COLLECTOR'S GUIDE
COLLECTOR'S GUIDE
Why Collect Cards?
Collecting cards has been a pastime and hobby for many people!
When it comes to collecting cards, cards first started appearing in cigarette packs in the early 1900s and grew over the decades to what it is now. Initially, several companies had the license to develop NHL cards, but today just Upper Deck is licensed to design and develop NHL hockey cards.
Whether you are collecting with your children or collecting on your own, there is always the thrill of opening a big card, your favorite player, or a card that you can check off your want list. The sports card industry has flourished over the years into what it is now, and the sets and products that are out now make the industry very exciting.
Common Questions
- Hobby products are made for hobby shops and include everything that the company states in the checklist available to hit.
- Retail products are available for hobby shops and big-box stores and don’t include everything produced in the product as stated in the checklist. Sometimes specific insert sets are made specifically for that retail product.
Cards come in various sizes so sometimes it’s hard to know the exact size of toploader that you need. One way is to use a measuring guide: View the Thickness Gauge here!
A true rookie card is essentially part of the base set. This means it has the same type of card numbering as the base set does, like Young Guns for Series 1 and 2. There are other rookie cards that are true rookie cards even though they are not part of the base set like Premier Rookie Patch Autos. The reason for that is because set collectors include those as a true rookie.
How much is my card(s) or collection worth?
The value of a hockey card and/or collection is based on several factors, including (but not limited to):
Today, the most valuable cards are typically tied to an athlete’s rookie year or have autographs or jersey swatches embedded in the cards.
One way to find out the value of your card(s) is to search on eBay to see what similar ones have sold for or at http://www.beckett.com.
How much is my card(s) or collection worth?
The value of a hockey card and/or collection is based on several factors, including (but not limited to):
- a player’s/team’s popularity
- the rarity of the card(s)
- the brand(s)
- the condition of the card(s)
- features like autographs and patches
- whether the card has been graded and what the grading is
- the demand from other collectors
Today, the most valuable cards are typically tied to an athlete’s rookie year or have autographs or jersey swatches embedded in the cards.
One way to find out the value of your card(s) is to search on eBay to see what similar ones have sold for or at http://www.beckett.com.
Getting Started
There are many ways to collect cards, but a good way to start is to focus on your favorite players or teams. It’s also always more fun to collect with friends or family, so you can trade and collect amongst yourselves.
If you’re looking for certain players and/or teams, looking at a set’s checklist can help narrow down your search.
A couple questions to ask yourself when collecting cards:
If you’re looking for certain players and/or teams, looking at a set’s checklist can help narrow down your search.
A couple questions to ask yourself when collecting cards:
Do you want to dedicate your collection to a specific player or team? Are you looking to make an investment out of your cards? Do you want to connect with other sports fans? Are you just curious to see where it takes you?
From $1 packs to cards worth in the 10s of thousands, collecting cards can accommodate a range of price points. Setting aside funds for card collecting and sticking to a budget can help keep you on track financially and collecting wise.
Collecting Rookies
Many collectors aim to collect cards from a player’s rookie year. These cards are the most sought after and can increase in value years later.
Building Sets
Cards are organized into editions or ‘sets’. Many sets have a yearly release, while others are limited edition or have a limited run.
A pack of cards can range anywhere from $1 – $5000+, where generally the higher the price, the more content and inserts there will be, such as rookie cards, autographed cards, jersey cards, and other special cards.
For hockey, a great set to start with is the Upper Deck Series 1 and Series 2. Series 1 comes out in November and includes the first rookie cards for some players that debuted that year. Series 2 comes out in February and includes the remaining rookies that debuted that year.
Those sets are one of the most collected every year, with many collectors building the complete set.
