[habenjero]

I'll work on getting some pictures up. I spent some time this evening getting everything sort and listed - I found out that I have 5 duplicate 1940 Play Ball cards - who knew?

I got a 1915 Crack Jack card from an auction when I was 11 or 12 with my father - I noticed that it is in really - really good shape - I'll scan and post that too when I have a chance.

[rollx8]

I think I blacked out during the 90's and 2000's. When I came too there were insert, memorabilia and autographs on everything... WHAT HAPPENED?

Hello and welcome back....All of the Game Used cards got me back into collecting!!! When I hold those types of cards I can feel the history come alive from the piece of the game used swatches....

Here's what I've collected over the last 2 months...Browse around my Photobucket:

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/rollx8/l...t=6&page=1

[habenjero]

Hello and welcome back....All of the Game Used cards got me back into collecting!!! When I those types of cards I can feel the history come alive from the piece of the game used swatches....

Here's what I've collected over the last 2 months...Browse around my Photobucket:

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/rollx8/l...t=6&page=1

That's some really cool stuff. The game used memorabilia is cool and so are some of the autographs. I'm really impressed with the quality of cards nowadays. I left when, I think, that 1990 Donruss garbage was released.

I really only have 1 or 2 large boxes of cards left to sort - I have 2 800 card boxes marked "pre-1980". It's probably all commons but it's still cool I think. I did just buy a rather massive collection at an auction last week that's being shipped. So, basically, as soon I get organized - I'll be disorganized again

[jstbuch]

As far as graded or not graded, if we are talking vintage, and it sounds like we are, graded is the only way to go. It's less about the actual grade though and more about making sure it is authentic. I would grade everything I bought at a live auction as they are known for a ton of fakes.

[habenjero]

Is there a consensus on the best way to grade a large amount of cards? I see there are 4 preferred companies each of whom essentially specialize on one thing or another... do we just send them all in and pay a boat-load for grading or can I do it more intelligently than that?

[jstbuch]

I only see it as a two company race, PSA and Beckett unless you are doing pre-war (sgc). I generally go with beckett for modern stuff and PSA for vintage but it's really a matter of preference.

As for the best way to get it done, I have two suggestions:
1. Drop them off at a show and save on shipping.

2. Wait for them to do a bulk sale. You can get as much as 50 percent off. Also, there are a few other message boards that do bulk submissions so they get the discounted rate.

[habenjero]

I only see it as a two company race, PSA and Beckett unless you are doing pre-war (sgc). I generally go with beckett for modern stuff and PSA for vintage but it's really a matter of preference.

As for the best way to get it done, I have two suggestions:
1. Drop them off at a show and save on shipping.

2. Wait for them to do a bulk sale. You can get as much as 50 percent off. Also, there are a few other message boards that do bulk submissions so they get the discounted rate.

Thanks for the knowledge! Can you PM sites I should be checking? I have a lot of older stuff that isn't graded. The vast majority of my collection is pre-1980. I'm still trying to unload 3 partial and one complete sets of cards to give you an idea (complete 1975, 70% complete 1975, partial 50% 1969 and partial 50% 1960). It's be nice to have some grade stuff in there before I unload them. I sold a complete 1978 recently with nothing grade and it came in under what I had expected.

[stera8]

I didn't read through fully but I believe I saw you join another forum as well...

Here is my key advice.

The other forum is filled with people who want to flip and sell, but Beckett is the place to come and trade with true collectors of the hobby. Most of these guys are awesome

[habenjero]

I didn't read through fully but I believe I saw you join another forum as well...

Here is my key advice.

The other forum is filled with people who want to flip and sell, but Beckett is the place to come and trade with true collectors of the hobby. Most of these guys are awesome

Selling is fine for some overflow but I wouldn't ever sell my favorites - that's the stuff I'd move for upgrades. For example, I'd sell a partial 1960's set but I wouldn't sell any of my tobacco cards.

[uvaspina]

Wow, you almost escaped alive ... but got sucked right back in.
Welcome back!!
It's more fun now than in the late 80's. I took a 20+ year hiatus, and got sucked back into it about 2-3 years ago. It's more fun than ever before. This site makes it a little more rewarding, too. Good group of folks on this forum. Have fun!!

I'm in the same boat. Collected in the 80s and early 90s, then took a break until about 2010. It seems like there's a lot of people who are rediscovering the hobby again--in their late-20s/30s and beyond. You've got a nice collection going. My advice is to go slow on the comeback. It's easy to burn out and lose momentum. One thing you have going for you is that you are pretty focused in what you want to collect. It can be a real mess if you just start buying everything in sight with no game plan. Collecting vintage and set-building is the way to go.