, 10, 25 years ago. You'll notice the same exact process and the numbers will tell you the truth. Do you purchase a 1998 Peyton Manning or a 1998 Ryan Leaf? There is always a chance that you'll be wrong, but with experience, following draft picks, and utilizing Beckett numbers, you can't go wrong. Many years from now, your heirs will be pleasantly surprised and pleased by your choices in football cards.

Now on to Organization, your heirs will be very happy that you did your due diligence. While I might have a few thousand cards in my collection, I can imagine most forum members collections in the hundreds of thousands! Keeping track is key to understanding what I just wrote above. Market value. You need to understand what your collection is worth. Do you want to see your collection sell for $500.00 or $5,000.00? A well organized set, will make it easier on everyone whether for trade, buy, or selling. Too much information is good in regards to your cards. Keep a copy in the cloud and a old school hard copy. It makes you double check your numbers by having two sets of your card catalog. I will admit the hardest thing to do is constantly updating your cards. When you feel like not inputting the info, remember that next week or the week after, you'll forget. Compound this fact in months and years and what you'll have is a mess. I tell my very adult children; "Do what you don't want to do first, then you can do what you want to do".

In the end, these methods will definitely stand the test of time, most importantly is to enjoy and have fun with your cherished well organized and documented football cards!

I recently showcased my 1991 Brett Favre Complete Rookie Card Set, while I searched high and low for a economical seller (Remember, Market Value) I found a few items that I could not believe were this low in cost. At first I thought something is wrong, when a item is too good to be true, it usually is. I did my research and contacted the seller with a thousand questions. Once I felt that the seller answered my questions I pulled the trigger. Below, please review my most recent additions.


<a href="http://s1282.photobucket.com/albums/a538/hayn0824/?action=view&current=289a5e4c1d28ff6d7254a1a068ca5 257_zps8e2c49d3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a538/hayn0824/289a5e4c1d28ff6d7254a1a068ca5257_zps8e2c49d3.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>


<a href="http://s1282.photobucket.com/albums/a538/hayn0824/?action=view&current=bda72528decc2f54452742cb9a128 e71_zps4eddc7a6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a538/hayn0824/bda72528decc2f54452742cb9a128e71_zps4eddc7a6.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>


<a href="http://s1282.photobucket.com/albums/a538/hayn0824/?action=view&current=1dea490a5d12b39d03147e6e98d0e 40d_zps50e3fa0f.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a538/hayn0824/1dea490a5d12b39d03147e6e98d0e40d_zps50e3fa0f.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>


<a href="http://s1282.photobucket.com/albums/a538/hayn0824/?action=view&current=2fb7f14c0147b8ec13b969c83c16c aea_zpsb16140c2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a538/hayn0824/2fb7f14c0147b8ec13b969c83c16caea_zpsb16140c2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>


<a href="http://s1282.photobucket.com/albums/a538/hayn0824/?action=view&current=09e5dd713b78df2dc44828d5efabc 745_zpsa224470a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a538/hayn0824/09e5dd713b78df2dc44828d5efabc745_zpsa224470a.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>


<a href="http://s1282.photobucket.com/albums/a538/hayn0824/?action=view&current=74e03244d708c7544b556c416c202 9d4_zps1908df9c.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a538/hayn0824/74e03244d708c7544b556c416c2029d4_zps1908df9c.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>


<a href="http://s1282.photobucket.com/albums/a538/hayn0824/?action=view&current=69bd95bd99bd1786ddb4ca2d6863e 571_zpscce36905.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a538/hayn0824/69bd95bd99bd1786ddb4ca2d6863e571_zpscce36905.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>

[road_runner_1964]

I love the thought that you go through in sharing or commenting on other's thread. It is indeed a dying breed. Thank you.

BTW...Nice mail!

[hayn]

I love the thought that you go through in sharing or commenting on other's thread. It is indeed a dying breed. Thank you.

BTW...Nice mail!

I do this as I view forum members collections like your very extensive 264 set, due to the admiration, respect, inspiration, and discipline it takes to not only create a set, but to photo archive your cards is a huge undertaking. Personally, I can't but to comment as a fellow collector, I know the several steps necessary it takes to get from point A to point B.

There's the collecting factor that many overlook.

Pre-Production - What and why to collect? Budget Constraints.
Production - Execution of obtaining product. Organization.
Post Production - Archive, storage, and the concept of the next project.

Of course there's the never ending job of restocking your collecting supplies. For your 264 collection, and like Schwood, you and many other forum members have to network within the continental US and at times the world in order to find rare and true mini pieces of art! So I thank you and the many other forum members for taking the time out, in showcasing your collection!

Toshi