by Non-Sport Update magazine

So you have decided to collect non-sport cards which seems simple enough so why do you need to know what to collect? You need to know what to collect because there are so many different ways you can go about it. The following will explain these ways to you:

Topical Collector
Non-sport cards cover many different topics such as: history, presidents, states, countries, famous people, wars, science fiction, monsters, horror, automobiles, airplanes, trains, ships, movies, TV shows, movie stars, TV stars, singers, dancers, comic art, video games, cops, robbers, animals, super heroes, comic characters and on and on. If you decide to collect only one topic such as TV shows, X-Files, Star Trek, Xena, etc. you will be pinpointing your collecting and you will be a topical collector.

Type Collector
Some people are known as type collectors. They try to collect one card or sticker from every set that was ever issued. If you stick to only one topic, you will be classified as a topical type collector.

Set Collector
A set collector collects the entire set; sometimes attempting to collect every set under the sun which can become very expensive. Set collecting is the most common form of collecting and what collecting is really all about. You can purchase issues in unopened packs and put your own sets together or you can purchase complete sets from a dealer. Many sets are issued as complete collectors' sets and do not need to be sorted.

Unopened Pack Collector
You might want to collect unopened packs. This is easy when it comes to new items but a lot more difficult for older items.

Older packs may be very expensive and there is always the possibility that the gum will be stuck to one of the cards or even the inside of the wrapper. This does not really matter if you plan to never open them. Since new packs do not have gum, you will not have this problem.

Wrapper Collector
Today's foil wrappers are not as much fun to collect because it is necessary to cut most of them so they are somewhat damaged. The older wax pack wrappers were fairly easy to open and make a great-looking collection. You can refold them to their original form and put them in 8 or 9 pocket sheets or you can open them up and put them in small or large 1 pocket sheets.

Display Box Collector
The boxes that hold the packs of cards can be quite eye-catching. It is best to stuff them with something like crushed newspaper to keep them sturdy and wrap them in cellophane to keep them clean. Older boxes can be quite expensive because most people did not think about saving them and there are not many around.

Unopened Box Collector
It might be fun to buy a set or a box to open and one to keep unopened. There is a good chance that your unopened box will go up quite a bit in value. If you collect older unopened boxes be sure to store them in the right climate so the gum will not stick.

It is almost impossible to collect everything so you do need to have some limits. In the late 1800's and early 1900's, cards came in cigarette packs. You could collect only this type of card but they are hard to find. You might want to collect only cards issued during a certain time period such as the '30's, '50's, '60's, '70's, '80's or a combination of one or more time periods. Just keeping up with the newest cards as they are issued is a lot harder than it used to be so you might just want to concentrate on those.

During the years, some cards have only been tested and not fully distributed. Collecting test cards is quite challenging and expensive but it is another way of collecting. Can you imagine collecting the original art used for cards that are drawings rather than photos? Some people collect only original artwork. You might eventually want to add a piece or two of original artwork to your collection. Promotional cards have become very popular in the 90s. A new type of collector only collects those.

As you can see, collecting non-sport cards is not as simple as it might first appear. Decide what you want to collect and have a collecting plan.

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

Back to main Basics page

© 1999 Non-Sport Update. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is strictly prohibited.