The Just Collect Blog

Top 5 Collections Purchased in 2021

Written by Monte Jennings | Jan 7, 2022 12:15:14 AM

It was hard to choose but I narrowed down my top five collections purchased in 2021!  Now that we're in a new year, a brand new year of more buying 😁, I put together a list of my favorite collections from last year.  From a1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card stored with jars of pickles to a 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card stored in Tupperware, I hope you enjoy reading the fun history behind each story.

What a year 2021 was!  I was able to purchase iconic sports cards of all-time greats, as well as unique collections with incredible stories and provenance. It was a tough decision but I was able to narrow the list down to my five favorite collections I proudly purchased here at Just Collect.

GRANDPA'S SHOEBOX COLLECTION FROM CANADA

A 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card stored with jars of pickles?  Wait - what? 

Darren's wife, Andrea, reached out to me from Canada on the  section of Just Collect.com, where, as you guessed it - I offer free appraisals on your collection.  I was hooked from the first line: "My husband’s grandpa had a shoe box of old baseball cards in his cold room -like the shelf underneath the canned pickles."   

The box also had a mixture of vintage baseball and hockey cards from the 1950's and 1960's.

 

We've dubbed this Mick the "Pickles Mantle" and you can read the entire story HERE.

 

THE 1986 FLEER BASKETBALL TUPPERWARE COLLECTION

In 1986, Jason's dad bought him packs of 1986-87 Fleer basketball as a father-son bonding moment. In a bold move, Jason stored the cards in his mom's Tupperware containers.  You and I know you NEVER take the Tupperware; it's was like gold to moms back in the eighties. That Tupperware actually added as a unique card protector, though, as 35 years later Jason found his Michael Jordan rookie card inside!

You can read about the Tupperware Michael Jordan and see what else hid inside HERE.

 

YONKERS, NY. 1930's NAME TAG COLLECTION

After I met Clair, a former attorney, in her beautiful Yonkers, NY. home, I was very curious as to what kind of holders she was storing her vintage cards in.  A 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth that wasn't in a penny sleeve, a top loader, a card saver, or even a screwdown. I have a tip sheet of holders I recommend for cards, and these holders weren't any like I've seen before.  Turns out - they were not card holders - they were NAME TAG HOLDERS!  Clair had them leftover from her career and placed the vintage cards inside for safe-keeping!

 

See what other amazing gems I purchased in the Name Tag collection HERE.

1914 T222 FATIMA WILCOX HOTEL COLLECTION

Kevin is the great-grandson of the original owner of the Wilcox Hotel in PA. The family establishment also had a confectionary where a collection of amazing 1914 T222 Fatima tobacco cards had been found.  These rare cards have been on the hands of the same family for over 100 years!  You'll love the family story more than how rare these cards are - and I know they're pretty rare.

Look at the history behind the1914 T222 Fatima Wilcox Hotel collection HERE.

 

THE UNSOLICITED COLLECTION

A mystery box showed up at the Just Collect doorstep. With no information regarding the package, we stored the box in our warehouse where it sat for a few weeks.  The owner of the collection called us, and the conversation went like this:

Wait - Mickey Mantle cards were in the box, you say, Michelle?  A Nolan Ryan rookie card, too? Vintage Topps baseball cards of Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente are in the box?!

What a surprise! Not sure I've ran so fast before...

To see what else was in the mysterious box, you can read all about the Unsolicited Collection HERE.

I can't wait to see what 2022 brings! If you have a collection you're interested in selling, we are buying!  Maybe you have a mystery box of your own.

WE ARE ALWAYS BUYING

Whether you have a family collection you've inherited or you found your Mickey Mantle rookie card or Michael Jordan rookie card and would like to sell, we are always buying!

Just Collect is always buying vintage sports and non-sports cards from 1879 to 1979 as well as select modern cards. If you have a collection that you are considering selling, contact us today to discuss or get our industry-leading purchase offer. If you have a collection that you want appraised, please contact us and we would be happy to discuss your collection and help you understand the real cash value of your collection in the current marketplace. Check out the

OUR BUYING PHILOSOPHY

We've run into a wide range of people and collections over the last 25 years. Although Just Collect is known for buying vintage sports cards and especially vintage baseball cards, we are also extremely interested in buying non-sports cards, too!  

Every collection and every collector is different and we treat EVERY collection with the respect and attention that we show for our own collections. We understand that many have put their heart and souls into building their collections. So when you're ready to sell, we understand the feelings that you're going through and will work with you to help you reach a decision that is a WIN/WIN, because if you're not happy, we're not happy.

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Whether you have vintage cards or modern wax you want to sell, you can reach out to us any time!