Looking for a small set to collect. Suggestions?

[jfkheat]

Are you planning to do graded sets. If so, what grades? I am working or have completed several of the sets mentioned here. Like you, I don't want to do a set with hundreds of cards. My biggest set is the 77 card 1964 Topps Stand-up. I need 7 or 8 cards to finish it.
James

[Peter_Spaeth]

One of the Topps Supers sets. Great player selection, beautiful unusual cards. And pretty cheap.

[MCoxon]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

One of the Topps Supers sets. Great player selection, beautiful unusual cards. And pretty cheap.

I really agree with this - the Topps Super sets are beautiful, especially the 1970 and 1971. I know you said pre-1970, Nick, but these 2 supers sets are beautiful and have nearly all the 60s era stars like Mays, Aaron, Clemente, Gibson, plus early cards of the great 70s players like Bench, Rose, Jackson, Seaver

[Slinger]

Originally Posted by MCoxon

I really agree with this - the Topps Super sets are beautiful, especially the 1970 and 1971. I know you said pre-1970, Nick, but these 2 supers sets are beautiful and have nearly all the 60s era stars like Mays, Aaron, Clemente, Gibson, plus early cards of the great 70s players like Bench, Rose, Jackson, Seaver

I'll take a look. Thanks for the advice.

[bobsbbcards]

Don't give up on the '69 Topps Super set either. Much better looking (IMHO) than the ginormous '70 and '71 cards and if my history is correct, 1969 comes before 1970.

1969 Topps Supers

[ALR-bishop]

and if my history is correct, 1969 comes before 1970.


Except in the Matrix

[Slinger]

Originally Posted by jfkheat

Are you planning to do graded sets. If so, what grades? I am working or have completed several of the sets mentioned here. Like you, I don't want to do a set with hundreds of cards. My biggest set is the 77 card 1964 Topps Stand-up. I need 7 or 8 cards to finish it.
James

Yea I only collect graded cards. Or buy raw and grade. Everything that I keep ends up graded then into the safe.

Due to cost, smaller sets seem easier to accomplish in a semi timely manner for me personally.

As far as grades, I go with that I feel like I can afford prior to starting the set.

[almostdone]

Not sure what place in line I’ll be with my strong suggestion of the 54 Red Heart but I highly recommend it.

I’ve built a few sets both small and large and the Red Heart was my favorite by far.

As mentioned there are only 33 cards in the set but 11 are Hall Of Famers giving it a 1 of 3 retail which as far as I’ve found if the best HOFer ratio in any vintage set.

When I built this set I focused on card appearance overall since I did it raw. The only two cards that cost more than $100 were the Mantle and the Musial. That being said it made it affordable overall. The entire set cost less than $1000.

You can build it quickly since they aren’t so rare you have to wait forever to have a card pop up or you can be more selective and draw it out. It took me about two years to get the example of each card I wanted for the prices I was willing to spend.

The last point on it is it’s one of the only sets I know of that can be displayed in its entirety if you so desire. To see them all at once with the three distict background colors makes this set really pop in my opinion.

Anyway, whichever set you choose love doing it and it won’t be the wrong choice.

Good luck!

Drew

[Slinger]

Awesome perspective and picture Drew! It does pop. Wow.

[rats60]

The 1969 Super Set is one of the most beautiful sets ever made, but a little pricey. The 1970 set at 42 cards would be a good choice.

[jfkheat]

Here is the link to my Red Heart set. All cards are graded PSA 8 or higher.
James

https://www.psacard.com/psasetregist...shedset/203939

[MCoxon]

Originally Posted by rats60

The 1969 Super Set is one of the most beautiful sets ever made, but a little pricey. The 1970 set at 42 cards would be a good choice.

Yep - that’s why i specifically suggested 1970 and 1971. The 1969 is a (somewhat) different animal.

[CobbSpikedMe]

I really like the 1969 Nabisco Team Flakes set. It's only 24 cards and has plenty of star power. Tough to find in high grade though. I like the yellow borders to still be intact on them personally. Just another suggestion for something different.

AndyH

[hcv123]

Do you tend to like sets that are a challenge to assemble? If so, consider the Kahn's weiners sets from 1956-1960 as well.

[Slinger]

Originally Posted by hcv123

Do you tend to like sets that are a challenge to assemble? If so, consider the Kahn's weiners sets from 1956-1960 as well.

I saw those whole trying to dig for stuff to collect. Due to the set size they interested me. They are a tough didn't though huh?

I'm a long term guy in all that I do. So I don't mind taking a while. I just have a hard time collecting 700+ cards for a set. That would take me a decade. As I only keep PSA graded cards. It's time consuming and money intensive.

[brian1961]

Hiya, Nick. The guys have loaded you up with some fabulous suggestions. As you check out the lists of who comprises each set, please go for the set that seems to have the most players you admire, as well as the set design that attracts your eye the most.

Since you prefer graded cards, that tells me you really care about your whole project---long-term and when it comes time to part with them. Please, I'm not inferring the journey is unimportant; it's probably most important. With graded cards, you're getting your money's worth and nothing bogus, and can even make money long-term.

Another idea----collect one card from each of these sets mentioned that you like. Research each set and see if the background story behind any of them piques your fancy. A further idea----there's a guy on here who wrote a book about smaller sets that were regionally-issued and/or with food products. Entitled NEVER CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, the title hints at a stark aspect of their history----they were relatively expensive to acquire during the year they were issued. In the ensuing years, they seemed to appreciate in value as more and more collectors began to appreciate their beauty, background story, and built-in scarcity.

It wouldn't be right if I failed to mention that I wrote the book, and that it's an E-book on a CD. At 478 pages, the thirty bucks it costs you gives you a ton of information and stories. If I was seriously going to collect one of the sets featured in the book, I'd owe it to myself to buy it and read up on as much as I could find out about the set. Of course, if the casual collector just wants to know the basic facts, and price guidelines, we have price guides for that. NEVER is not a price guide. 'Nuf said on that.

If your favorite era is pre-war, then I love the 1961 Golden Press Hall of Fame. If the 50s causes your heart to flutter most, then the 1954 Red Heart Dog Food has got the goods! If the early 60s is a prime period for you, those 1964 Topps Giant All-Stars are beautiful, big, and reasonably cheap. If the idea of a Topps test issue really moves you, those 1969 Topps Super Baseball cards are sheer beauty. Though much smaller than the very thick, large Topps Super issues of 1970-71, the 1969 Topps Super were called "Super" due to their super glossy surfaces. But watch out, the super glossy surface was fragile, and thumbnails marred and grooved them easily. I would go for PSA 8 NM-MT. The only down side is that there is a preponderance of head shots, and some re-uses of the photos used by Topps on their regular-issue cards (examples are Tom Seaver and Reggie Jackson). Still, these have a nice variety of poses.

Go with your heart, Nick. Here's wishing you the best, my fellow collecting warrior.

---Brian Powell