How many known collections have been lost

doug.goodman · #1 02-05-2025, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vintagedeputy

I counted 118 but I could�ve counted a collection twice.

Oops, you're right, 118. I missed the great Alaskan avalanche loss of 2022.

Vintage Vern · #2 02-05-2025, 04:16 AM

So how often is it updated? I'd imagine California wildfires have added to the total? Are most raw or graded, and are the cards listed that were destroyed?

Snowman · #3 02-05-2025, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vintage Vern

So how often is it updated? I'd imagine California wildfires have added to the total? Are most raw or graded, and are the cards listed that were destroyed?

They're fucking with you. They think it's a stupid question.

I don't think it's a stupid question, but arriving at a useful estimate would take more thought than I have time to give it.

Vintage Vern · #4 02-05-2025, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowman

They're fucking with you. They think it's a stupid question.

I don't think it's a stupid question, but arriving at a useful estimate would take more thought than I have time to give it.

Thanks, should have known with a few of them.

I just figured you hear about the lost treasures that show up after an older collector passes so I wanted to see about the other side, and the known effect. For graded it has to throw off numbers unless they can be accounted.

luciobar1980 · #5 02-05-2025, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowman

They're fucking with you. They think it's a stupid question.

I don't think it's a stupid question, but arriving at a useful estimate would take more thought than I have time to give it.

Not to speak for those guys but I don't necessarily think they thought it was a stupid question, more just goofin'

glchen · #6 02-05-2025, 12:36 PM

In terms of disasters, I still remember the story of the 2.4M collection lost when an airplane crashed into a house in Buffalo in 2009. Stories here: Link Link 2

Rich Klein · #7 02-05-2025, 12:50 PM

Couple of thoughts

1) I know many in this chat are not fans of graded cards, yet in a circumstance like this, well the graded cards are much easier to everyone to determine value.

2) A historical note, Reggie Jackson back in the day was accumulating his 1969 Topps RC so when he made the HOF he could sign and sell 563 serial numbered versions of that card. At some point, Reggie's house burned up in one of those California wildfires and all those rookie cards went up in smoke.

Rich

Peter_Spaeth · #8 02-05-2025, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

Couple of thoughts

1) I know many in this chat are not fans of graded cards, yet in a circumstance like this, well the graded cards are much easier to everyone to determine value.

2) A historical note, Reggie Jackson back in the day was accumulating his 1969 Topps RC so when he made the HOF he could sign and sell 563 serial numbered versions of that card. At some point, Reggie's house burned up in one of those California wildfires and all those rookie cards went up in smoke.

Rich

If 100,000 Reggies burned up it wouldn't make an impact, there are so many.

I would imagine some collections were lost to Katrina?

doug.goodman · #9 02-05-2025, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luciobar1980

Not to speak for those guys but I don't necessarily think they thought it was a stupid question, more just goofin'

I thought it was a stupid question from a guy with multiple stupid posts, hmmm it's kind of windy outside, I wonder how many leaves will fall from that tree?.

If somebody with a better track record on the board had asked the same question, I may have thought it was less stupid.

Gorditadogg · #10 02-05-2025, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doug.goodman

I thought it was a stupid question from a guy with multiple stupid posts, hmmm it's kind of windy outside, I wonder how many leaves will fall from that tree?.

If somebody with a better track record on the board had asked the same question, I may have thought it was less stupid.

Yeah, it's vintage Vintage Vern. Trying to build his post count up, probably.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

doug.goodman · #11 02-05-2025, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gorditadogg

Yeah, it's vintage Vintage Vern. Trying to build his post count up, probably.

Potentially formerly known as Bigfootisanidiot

G1911 · #12 02-05-2025, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vintage Vern

So how often is it updated? I'd imagine California wildfires have added to the total? Are most raw or graded, and are the cards listed that were destroyed?

The KCA database is a joke. There is no database of all 'known' collections that gets updated as events happen with an inventory of what everyone has. Nor is it plausible this could possibly exist, there is no regulatory body over collectors/not collectors. Most collectors don't even have an inventory of what they have, much less everyone else.

facepalm.jpg

BioCRN · #13 02-05-2025, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G1911

Most collectors don't even have an inventory of what they have, much less everyone else.

I've met some collectors of various items that lose track of stuff shipped to their house, or items sit in boxes unopened for months/years. Often they can't even tell you what's in the box when they rediscover it unless they open it.

I've met more than a few card collectors that open package, add to an existing stack of stuff, and "I'll sort it later" with months+ old shipments waiting to be put away somewhere.

I keep telling myself if I ever get to any of those points I need to question my own motivations behind collecting.

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