Grogu’s True Rookie

[finfangfan]

Originally Posted by mwheeler27

It appears he’s already begun to change it.

Not yet... Topps hasn’t printed the first “Grogu” card yet! Lol

[Mahomie]

I don't buy Star Wars memorabilia/cards to flip; they are long-term (forever?) holds based on a sheer love of the franchise.

In this sense, I'm just picking up what looks best to me, since these are items that I will carry for many years to come.

[80s Showtime]

Originally Posted by webjon

Shouldn't these all be considered PRCs until these characters go pro?

Originally Posted by webjon

Wouldn't that make them at best XRCs?

Are we sure that many non-sport collectors are familiar with those acronyms?

But basically The Child’s cards that were released in 2020 would be Pre-Rookie Cards or eXtended Rookie Cards. Topps should then use the “RC” symbol on Grogu’s 2021 cards because those would be his Rookie Card(s) since his name has finally been revealed and will be reflected in upcoming products.

That would make for great package marketing for Star Wars trading cards at retail - Home of the 2021 Grogu’s Rookie Cards!

[webjon]

Originally Posted by 80s Showtime

Are we sure that many non-sport collectors are familiar with those acronyms?

Yeah. . . I don't think this discussion is geared at non-sport collectors. . . that's kind of my point.

It seems like a bunch of people interested in speculating or investing in Grogu cards want to figure out which card to invest in. . .

This is *not* the way.

[80s Showtime]

Originally Posted by webjon

This is *not* the way.

Oh, got it

[MisterX]

Originally Posted by RetailHitsOnly

When it comes to cards, and if there were such a thing, would the Topps Living #58 be considered The Child’s “true rookie”, would it be a Topps Now season 1 Mandalorian card, or maybe something else? Does it even matter?

No, it doesn't matter. Non-sport collectors don't go in for that sort of thing, thankfully.

[SportsAllDay]

Originally Posted by finfangfan

Can we all agree this is the rookie card of Luke’s hot girlfriend?

I’ve always assumed the first 8 cards of the 1977 Star Wars Topps set were the “rookie” cards of Luke, C3PO, R2D2, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Obi-Wan, Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin. Demand for these cards have picked up recently. Besides the infamous error card in that set, those cards do seem to carry a premium. Following the mantra of older, rarer and minter equals “better” - high grade copies of those cards are extremely rare. For instance, there’s only four PSA 10 copies of the Darth Vader rookie and only 50 copies of the PSA 9. (That may be a bit much for non-sport card collectors, but that’s how the sports card community views card markets.) Recent openings of wax packs often yield off-center cards, so the population of high grade cards on a 43 year old set should not increase dramatically. Many non-sport card collectors may not care for “rookie” cards, but the crossover of sport card collectors is certainly having an influence. If you look at the Pokémon market (also non-sport), the rookie cards have exploded in value. We shouldn’t be surprised if we see this in Star Wars and other non-sport cards. Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Obi-Wan, etc are just as iconic and popular (if not more so) than Pikachu and Charizard in Pokémon.

[stewbacca]

Originally Posted by SportsAllDay

Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Obi-Wan, etc are just as iconic and popular (if not more so) than Pikachu and Charizard in Pokémon.

This statement makes me cry if this is not assumed by everyone...



And Gaming cards are not the same as non sport-- since playability and stats also are a big factor there..

And third party grading has ruined every collectible industry out there..

[mwheeler27]

Originally Posted by MisterX

No, it doesn't matter. Non-sport collectors don't go in for that sort of thing, thankfully.

Maybe not yet, but it’s coming.

[webjon]

Originally Posted by SportsAllDay

If you look at the Pokémon market (also non-sport)

Pokemon is gaming, not non-sport. Fundamentally different -- closer to Magic the Gathering than entertainment cards.

[webjon]

Originally Posted by mwheeler27

Maybe not yet, but it’s coming.

If that happens it will drive away the actual entertainment card collectors, and all that will be left speculators.

Not particularly different from what happened in the 90s -- and the entertainment card hobby still hasn't recovered from that.

These guys don't want to participate in the entertainment card hobby -- they want to turn it into the sports card hobby.

[glorbgorb]

Originally Posted by stewbacca

And third party grading has ruined every collectible industry out there..

I wholeheartedly agree. 100%.

[SportsAllDay]

I know numerous entertainment card collectors that truly value the 1977 Star Wars Series 1 Blue set because it was the first set ever created. There's tremendous nostalgia with those cards and the first ever cards of those first 8 characters have special meaning and attachment for those collectors. 3rd party grading has undoubtedly brought investors into the space, but that doesn't take away from the strong affinity that collectors have for those cards. I personally know collectors that had those cards growing up and the grading trend doesn't take away from their enjoyment of the cards. Many of those collectors do enjoy collecting high-grade copies of those rookie cards & they're not investors - they're keeping those cards for their lifetime and passing it to younger generations. Who are we to judge their decision to collect high-grade cards? I also know numerous collectors that have kept their cards in pristine condition during the 70s and have enjoyed the process of grading and preserving their cards. I've also seen many new/younger Star Wars fans start collecting modern SW cards & then also learn about the vintage sets. They appreciate the history and respect the importance of the initial 1977 set and have begun collecting those cards as well. Grading has created condition-specific rarity but there's room for collectors of both graded and non-graded cards. The collecting hobby will continue to evolve as younger generations will have a different perspective on collecting. Just my 2 cents!

[webjon]

Originally Posted by SportsAllDay

they're not investors - they're keeping those cards for their lifetime and passing it to younger generations.

That sounds exactly like an investment.

[finfangfan]

Originally Posted by webjon

That sounds exactly like an investment.

How’s what he said any different than someone passing anything (not just cards) onto the next generation? It’s sharing something that you enjoyed in life with your family to remember you by.

[Mahomie]

Originally Posted by finfangfan

How’s what he said any different than someone passing anything (not just cards) onto the next generation? It’s sharing something that you enjoyed in life with your family to remember you by.

Agreed. I can either be buried with my collection, or I can pass it on to a younger trusted family member. I think I'll choose the latter.

[webjon]

Y'all are welcome to your opinions too. To me it sounds like an investment.

In my experiences dealing with someone's collection after their passing I can tell you that unless the people receiving the collection are knowledgeable/passionate about the hobby it can be a significant burden.

[finfangfan]

Originally Posted by webjon

Y'all are welcome to your opinions too. To me it sounds like an investment.

In my experiences dealing with someone's collection after their passing I can tell you that unless the people receiving the collection are knowledgeable/passionate about the hobby it can be a significant burden.

I still don’t understand how passing on something to your heirs “sounds like an investment.” If you live to 100 or die suddenly from aggressive cancer or get hit by a drunk driver what is the best way in your mind to pass something onto your family that wouldn’t hit your definition of investment?

I don’t agree that receiving something from a deceased relative (whether it’s cards, antiques, or whatever) should be anticipated as being a burden on your family members. If that was a widely held opinion we as a society would just have large funeral pyres and torch everything with the deceased. However if you are stubborn on “it’s a burden” thing, wouldn’t having your collection professionally graded before passing it on help reduce some of that burden as there would less ambiguity on condition/value of slabbed cards vs unslabbed cards?

[glorbgorb]

I won't speak for webjon, but my collection would absolutely burden my wife if I were to pass away. I have actually started outlining what should happen--here are my passwords, sell these cards here, send this card to that person for free, that sort of thing. It puts the immense time I have spent curating my collection over 30-years of collecting into perspective, knowing that she would have zero idea about the relative value of a sketchcard here, a game-used hockey jersey there, my Billy Dee autos.

Sheesh, I collect too many things!

And 'investment' comes with some meaning. My wife has no interest whatsoever in my hobbies, and that is perfectly fine. I would at least like her to get out of it what I put into it when I am gone. I think of it as hopefully a zero-interest savings account.

[SportsAllDay]

Originally Posted by webjon

Y'all are welcome to your opinions too. To me it sounds like an investment.

In my experiences dealing with someone's collection after their passing I can tell you that unless the people receiving the collection are knowledgeable/passionate about the hobby it can be a significant burden.

An investment is strictly a financial transaction to create wealth. That is not happening with many of the collectors I know. Collectors are enjoying the cards (whether graded or non-graded) they have regardless of the monetary value. Enjoying the cards for a lifetime and passing that passion and appreciation of Star Wars on to younger generations is EXACTLY how the collecting hobby will grow over the years. And now with Disney Plus, not only can parents easily enjoy the SW movies with their kids - but Disney is creating new content for those families to experience together. These collectors are sharing their love of Star Wars with their kids! Over the years, the kids will not only keep the cards in their family for generations - but they have a connection to their parents/grandparents THROUGH their cards. The cards transform into priceless family heirlooms. Will the monetary value of those cards increase? They may or may not, but seeing family heirlooms in the form of cards being passed to younger generations is amazing to watch. Those collectors aren't doing it for the money. In fact, even if Star Wars cards were to explode even more in value - many of the kids (who will receive the cards are adults) will choose to keep the family heirlooms and connection to their parents instead of selling the cards for a few bucks.

[webjon]

I have no intention or arguing -- you are welcome to your opinion.

I probably should have quoted more, but in the entire context hunting high grade cards with stated goal of passing them down to future generations sounds like an investment. If you disagree that's totally cool.

I believe that if you have a significant collection and you care about how it is managed after you are gone -- or care about your family maximizing the value of your collection because they need the money -- you should realize that inheriting a collection will be a burden on your family unless they know how to care for, sell and/or manage the collection. Graded or not this hobby -- like most -- relies of a lot of very specific knowledge.

[Mahomie]

Originally Posted by webjon

I probably should have quoted more, but in the entire context hunting high grade cards with stated goal of passing them down to future generations sounds like an investment.

All valid points, and I agree that context is important.

The "goal" isn't to pass them down - that's just a necessity that happens when one passes on. End of life conversations about wills and durable powers of attorney are extremely important to have, and can alleviate some of the burden that's been mentioned.

Personally, I'm just going to continue to collect what I like. I don't really care if someone says it's not a true "rookie card," or if someone labels a cherished collection piece as an "investment."

These conversations do bring up some interesting points, however, so it's all worth debating!

[webjon]

Originally Posted by Mahomie

The "goal" isn't to pass them down - that's just a necessity that happens when one passes on. End of life conversations about wills and durable powers of attorney are extremely important to have, and can alleviate some of the burden that's been mentioned.

Another option is to sell everything that you are knowledgeable about that your family doesn't want. . .

I'm not sure what is better from a tax standpoint -- it's possible having your family sell the collection after they inherit it may have tax benefits compared to selling the collection while you are alive.

Unfortunately I've dealt with this situation a few times, and none of my experiences have been pretty.

All of this said -- I hope I am wrong about this rookie card business. Please pump up the value of my collection -- I will be more than happy to sell out.

[SportsAllDay]

Originally Posted by Mahomie

All valid points, and I agree that context is important.

The "goal" isn't to pass them down - that's just a necessity that happens when one passes on. End of life conversations about wills and durable powers of attorney are extremely important to have, and can alleviate some of the burden that's been mentioned.

Personally, I'm just going to continue to collect what I like. I don't really care if someone says it's not a true "rookie card," or if someone labels a cherished collection piece as an "investment."

These conversations do bring up some interesting points, however, so it's all worth debating!

Agreed! Context is very important and these are worthwhile discussions. Like you said, the "goal" isn't to pass them down to future generations. The fact is that you can't take anything with you when your time is up. If you want to be buried with your collection - that's your choice. It's sad that collections can become burdens to those receiving collections, but I've seen more and more examples where collections bring families together! That is a joy to see and it is encouraging that parents are using cards as a medium for bringing families together. If families together collect what they like - you're deepening relationships and creating legacies that will last for generations.

[Mahomie]

Originally Posted by webjon

Please pump up the value of my collection -- I will be more than happy to sell out.

I think this is probably where our differences start. In terms of Stars Wars clecting, it's not about the money for me. Never has, never will be.