General Forum

I wouldn't mind having 2 or more '52 Topps Mantle cards!  

Just for my part, I would never start collecting a set and say, "I need two of these", but, if I had enough doubles and was within 50 cards of completing a second set, I could see wanting to just complete them.  Many people have a completist nature and this would make sense.

In trying to determine why someone would want more than one set, I was trying to think of why someone would want to.  The only thing I could come up with was they really like the set, they wanted a second as insurance in case something happened to the first, or, if you had two kids and planned on passing the cards along to each when the good Lord calls and says there will be no more card collecting days for you.  I'm sure there are other reasons, but these seemed reasonable to me.

Because it's there.   It's a hobby.   It's something to do.   And why not?

There are some junk era sets where I had so many duplicates that I figured why not try to finish it by don’t chase it. For now those don’t hit my trade or want lists but they may someday.

That's logical, if you happen to have two.  But I wouldn't pursue a 2nd copy if I had one already.  I do have 2 copies of 1979 Topps Ozzie Smith, and it would take an offer I couldn't refuse to part with one.  But that's the exception to my rule, and also I paid $10 combined for both when I was a kid and had fewer options available to collect.  In no way am I criticizing anyone who does this, for the record.  I just feel like a hoarder sometimes  for having the duplicates I acquired without trying.

I try to complete one set, including all of the reasonably attainable inserts. However, for older sets, I try to obtain a second  "nice" EX to EXMT copy of the high value cards to keep in the binder with the rest of the set. This is because my high grade (EXMT to NRMT) copy is not kept in a binder, but protected in top loader or screw down case. I hate empty slots in my set binders. 

I keep my incomplete sets in 5000 count boxes but I don't plan on either finishing the sets or selling/trading them at this point. If I have more than two (or three) of anything, they are kept in 5000 count boxes as extras which I sell and or trade for stuff to complete other sets. 

I must admit, back in the 1990's I was sometimes able complete more than one set because I opened so many packs (probably chasing inserts).

Quite a few times where I got most of the way done with a set when I first started out and then someone would give me the factory set for Christmas.  It's mainly  cases like those that i now have 2 compete sets of an offering. 

I have had fun this past year or do doing second sets of some in the 70s that I completed many years ago.

To me it has been more fun to collect subjects that I actually saw play as a kid.  I did not see many of the common guys in the 60s play

The chase and trading activity have been fun...which is the point...(have fun whatever that is for each of us)

and how about about taking it a bit further.

how about building NINE SETS of your favorite set, team or player?

one page of 9 of the same card look pretty cool in a binder

I have that in a player collection, and some guys in another vintage focused group have done 9 sets of their favorite..

mark 

Didn't expect this question to generate quite so many replies. Interesting. As always, everyone enjoy the hobby however you damn well please. I just can't do it. I look at two identical cards and wonder why I would want them both, when I can turn one of them into something I don't already have. So out they go, through trade or sale or giveaway, even. Like I said, I've only got so much money and space, so I like to use those on as many unique (to me) items as possible. 

I can relate to Mark's comment, though. As a set collector, it's sometimes hard to be inspired to chase cards of mediocre players I never saw play. And I'm into the sets that have plenty of those players now, I'm happy to say. We'll see what happens as I get back deeper into the 60s. Maybe I'll lose momentum. But if I did, I wouldn't seek duplicates of what I already have. I'd chase super old-timey players and learn about them, instead. Learning about the players is one of the things I like about collecting. So if seeking cards of players I've never seen can teach me about the fascinating history of Moe Berg or Lena Blackburne or countless others, I'll chase those -- sometimes fruitlessly. 

Anyway, thanks for a good discussion. Not that it has to be over...

v3

They collect a second set in case they get divorced and lose their first set in the settlement.