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Posted By: hankron

Collecting of older material is done retrospectively, rather than at the time. Meaning, 25 years later the collector looks back and says, "Of all Jackie Robinson's Topps cards, which one should I pick as the bestest?" Whether good or bad, the 'first edition' is the one that typically jumps to mind.

From fine art paintings to baseball cards, all organized collecting genres are filled with arbitrary rules and silly conciets. As with a Hollywood movie, the standard rookie card definition requires dramatic lighting and supension of disbelief.