TradingCardCentral.com - THE resource for trading card collectors
Mission
Trading Card Central covers sports cards, non-sports cards and collectibles and features
the latest industry news, articles, product reviews, forums, giveaways and a growing number
of collector resources.
The Collector Zone is a free community for trading card collectors - both sports and
non-sports. There are forums for all of the major sports, non-sports, autographs and other
hobby-related information. In addition, there are areas to trade, buy and sell with other
collectors. Our members have now completed 24297 collector-to-collector
transactions using our easy-to-use Transaction Manager.
With 23771 collectors and 1805883 posts in 188152
topics, there's plenty of ways to get involved with the other members - either in discussions or with
trading. In fact, there are 338 guests and members currently active in the Collector
Zone. So, are you ready to join and start meeting these and other collectors?
Then, simply click here to sign up for the
Collector Zone.
Trading Card Central is pleased to announce a new partnership with Sportlots.com! As part of
this partnership, TCC will become their exclusive partner in the area of trading card information
and forums.
Sportlots.com is an online marketplace that sells trading cards using both a fixed-price and
auction format. Over 500 dealers have listed more than 10 million cards that can be easily
searched by set, favorite player or favorite team. Plus, Sportlots rewards buyers with bonus
points for every purchase that can be redeemed for free cards.
Click here to learn more about this exciting
new partnership - including a special, limited-time promotion for TCC Collector Zone members.
Featured Sports Cards Article: Good Questions: Sets vs. Individual Cards? Use Boxes or Binders?
Dear Babe: I have collected a lot of cards over the years. I would like to know if
I should try to collect cards needed to complete sets or just sell the cards I have that
have value. Also, when it comes to storing cards, I know boxes are cheaper, but it makes
it harder to see what you have, not to mention the chance of damaging a card putting it
into or taking it out of the box. Putting them in binders is more expensive, but they're
easier to view.
Mel Monie Jr., Grand Island, Neb.
Two good questions that aren't focused on the value of an item. Good job. Certainly when
it comes to your commons, they're only worth something when they are part of a set. But
most sets from the late 1980s and into the 1990s aren't worth that much. I don't give
advice on buying and selling, but I've told others they can try to sell off the valuable
cards or use the commons in a package deal. They're probably worth more if you itemize
on your taxes. You can donate them to a children's ward at a hospital or to special
education teachers in your area and then write off the donation.
Featured Sports Cards Article: Ace Authentic Brings High End to Tennis Cards
Just in time for the U.S. Open, Ace Authentic recently released its 2005 Signature Series
set - essentially the first "high end" tennis card set, with all the bells and
whistles collectors have come to associate with baseball, basketball, football and hockey
issues.
The Florida-based company made a name for itself selling posters, photos, calendars, apparel,
autographs and other tennis memorabilia before issuing its first officially-licensed tennis
card set early this year, taking over for the defunct NetPro company.
Featured Sports Cards Article: Sports Cards: A Little Slice of Vegas
Josh, a typical 13-year-old kid, rushes into his local 7-Eleven with a fist full of money he earned
from mowing lawns that day. He quickly walks up to the counter and purchases $30 worth of scratch-off
lottery tickets from the store clerk. Josh promptly scratches the tickets, one after another, discarding
the losing tickets to the side. Consequentially, one of the tickets produces $50 in winnings. The $50
ticket is immediately turned in for another $50 in tickets and the process is repeated.
Does a 13-year-old boy scratching lottery tickets sound legitimate to you? Well, a similar process occurs
daily in the sports card industry. In my opinion, it's hard to see the difference between buying a lottery
ticket at a convenience store and a premium pack of collector cards. Sound silly? Not so fast.
Featured Sports Cards Review: Tennis Anyone? First Cards Hit the Market Since 2003
The 2005 Ace Authentic Debut Edition tennis trading card factory set, produced by Ace
Authentic of Tampa, Florida, arrived on the market in January offering the first officially
licensed tennis cards since the 2003 NetPro products.
Building on previous tennis card products, the new cards from Ace have a nearly identical design
to the NetPro Premier Edition set. Cards in the Debut Edition set feature a standard front design
that integrates the player's name, country name and country flag over a full-bleed, color action shot.
The card backs follow a standard design of player vitals; career statistics including tour record,
rankings and prize money; career highlights; and the card numbers. The back also includes a small
black-and-white headshot of each player.
Featured Non-Sports Cards Article: Cards That Sparkle
A Little Bit of History
It all began in the late 1800s. Stiffeners were needed to make the paper packs holding
cigarettes stronger. Eventually, instead of using blank pieces of cardboard, pictures were
added to the cardboard. Just like today, you did not know what card would be in your pack -
but this time, it was your cigarette pack. This was the beginning of a hobby that has endured
for more than a century.
Eventually, cigarettes were packed in cardboard boxes and stiffeners were no longer needed.
Cards were still inserted because it was obvious the cards helped to sell more cigarettes. Of
course, the dangers of cigarette smoking were not known at this time. In 1880, the Thomas Hall
Company of New York produced a set of more than 500 insert cards with actors, actresses, presidents
and athletes. The cards were done in a brown and white sepia tone. Later, photographers learned
to use color and the tobacco companies were probably their best customers.
The TCC Collector of the Month Award recognizes collectors for their contribution
to the trading card hobby and their demonstrated interest in the hobby.
If you are selected, you may share some of your collecting stories, tips and your
favorite cards or collectibles with all of us. In addition, you will receive an
assortment of free prizes and a framed certificate to thank you for your love
of the hobby. Additional details can be found at the TCC Collector Corner by
clicking here.
How would you like to be a TCC Collector of the Month? Let us know why we should
select you by clicking here.
The 2005 Ace Authentic Debut Edition tennis trading card factory set, produced by Ace
Authentic of Tampa, Florida, arrived on the market in January offering the first officially
licensed tennis cards since the 2003 NetPro products.
The TCC Collector of the Month Award recognizes collectors for their contribution
to the trading card hobby and their demonstrated interest in the hobby.
