Five steps for starting your card collection
- Set your budget: Extending beyond your budget is one of the easiest mistakes to make in the hobby. Set a strict budget, and remember that your overall financial health is more important than any card.
- Find your taste: Explore the hobby and all the exciting designs and concepts it has to offer. Attend card shows and scroll social media to find the sets, players, and designs you like the most. Once you’ve found what you want to collect, it’s often best to focus on that. For example, starting by collecting just one sport and a few sets may give you the greatest chance of success while you learn the ropes.
- Establish goals: Pair your budget with the card designs you like to establish clear collecting goals. Avoid buying cards not part of this objective; you’ll get there faster than you think.
- Strike some deals: Get out there and make some deals. The best way to experience the hobby is by buying, selling, and trading your collection with others. There’s no substitute for experience, so get started fast.
- Display your collection: The hobby is all about having fun, so make sure you’re putting your cards in a place where you can enjoy them regularly.
Sports card supply checklist
- Penny sleeves: If the name wasn’t obvious enough, these are simply too cheap and helpful not to have a solid supply lying around the house. If you think there’s even a small chance a card could be worth something, it probably deserves a penny sleeve.
- Toploaders: When your cards need something a little more sturdy, Toploaders are the go-to. They’re cheap, provide great protection, and aren’t awful to look at. Make sure you put your card in a penny sleeve before placing it in a Toploader for extra protection of the card’s corners, edges, and surface.
- Magnetic Card Holder: These are Toploaders but classier. Even sturdier, cards of value that aren’t in a graded slab probably deserve a magnetic one-touch holder. They’ll look great on your display, too.
- Semi-rigid holders: These bridge the gap between Toploaders and the sturdier One-touch holders. Slightly bigger than Toploaders, Semi-rigid holders have some bend to them but keep the card tightly locked in place. These are also typically the preferred storage method for cards when submitting for grading.
- Binders and Pages: A popular storage method among set collectors, three-ring binders and the 9-pocket pages that fill them are a great form of storage as well as display. You can even find pocket pages specifically made for tobacco cards and coins or jumbo pages for larger items and cards stored in a Toploader. Just don’t stuff them with too many cards, or else you’ll have issues.
- Storage boxes: If your cards aren’t on display, they should be tucked away from the elements in a storage box. Your shoe box is fine, but a three-row storage box for additional organization is even better. Sturdy boxes expressly made for storing cards are made in many sizes, including those perfect for storing cards in Toploaders or semi-rigid holders and even slabbed cards.
- Team bags: Mostly meant for organizing groups of cheap cards, these are great for adding a little extra protection to some of the previously covered options. Toss your top-loaded cards in a team bag for additional support during transit. Or use a team bag on a one-touch or graded card to avoid scratching the holder.
- Painter’s tape: When you need to tape, make sure it’s painter’s. Anything else will leave behind a residue, and you’ll be disappointed later.
- Bubble mailers: There may come a time when you want to sell a card. Keep a few bubble mailers around so you’re always ready to ship something out.
Five questions to ask yourself before buying any card
- Can I afford this? Extending beyond your current budget should be a nonstarter for any card you’re considering buying. Most “rules” for card collecting are somewhat flexible, but staying financially responsible shouldn’t be something you compromise on.
- Was I inspired by someone else? It’s great to draw inspiration from other hobbyists and their collections. Just don’t give into the fear of missing out (FOMO) when making a purchase. The feeling will pass, and you’ll likely be happy you spent your money elsewhere.
- Is this card important? The word important here is personal The most organized hobbyists have clear collecting goals – does this purchase help get you closer to those objectives?
- Will I ever see this card again? Outside of 1/1s and other ultra-rare items, you can bet that almost any card out there will go up for sale multiple times over the years. Waiting it out can be difficult, but it’s important to understand that right now might not be the right time.
- Am I getting a fair price? Use data tools to understand what the card has sold for recently, and then look further back to see how the price has changed over time. Don’t hesitate to negotiate to get the price you want.
Six types of cards every collector should consider owning
- Vintage: Consider owning something from the era where it all began. Tobacco cards still have great eye appeal, and even sets from the 1930s may end up being the stunner on your bookshelf.
- Refractor: There’s nothing quite like a base refractor. It’s the perfect combination of modern technology with a timeless feel. Few cards in your collection will shine like these.
- Memorabilia: Cards can get a little more personal when you know that a piece of memorabilia was (hopefully) worn by the player featured on the front. It brings you closer to the game and looks great doing it.
- Autographs: An on-card autograph takes the personal touch to the next level. Consider tracking down a card with a beautiful signature and adding it to your collection.
- Non-sports: If you think sports cards are cool, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how many incredible non-sports cards are out there. Do a quick search, and your favorite movies, shows, bands, or video games might even have their own trading card sets.
- TCG: Trading card games like Pokemon or Magic: The Gathering are most associated with the playable aspect, but these sets also offer some of the most interesting and unique card designs on the market. You’ll even find the occasional Vincent Van Gogh or Lord of the Rings crossover.
