OT (sort of) Encyclopedia of Baseball Cards - worth buying?

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Posted By: Sixtofan

I am torn between buying the 2006 Standard Catalog or all three volumes of The Encyclopedia of Baseball Cards. I have never seen a copy of the encyclopedia, can someone tell me if this is a reference book that I need to have? Thanks for your help.

David

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Posted By: Julie Vognar

Lew's Enclyclopedia (written in 1983-86) analyzes most of the early sets (19th century, early candy and gum, and tobacco cards)--and only as they were known to him at the time--later additions are or course not taken into considerartion (there's a price guide at the end of each volume, but of course it's mostly good for chuckles). The Standard Catalogue makes plenty of mistakes, but contains the best checklists, and a more-or-less approximation of current prices...very more or less!. But the checklists are invaluable--you can tear one out of an old catalgoue and use it for your own purposes...of course, then you need Lew's encyclopedia to tell you about the sets. The Standard Catalogue has been cutting back on vintage stuff--sad but true--to make room for yuk.

I still wouldn't be without either of them...

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Posted By: bob beyerle

Buy the Encyclopedia once. Buy the Standard Catalog once every five years.

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Posted By: identify7

Buy Lew Lipsett's Encyclopedia. But do not expect to absorb the information it contains in a decade. You are more likely to memorize the Standard Catalog.

But edited to add:

The Encyclopedia does not cover the cards from the Ruthian era to the present. So, if your interests do not include pre-WWI cards, the Catalog may be a better choice than the Encyclopedia.

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Posted By: fkw

Buy both! they are ea. about $30 and that will be the best $60 you ever spend towards vintage cards. It may save you money in the long run just knowing the useful info you will learn with each book.

Ive had the original 3 vol. Lipset Encyclopedias for 20+ years now and they are falling apart. Mine are full of notes Ive hand written in them for last 20 years. I would loose a ton of info If I ever lost them. The SCD Standard Catalog is current and good for getting an idea what something is worth. Alot of the info in the SCD Catalog originates from the Lipset Encyclopedia.


Frank