Is my collection complete?

[sflayank]

Chris
Checking you out
1 1952...I'll go with that
1 1959 Venezuelan....I'll go with that
1 pittsburgh? Cant go with that..2 different cards
Do u have?
Dads cookies? A must
Yamakatsu? Not a must
Japanese bromide? Not a must
3 different auravisions? A must
5 different HI matchbooks? A must
64 sports heroes sticker? A must
Opc tattoo 1960? A must

[AustinMike]

Hey Chris, we've discussed Mantle collecting before, so I think you know where I stand as far as a "complete" collection goes. In regard to your question, I'd say if you aren't sure there is a variation out there and have seen no proof that there is, I think your collection is complete. However, should you get definitive proof that the variation you think might exist actually does exist and you want it, then your collection is not complete.

And to follow up and what Larry wrote in regards to Mantle collecting,

1 1952...I'll go with that I disagree. I think both are needed. (full disclosure, I have neither)
1 1959 Venezuelan....I'll go with that I disagree. I think both are needed. (full disclosure, I have one)
1 pittsburgh? Cant go with that..2 different cards I agree (I have neither)
Do u have?
Dads cookies? A must I agree (Thanks to Fred, I have it)
Yamakatsu? Not a must I agree
Japanese bromide? Not a must I agree
3 different auravisions? A must I agree
5 different HI matchbooks? A must I agree
64 sports heroes sticker? A must I agree
Opc tattoo 1960? A must I agree
1965 Bancroft Tiddlers Not a must (Butt ugly cards)

So yeah, there are difference of opinions on what constitutes a complete set.

[Bestdj777]

Checking you out
1 1952...I'll go with that
1 1959 Venezuelan....I'll go with that
1 pittsburgh? Cant go with that..2 different cards - fair point. I’d certainly buy the second if I saw it at a good point.
Do u have?
Dads cookies? A must - if money weren’t an object I’d view this as essential
Yamakatsu? Not a must - I’d money weren’t an object I’d view this as essential
Japanese bromide? Not a must - agreed. None of these larger items really are
3 different auravisions? A must - agreed. And owned
5 different HI matchbooks? A must - agreed. I have them and a few additional variations
64 sports heroes sticker? A must - don’t consider stickers essential for a card collection
Opc tattoo 1960? A must - agreed. Have the tattoo ball; will never find the portrait and couldn’t afford it. I’m fairly certain there are Venezuelan versions of each that were made, although likely none still exist since only that random one has shown up.

A real complete set for me would include all of the non-test issued cards, coins, postcards, and bottle caps ever made, including the Armour coin color variations. Budget doesn’t allow for that so it’s as complete as it will be for now.

[Bestdj777]

Mike, what’s the deal with the Bancroft? Ugly as can be but why is there an argument about including it? Never understood that.

[sflayank]

Bancroft
It's a drawing not a picture and looks more like stan musial

[sflayank]

Dont understand the sticker comment
Ypu have the peel offs? Action all star stickers?

[Bestdj777]

Originally Posted by sflayank

Bancroft
It's a drawing not a picture and looks more like stan musial

I thought it looked exactly like him . Fair enough though. I get the drawing versus picture distinction. For the stickers, I have the peel offs and the All Star action stickers, both in individual sheet and complete panel forms. As a baseball card collector, I just don’t think these non-baseball card items are really a necessity though. For that reason, I wouldn’t call a set, even a master set, incomplete for not having the yellow basepath pin (I have it), the bottle caps, the coins, or the stamps. I like them and get what I can - I don’t have all the factory variations with the Coke caps or all the Yoo Hoo variations yet (some day I will get those)—but do get what I can. Still, not technically cards (neither are the matchbooks or auravision records so I should probably revisit my prior statement on them). To each his own.

Here, I just thought it would be fun to discuss whether, as a variation collector, you’d consider your collection complete if you suspected, but couldn’t confirm Cm, there was another variation out there. I guess I know your position as I think you were after the red Armour coins for a while without knowing whether a Mantle existed.

[Bestdj777]

I appreciate the welcomed distraction from all that is going on in the world and hope you all are safe.

[AustinMike]

Originally Posted by Bestdj777

As a baseball card collector, I just don’t think these non-baseball card items are really a necessity though. For that reason, I wouldn’t call a set, even a master set, incomplete for not having the yellow basepath pin (I have it), the bottle caps, the coins, or the stamps. I like them and get what I can - I don’t have all the factory variations with the Coke caps or all the Yoo Hoo variations yet (some day I will get those)—but do get what I can. Still, not technically cards (neither are the matchbooks or auravision records so I should probably revisit my prior statement on them). To each his own.

Here, I just thought it would be fun to discuss whether, as a variation collector, you’d consider your collection complete if you suspected, but couldn’t confirm Cm, there was another variation out there. I guess I know your position as I think you were after the red Armour coins for a while without knowing whether a Mantle existed.

If I collected only Mantle baseball cards, I wouldn't bother with any non-baseball card item either. But like you, I am a Mantle collector. Therefore, I try to get all the items you have listed plus photo premiums, games, point of display advertisements, pins, bobble heads, etc. And no, my collection will never be complete. I'll never get all of the Armour coins for instance. And I can live with that.

[AustinMike]

Originally Posted by Bestdj777

Mike, what’s the deal with the Bancroft? Ugly as can be but why is there an argument about including it? Never understood that.

As Larry said, it looks more like Stan Musial than Mantle. Couldn't they at least have put a Yankee uniform on the figure?