Reprints?

[jchcollins]

I would be curious to know some current opinions anymore on reprints. This is a subject I have visited every now again here and there in the hobby: What do you guys think, is there value in them - do you get some satisfaction out of looking at a reprint when it's a card you otherwise will never be able to afford in a million years? In the world of expensive art, it's not at all uncommon for people to have prints /copies of famous works of art framed and displayed on their walls in cases where the original is in a museum or otherwise unattainable. Sometimes even the ("re-") prints of these artworks become worth tremendous amounts of money themselves. I know that is not a 100% apples-to-apples comparison with the world of collecting vintage sports cards, but are there some parallels?

When I first started collecting cards as a kid - I was temporarily fascinated by the old Dover reprint books - though I realized later the cards were printed on cheap perforated paper stock and were way too glossy in comparison to the originals - but there they were - Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, Mickey Mantle - cards that I as a 10 year old certainly would not be obtaining originals of anytime soon. It's not the same today as I have been collecting a lot longer now and though I go for mostly lower grade - I do have some of those original cards from the 1950's that I never thought I would.

Lately here it seems there are some better quality reprints available - some true sized '54 and '55 Topps (Aaron and Clemente RC's) available on eBay. Tempting to look at a lot like this for me for about a $5 asking price. Certainly not as desirable as the real deal cards in nice shape, but still good for a little nostalgia and display purposes, in my opinion. What do you all say - does anyone out there go for a reprint occasionally?

-John