1958: the first sports collectors' convention, hosted by Lionel Carter

[Leon]

Thanks for posting these, David. "Five or Six" collectors sounds like me and a few friends in a hotel bar after a (current) National, not a convention . But I am sure those guys were having a blast just the way we do.

[TCMA]

It must have been SO great to be a collector before the hobby really exploded. Just think about what would have been available to you if you knew where to look.

[nsaddict]

Great insight, thanks for posting. A handful of enthusiastic buddies getting together with the fabled Wags in tow! That would have made an incredible video.

[trdcrdkid]

Originally Posted by Leon

Thanks for posting these, David. "Five or Six" collectors sounds like me and a few friends in a hotel bar after a (current) National, not a convention . But I am sure those guys were having a blast just the way we do.

Well, they had to start somewhere. Carter invited 10 people and got six, plus himself; 11 years later, Jim Nowell and Ed Broder were expecting 20 and got 13 at their first convention, even after Richard Burns of The Sports Trader gave them the names and addresses of several hundred west coast collectors. It was just a matter of timing. As I said, Carter was ahead of his time.

So was Charles Bray -- having his Wagner in "a type of picture frame" seems like a proto-slab, or maybe a proto-screwdown holder.