Like simplifying a novel by removing all that confusing writing and just leaving the page numbers. Not to my taste whatsoever.

My take on this is if you are buying decks with intentions of resale for profit. Then you are not collecting. You're just stoking inventory. In that case- DON'T OPEN THEM, and don't quit your day job.

Well said! While I'm perusing the topics around the forum: There's a bit of talk about determining the counterfeit status of a deck by the finish on the cards. How're you gonna tell what you've got without opening the cellophane?!  If I were going to invest in printing counterfeit decks, I'd put 90% of my money in the tuck, knowing that most "collectors" would never know... Hmmm... Anyone got a decent printer and a wrapping machine? Maybe THAT's the day job!

I know I'm jumping into a year-old thread, but what the heck... If a modern deck has a production run of 2500, and the "As Issued (Class 1)" deck is selling on eBay, CPC, etc. for $30, how much of a loss should I expect to take when I can't stand it any more and carefully cut the cello and the seal so I can look at the cards? (Assume I'm handling the cards like a photographic negative (remember those?), my hands are just washed, and the cards remain in precisely the same order they arrived in). Just trying to get a feel for how much "downside" there is to collecting one box at a time, knowing that at some point I'm going to want to see these lovelies, feel the handling, admire the finish. The idea of buying one box to remain forever unopened and a second box to actually experience the cards seems antithetical to my personality, to human nature, and to the artists who work hard making cards to be LOOKED AT! I mean, seriously, what's the value of a deck that is never SEEN?! Perhaps inside the cello every card has a giant black line running through it... You'd pay top dollar for the deck and never know it! I'd rather buy one of each and look at every single one, just once in a while. The money goes twice as far, thus twice as many decks collected... Obviously there's some essential of "purist collecting" I'm missing, here...

How many of the forum members collect for "economic upside," do you suppose? And how many of us just want to have a bunch of beautiful cards around. Seems hard to do both... If you bought two identical decks and felt compelled to sell one, which one would you sell?! Like choosing to sell your left or your right hand: I think I'd keep the one that was most useful and brought me the most pleasure (oops - the analogy becomes a bit risqué at this point!).

Just musing.

I gave it a shot (above); the art doesn't "pop" much in copies of a copy, but available in Hi-Res on the site, of course. Let me know if it didn't work. Thanks, Don.

Should we merge this with the retailer coupon code topic? They are offering a deal after all, that is after confirming which still works.

Sorry: Where IS the "retailer coupon code topic?"

Hello, everyone,

My name is Doug, my stage name is "Doug," and I prefer to be called "Doug," although my wife of 25 years could suggest some much livelier names... We've lived just outside of Austin, Texas for about 20 years, though I've lived a great many other places in the States.

I was given a deck of the Bicycle-branded "Silver Certificate" cards by a friend right when they came off Kickstarter. That was the most expensive present I've ever received, as I'm now hopeless hooked. I'm struggling to set some limits on what to collect, and learning a ton from everyone here. I've collected U.S. coins for, well, about 45 years now (eek!) - cards are so very beautiful and enjoyable to me that I'm considering selling parts of the coin collection to support the burgeoning card collection.

I don't do magic, cardistry, or anything creative with the cards other than marvel at them... I hope to master a few easy card tricks, and I'm starting to work on a few simple flourishes just to display these beautiful works of art. Looking forward to getting to know everyone!

Doug

Okay, bonehead question from a total newbie: How do you guys open a pack (modern, brand-new deck)? Do you try to preserve the cellophane in any way? In cutting the tab, do you outline the "U" shape with a small, sharp knife, as I've seen on YouTube? Quite a few of mine have numbered seals; I'm guessing it's okay to cut them so long as the numbers are preserved?

I'm spending more and more on decks (like the 52PlusJoker deck) which I'm dying to open and look at - but I'm afraid of doing something stupid and decreasing the collector value of them. Is a completely unopened deck any "more collectible?" I'm gonna have to pass this all on to SOMEONE one of these years; might as well keep it as "collectible" as possible... Thanks for your advice!