by Non-Sport Update magazine

Starting to collect non-sport cards is easy. All you have to do is go to your local convenience, comic or card store and buy a pack or two of cards. If you like what you see, you can buy some more and try to finish off a set which can be a lot of fun.

It is fine to buy a few packs of cards to see what they are like but trying to finish a set by buying a few packs at a time can be both difficult and expensive. Most manufacturers try to have good collation in the boxes so that it is possible to make at least one set out of every box you buy. If you buy the whole box, your chance to make a whole set is far better than if you buy individual packs because the individual packs may come out of many boxes and you will not have the right collation. Something else which can happen is that the stores may be sold out of packs before you finish your set and you will be out of luck.

What you may want to do is buy a pack or two to see if you like the set. Then, you can buy complete sets at your local card store, online, through a mail-order dealer or at a card show. It may not be as much fun as putting the set together card by card but you have the advantage of adding complete sets to your collection without having a lot of doubles left over.

One of the most important things to do when you are starting a collection is to try to educate yourself. Learn as much as you can. Buy non-sport magazines and price guides. Go to shops and shows and ask questions. Find out who the authorities in the field are and trust what they tell you.

Keep good records right from the beginning. Write down the date you purchased a set and the cost. If you ever decide to sell the set, you will have a record of how much you paid for it.

If you would like to keep your sets in binders, buy plastic sheets and binders right away. Storing the sets this way keeps them in good condition and makes it easy for you to look at and enjoy the cards. It is a good idea to put each set into plastic sheets as you purchase it so that you do not end up with ten sets which need to be put into the sheets all at the same time.

As stated, it is easy to start collecting non-sport cards. It is a fun hobby which you can continue throughout your life.

History of Non-Sport Cards
Where to Start
What to Collect
What Makes Some Things More Valuable Then Others
Card Terminology
Defining the Condition of Your Cards
What to expect at the Philly Non-Sports Card Show

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