Getting Started Question - Pre-War Baseball Cards

Casey2296 · #1 01-10-2021, 03:36 PM

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Pre-war collecting is best summed up by Dante in the Divine Comedy.

Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here
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kmac32 · #2 01-10-2021, 04:09 PM

I collect the Cubs prewar and modern. Cub fan since 1968 and have T207 Cubs frnts/ reverse collection, Cubs T205 front/ reverses (148/151 possible cards) S74 Cubs, T210 Jacksonville players, and my 1921 E121 Yankees/ Giants WS collection with Ruth et al. The WS collection started me in Prewar as my great gread uncle Elmer Miller played center field for the Yankees. I also have a complete type card collection of all the possible Elmer Miller cards. Now I am hooked.

My Topps Cubs have all the cards from 1951 to current in base sets and update sets featuring all cards and error variations. Takes up 3 binders but very cool. Love collecting cardboard.

Did also have a T206 Cubs collection but that one was far too easy for me to collect so I sold it at a profit along with my T205 minor leagues sets in REA last year. If it was to easy to do, then didn’t keep my interest.

x2drich2000 · #3 01-10-2021, 05:02 PM

I've been collecting prewar for about 15 years now. Before that it was modern growing up in the early 90's, followed by SLUs, and then a little postwar. For me, I was always drawn to getting stuff other people didn't have. I quickly found postwar (50's and 60's Topps in particular) were really common. That pushed me to buy my first T206 but after a few months, again, I came to realize I could pretty much buy any T206 on Ebay at any time if I didn't care about the back.

Eventually I started working on an E93 set and still recommend that set most of the time for those jumping into prewar. It is a smaller set (30), packed with HOFers (18 I believe), and the set finds a decent balance between being too easy and too hard. Price wise, it is also within relatively cheap to complete, though prices have increased for the key cards. HOFers though are generally in the same ballpark as their complementary T206.

I've since gone a bit off the rails and keep trying to build sets that are nearly impossible.

BlueCrew · #4 01-10-2021, 05:49 PM

Great information and answers. I appreciate you all taking time to provided your responses.

Thank you,

todeen · #5 01-11-2021, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casey2296

.

Pre-war collecting is best summed up by Dante in the Divine Comedy.

Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here

.

I missed this the first time! Hahahaha so true!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

Rhotchkiss · #6 01-11-2021, 09:24 PM

I love pre-war (WWI) cards because are they are so much more than cards- they are Americana. Almost all cards were advertising pieces, for tobacco, or candy, or bread, or alcohol, or cocoa drinks (e92 crofts cocoa). That was their real purpose, and the advertisements are a glimpse into our history and culture. There are a ton of ways to collect. My guess is you will try many different projects before you decide on something firm, and even then your eyes will wander.

Here are some of my favorite advertisements (the crofts cocoa is my favorite).

ValKehl · #7 01-11-2021, 09:51 PM

Ryan, I share your passion for the advertising backs on pre-WWII cards. These 2 are my favorites:

BlueCrew · #8 01-11-2021, 10:04 PM

I appreciate all of these replies. They definitely have helped me focus on how I may collect.

Keep them coming.

Thank you,

BC

Leon · #9 01-12-2021, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueCrew

I appreciate all of these replies. They definitely have helped me focus on how I may collect.

Keep them coming.

Thank you,

BC

I would say the main thing is collect what YOU enjoy. Then no matter what it's all good. And if you purchase correctly the values will usually go up or hold steady. Plus you get to fondle a great collection of mini masterpieces.

I have only seen 1 of these I like more than this one and that is a toss up in itself.

Orioles1954 · #10 01-12-2021, 12:07 PM

I've learned so much from www.oldcardboard.com

They have pictures, checklists, issue information and so much more. I'm sure Leon won't mind me giving them a plug.

toledo_mudhen · #11 01-16-2021, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casey2296

.
Pre-war collecting is best summed up by Dante in the Divine Comedy.

Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here
.

Here's the thing - If you hang out on these boards long enough - you're gonna end up at T206 and then you are doomed......

Resistance is Futile (they are the Borg)

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