Card collecting reference books? Which do you own and recommend?

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by trdcrdkid

In addition to the books that have already been mentioned, Dave Jamieson's "Mint Condition: How Baseball Cards Became an American Obsession" is a useful history of the hobby, including the card companies themselves, collectors like Burdick and Lionel Carter, and the rise of the grading companies in the 1990s.

+1. An extremely interesting read. I also agree with the reference to Alan Hager's book/price guides issued in the '90's (don't pay much attention to the prices listed in the book, as they were excessive when it was published in '92 or '93, but the color photos of the cards and accompanying historical info are good. His Six-Sport price guide, which includes many vintage issues, together with estimates of their relative rarity, is worth having, as the prices published were pretty accurate for the time in 1995, and his rarity estimates can have value when comparing one issue to another, although he clearly botched a few of them). It is also interesting to note how much various cards have appreciated in value since 1995, and which have not done as well, thereby indicating how collecting trends have shifted in the last twenty years. I also agree that you have to have an edition of the Standard Catalog every few years, though I wouldn't pay much attention to the prices given.

Best wishes,

Larry

[trdcrdkid]

If we're talking price guides and checklists, I have a bunch from the 1970s, 80s, and early 90s, including the first three editions of the Sports Collector's Bible (1975, 1977, 1979); Sport Americana Baseball Card Checklists from 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1978 (each with a rudimentary price guide at the end); the Sport Americana Baseball Card Price Guide (Beckett-Eckes) for each year from 1979-1991, including both covers from 1979 and the hardcover 1980; the Sterling Sports Card Catalog (1977, two copies, one with a price guide inserted); the American Premium Guide to Baseball Cards (1982) by Ron Erbe and Keith Mitchell, which I've posted about here; and the first four editions of the Standard Catalogue of Baseball Cards (1988-90-92-94). That's in addition to many hobby periodicals from the 1950s to the 90s (including a complete run of the first 18 years of Sports Collectors Digest from 1973-91), quite a few non-price-guide books about baseball cards, and quite a few books about trade cards, tobacco cards, and other collectibles.

[brian1961]

Let me preface what I am about to say. I jolly well know this is a PreWWII forum. However, since the thread topic may be interpreted in several ways, I thought you may wish to know that before the year is through, my own book will be available.

Entitled NEVER CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, it concerns "Those Special 'Free Prize' Sports Collectibles from the Golden Era of 1947 - 1971". It is by no means a price guide, but what it is will truly take one back to those years after the war when some of the nicest items one could collect came free with the purchase of a product. The early days of the burgeoning adult sports collectibles hobby is covered, as well as some of the frenzied auction action from the last 30 years, and of course the stringent standards demanded by today's informed collectors---I speak of course of reputable third party graded cards.

Not much hockey, though I offer an interesting, humorous vignette of the Bee Hive premiums.

I truly hope those of you who wish to take a chance on it with some of their precious card-buying funds will find it worth much, much more than their purchase price. If I was still involved with collecting these dynamite items, I would buy this book in a heartbeat. I know, I know; of course I would say that, wouldn't I? Nevertheless, I do not lie, either.

It took 5 years to write, edit, and secure copyright, after a collecting lifetime of gathering research. I wish I had gotten more of you to contribute your first-hand and even second-hand sea stories. Regardless, what I got from several hobby pioneers and voracious collectors are enthralling to those who relish this niche of our hobby.

Thanks for listening.

Cheers, mates. ---Brian Powell