Posted By:
Al C.risafulliI started collecting in 1977 and started collecting vintage cards around 1979. I collected on and off after 1983 or so, whenever I found something interesting (which was not frequently at all).
I sold my best vintage cards in 1991 so that I could afford to eat, and promised myself that I would eventually rebuild my collection. I went to card shows fairly regularly throughout the 90s, and in the later 90s discovered the old Rotman auctions (the ones they had every other Thursday night), and began participating in the auctions they had where each lot opened at $5, just bottom-feeding.
Four years ago or so I started buying cards with more frequency, using eBay, the internet, and the major auctions, and selling cards via eBay whenever I upgraded something.
So if it wasn't for the internet, I'd still collect, but not to the degree that I do today.
-Al