Turning The Tide On Dastardly Martians

I slowly edge forward with one of my few remaining cardboard projects after today's addition to my 1962 Mars Attacks PSA 4 set build. The artwork in this set remains undefeated and knowing this journey will take months and months to complete -- if not years -- is an oddly comforting feeling.

"Capturing A Martian" makes its entry into the cardboard conglomerate as I was able to secure it on eBay and not get sniped or shilled. Each pickup feels rewarding and like I won at something. That's always a fantastic feeling. Plus, again....the art!

I Shall Fetch A Rug!

Finding and securing new additions to my Archer Sketch Card Collection is becoming increasingly difficult and increasingly expensive. It really is the "securing" part that has been the impediment to adding fun new pieces as they pop up online. The price has jumped to such a level that I haven't seen before that I don't know how many more I will end up brining home as the months pass by.

Thankfully today's artwork was reasonably priced enough that I could pull the trigger and add another Woodhouse to my PC. Clayton McCormack is the artist behind this creation and I have a ton of his cards, including a slew of Artist Proofs that I landed from the man himself.

A Mike Trout Debut Ticket, Signed and Slabbed and Inscribed and All Mine

Today's post is such an old addition I had to double-check that I did not post it some time between now and acquiring it while Covid was still strong and dominating our lives. The ticket was purchased already signed and authenticated but raw, and then I dropped it off at PSA while still employed there. Why I procrastinated so long before writing it up, I honestly do not know. But, as they say, better late than never!

I still love tickets and what they represent but I don't collect them with the fervor I once did. Hell, to say I even collect them any longer would be a stretch. A cool ticket would still catch my attention, but what I would spend money on now is a very short list. A Mike Trout signed MLB Debut ticket would certainly make that short list and I wish I had waited to buy one as I 100% overpaid based on what they sell for now compared to 2020/2021. Alas, we make decisions and that money was fair at the time so I can't complain. Plus, the benefit of still being single with no kids is that money was getting spent on myself one way or another.

The ticket returned from PSA with a 6 grade and a 10 for the John Hancock. While I decided to abandon my Every Mike Trout Home Run Ticket project and am currently working on selling those off, an iconic ticket such as this one is going to remain with me for the foreseeable future.

(Zack) Wheat Wednesday: 1925 Exhibits

Another Wednesday means another new addition to my Zack Wheat PC. This was purchased raw on eBay about 2.5 years ago. The seller listed it as "Near Mint" and, well, there is a reason not every collector is suited to grade cards.

It returned from a trip to PSA as a 3. It presents very well, but I have not looked at it in ages to the point that I don't even remember what is the cause of the condition discrepancy (I would wager a surface crease of some kind).

It's not a Wheat I see very often so while I may have overpaid -- and definitely didn't get what was advertised -- I am more than happy to just own of these bad boys.

Revisiting Two Old Pickups

Revisiting is a nice term for getting old stuff slabbed for protection reasons....plus pre-war and 19th century cardboard looks extra nice in a tuxedo. One of these cards was acquired almost 3 years ago and the other was snatched up 13 and a half years ago.

George Washington out of the 1889 Kinney Brothers N222 Leaders set is the first card I decided to throw into a slab. Washington crossing the Delaware is a fun added touch to his portrait.

William Fly, one of the pirates in the N19 Pirates of The Spanish Main set from an 1888 Allen & Ginter release, is next up. Like George, both present very well for their technical grades of 1 (with Willie looking even better than his predecessor).

The backs on old, old stuff usually do not disappoint -- so here are both.