Quote:
Originally Posted by Buccos.com
>> what's the hook for buying the image itself
I know of two possibilities:
1. One guy I know, is a huge Jerry May fan and collector. So, he just *had* to buy a Topps card negative, to enhance his Jerry May collection.
2. Apparently, Billy Baldwin Mets photos are scarce. By now owning the negative, the auction winner can make sharp Mets 8x10s of Billy Baldwin.
I know if I collected 8x10s, I would bid on these negatives as well.
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I'm anxious to hear from BklynJace on this but, speaking for myself....
You search and search and search for years for a decent image of a certain player (for me, it was Leon Brown). At some point, you sort of give up and your heart sinks a little bit.
And then, suddenly, there it is!
You are overwhelmed by a highly illogical "need" to own it. "I must have this so that I never ever ever have to think about it not existing ever again." You at least have to
try. Being neither rich nor (completely) insane, Jace didn't get the Baldwin and I didn't get the Brown. And that is (probably) a good thing.
I have, as a Mets collector, purchased a few of these in the past (usually when they've passed through the initial offer and come back as "buy-it-now"). They aren't really negatives in the classic sense and I don't have the equipment to do anything with them. I always look at them and say "What the heck am I going to do with this?" And I end up giving them away to player collectors (as a player collector, 1 of 1 anything is a wonderful get).
To sum up....there is no real logic or purpose in collecting. The passion is controlling the intellect. It just is.