Collecting 101
Based on social media posts, the hobby scene, particularly here in Cebu, is thriving and it’s nice to notice younger generations getting into the pastime.
Sports card collecting, in particular, is fun but can be confusing as there are some complex details to understand.
I had my fair share of collections – from sports cards, die cast cars and basketball figures and mistakes had been made along the way.
For beginners, it would be prudent to start small, don’t drop thousands of pesos (unless you’re part of the flood beneficiaries) on cards or whatever you want to collect. Go for the inexpensive ones, ones that look nice to you or perhaps something that has a nostalgic significance regardless of its monetary value. Collectible cards and toys have variants and if you can’t tell the difference between a base or a common from a parallel, don’t spend too much on it yet.
There are hobby shops around the city and if you need their advice, they’d be happy to help. Joining a group gets you introduced and acquainted with the hobby.
Opening packs is really fun and this is where mistakes are made. There will be rare items to find in packs which could be worth something but most of the time, there are none. If you’re looking for a specific item, you’d better buy them individually. Like ghost projects, there too are scams with counterfeits circulating, especially autographs. Beware, do your research first.
There was an over production of cards during the 80s and 90s era and the “titos” of the hobby can confirm this. I had bought some boxes of these cards in the hope of getting some high-end stuff but most of the time, it was a bust. Now, I have stacks of unwanted cards stored in boxes as a result. But there are still valuable cards of this era, especially rookie cards of key Hall of Famers.
For the “titos” and the “angkols”, if you still have those vintage cards, go thru them. It is a trip down memory lane and perhaps find those rare gems or finally get rid of a lot of clutter. This may sound boring but its worth a try.
Prices of collectible toys vary whether boxed or not. Let’s just say that hobby collecting is condition sensitive, and for toys, this includes the box. The 1:64 scale Hotwheels diecast cars are popular among local collectors. Starting Lineup was a desired item during the 90s and today, there’s more on its nostalgic value than monetary. If you still have them, keep them.
A zippered card binder is recommended as it keeps the cards inside the binder.
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