Week 14 : Paper gold.

http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs41/f/2009/036/7/7/Sonic_comic_collection_part_1_by_Sonikdude750.jpg

Paper gold.

Everyone I know collected anything as a child. I also collected comic books, Pokemon cards and many more. When I was child I did not care if my great collection will gain value. I treasured it a lot but I took many pictures of my Pokemon cards before I gave it all to orphanage because I did not find joy in it. Few years later  I checked Pokemon cards price and I made list of cards I had. I was shocked. It turns out that my collection was worth seven hundred dollars. I was so amazed about that discovery that I made up my mind to start collecting things again. I chose Magic: the Gathering cards which I played at that time as well as pen & paper role-playing games.

Beginning

 I was on semi-pro level in Magic: the Gathering environment. I played good with medium results on competitive scene in Warsaw. I had small binder of cards but I used only to trade for more expensive ones as add-ins . So my quest as a collector had a harsh start. I also faced financial problems so I sold my entire collection and gave up Magic: the gathering for few months until I bought one booster pack and opened 20-dollar card. I saw that as a sign : “Return to collecting!”. After I bought few cards and new binder to store cards I created new habit of mine : I check value cards price online every day and check trends on competitive play scene… Here are the cards I find most valuable because of language, age or edition :

Card in upper right corner ( foiled Worldwake edition Jace, the Mind Sculptor ) is the most expensive in my collection and is worth 300 USD I was able to buy it for 50 USD.

My adventure with role-playing games started when my older brother brought home book titled “Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. Podręcznik gracza” in 1994. He was very excited and told me all rules. In addition he brought along one treasure. At that time having die any other than six-sided was luxury because of its hard accessibility . I remember that my brother brought also ten, eight and four-sided dice along with that rule book. We were quite content of that. After he went to Olsztyn to study on university I took his role-playing books. I have them up to today because they represent other value in comparison to my Magic: the Gathering cards. In following years I bought all Dungeons & Dragons book available on polish market and few other titles which are quite rare. I stopped buying role-playing games books because I had no time to play both games ( Magic and RPG ) so I chose magic. I read those books to recall all good memories and to write adventures waiting for me.

How do You start? Three rules of collecting.

Nowadays there are many sources of collectibles. You can use ebay or allegro to buy stuff You want to collect and simply buy them. You need to know one important rule of collecting valuable things. You need to predict about price and accessibility. If product is new and has very limited run You should buy it as first because it will gain value in time. If You want to buy something that is older you need to be patient. For example buying comic books can be very deceiving. Internet can offer You both prices: low or incredibly high. In few cases it is better to go to specific shop selling goods You’re interested in and buy them on medium price.

Next thing worth consideration is fact of usage. Do You intend to use product. I buy cards because I can play with them and have fun of it. When You buy originally sealed products opening can ruin it’s value. For example Detective Comics ( first Batman series ) from 30s and 40s are worth from 5000 USD up to 35 000 USD. It depends on condition. But You can be sure about one thing : it will gain value in next 10 years.

Last thing about collecting is grading and using organizations who grades valuable things. You can add value to your product if it is graded by professional and reliable company. You can use that to make sure that You have original product ( counterfeits are very popular in collectible business ). Grading costs a lot and takes time and after having Your product graded You will not use it afterwards because it becomes sealed in plastic case which is not reusable when You open it.

Knowing these three things You can call Yourself prepared for collecting J

These are few links I found interesting :
http://www.ebay.pl/itm/Detective-Comics-1937-29-CGC-1-5-1076382001-/360825852143?pt=US_Comic_Books&hash=item5402e590ef&_uhb=1

Know-how in card grading ( not only Magic cards ) :

http://store.tcgplayer.com/conditions/magic.aspx

http://www.abugames.com/Magic_The_Gathering_Cards_Detailed_Condition_Guide.html

I have few questions for You :

1. Do You collect or collected anything?
2. Would You consider becoming professional or semi-professional collector?

Sources used in this article:
http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs41/f/2009/036/7/7/Sonic_comic_collection_part_1_by_Sonikdude750.jpg ( Title picture )
My own photography of MTG cards
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_from=R40&_nkw=black+lotus+mtg&_sop=16 ( Black Lotus MTG the most expensive MTG card )
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=detective+comics&_sop=3 ( Detective Comics, references inside article )
http://www.psacard.com/ ( collectibles-grading organization )