First, a confession: I’m really not a vintage set builder. Until very recently, the last set I built was 1982 Topps. I built it . . . in 1982, age 9.
But then 2 things happened. First, I realized that I was “sort of close” to completing a rare Cuban set that features many Negro League players. So, why not? There are zero sets in the PSA registry, and I have never seen another one.
Second, I purchased a bulk lot of “near complete” sets of 1969-1974. They were gorgeous lots, mostly NM, and while they were missing a lot of stars, they weren’t total commons lots. I sold most of them at a tidy profit, which allowed me to keep a beautiful ex-mt++ 1971 partial set more or less for free. I just had to go for it!
Here’s a reveal of the cards that finished the Cuban set and that inch me closer to the 71:
Vintage set building can be an art and a science. It can be a labor of love (you will often invest more than the cards are worth collectively). And it can be frustrating for a long time before it feels rewarding. But there is something satisfying about rounding up all of the cards in a set and basking in the finished project. (Then you can start upgrading and tracking down variations!)
If you’re wondering whether vintage set building is for you, here are two very different tales of building two very different vintage sets.
Vintage Set Build #1: 1926-27 Aguilitas (Cuban)
Building rare sets is a very different animal from 1971 Topps, or any other standard issue. In theory, I could jump on eBay right now and buy all of the remaining 71’s I need and be done with it. Not true with these. You just have to be diligent, pound the pavement, scour the auctions, and wait for them to find you. If you’re interested, here’s the checklist for this unique small set.
I had already purchased many of the stars individually–with no intent on a complete set. But then I found a couple more . . . and a couple more . I even found an old album page with several cards still pasted on. And at last, a friend stumbled upon a near-complete set in Miami, pulled the trigger, and thankfully sold me the remaining cards I needed. I never expected to find them all together in one transaction, but remain thankful it happened.
These cards are all now back from SGC, and I’ll do a more complete write-up soon.
Vintage Set Build #2: 1971 Topps in NM
Of course, building a Topps set is a more familiar challenge to most collectors. Most know the drill of tracking down those pesky high numbers, weeding out cards that don’t fit the desired condition, and trying to find deals or bulk when you can. The key in this case is condition: there were many NM cards in this lot and hardly anything EX or below. Here’s an example of a relative common from this lot:
So when tracking down the missing cards, condition is key. Here’s one I bought raw and had graded–it fits the bill for sure!
For better or worse, my “record keeping system” has not evolved much since I was 9 years old. For some reason I feel like interjecting technology into the mix would taint the process somehow. (And hey, if you have any of these, please let me know–this one is a work in progress).
Lessons Learned
Personally, I don’t think I would start totally from scratch on a big Topps set. You need to find a nice consistent lot to get started and make the task manageable. And while the Aguilitas set is small, the 1971 set is pretty huge, condition sensitive, and loaded with SP high numbers. It’s just not that fun paying $5-$15 for absolute commons! So if you plan on actually completing a big set, you need to be truly committed to the task at hand. But lastly, I think patience is a virtue. What’s the rush? A true Cardhound knows that the thrill of the chase is at least half of the fun!
