Question on Modern Decks

[Brian M]

As value goes, sometimes I make a purchase because I know I'll never be able to get that deal again. For example when I got the chance to purchase nearly fifty decks of JAQK playing cards for a little over $225, I knew that I would never have this opportunity again, and since it's my all time favorite deck, I just had to.

So how many of them have you opened and used so far, since you like them so much?

[Brian M]

Why should anyone feel a need to have their tastes or judgment validated by anyone else but themselves?

It isn't so much that I "feel a need" to have my tastes validated.  I don't buy decks with that as an aim.   I rarely buy decks that are already in demand (I generally can't get decks like that in my target price range anyway), and I don't buy decks based on how much I expect them to be in demand in the future.  I buy what I like.

But it is satisfying when decks I buy become sought after by other collectors.   Not financially rewarding, because I have never sold a deck and don't plan to start.   But psychologically rewarding.   I don['t get the impression that I'm weird in this respect (though anybody who collects playing cards has got to be a bit weird), and I think this is probably an element of collecting for a lot of collectors, irrespective of what is being collected.

[Rob Wright]

As value goes, sometimes I make a purchase because I know I'll never be able to get that deal again. For example when I got the chance to purchase nearly fifty decks of JAQK playing cards for a little over $225, I knew that I would never have this opportunity again, and since it's my all time favorite deck, I just had to.

now that is a good deal, but I don't think I will buy 50 of them.. that is a supply for a lifetime.

50 decks would be overkill for me to, but for anybody that does magic or cardistry. They could go pretty quick. At $225 that was a hell of a deal. loldudex2 could have easily tripled his money.

...... it is satisfying when decks I buy become sought after by other collectors.   Not financially rewarding, because I have never sold a deck and don't plan to start.   But psychologically rewarding.   I don['t get the impression that I'm weird in this respect (though anybody who collects playing cards has got to be a bit weird), and I think this is probably an element of collecting for a lot of collectors, irrespective of what is being collected.

I usually don't buy on a perceived value, but since I buy several decks through KS. Sometimes it makes since for me to buy a few extra. When you consider separate shipping, sometimes it can save you a couple dollars per deck when buying multiples. I didn't sell any of my decks for the longest time. I had several extra decks that I ended up selling earlier this year. I made a great profit on some. Some not so much, but I didn't lose any money.

If you ever start collecting vintage decks, you will notice a different mind set. A lot of collectors will sell really rare decks, because they want to share that history, so to speak. They keep and cherish it for a while, then pass it on.

[Justin O.]

There's a woman in England who produces decks made by hand at about 50 per design, each one with a different artistic theme.  They rarely sell for less than three figures.

Where can I found out more about this designer?



I still feel like you are over simplifying what should drive a collection, but I also understand that isn't the point you are trying to make, and I agree with what you are saying about collectors and speculators.
I like knowing that if I miss a great deck there is a resale market I can get most decks from, but I hate that there are resellers making it harder for me to get the decks when they are initially released.

[Don Boyer]

Why should anyone feel a need to have their tastes or judgment validated by anyone else but themselves?

It isn't so much that I "feel a need" to have my tastes validated.  I don't buy decks with that as an aim.   I rarely buy decks that are already in demand (I generally can't get decks like that in my target price range anyway), and I don't buy decks based on how much I expect them to be in demand in the future.  I buy what I like.

But it is satisfying when decks I buy become sought after by other collectors.   Not financially rewarding, because I have never sold a deck and don't plan to start.   But psychologically rewarding.   I don['t get the impression that I'm weird in this respect (though anybody who collects playing cards has got to be a bit weird), and I think this is probably an element of collecting for a lot of collectors, irrespective of what is being collected.

It's not weird at all that it feels psychologically rewarding - it's a form of seeking the acceptance of one's peers.  Can't blame you - but it's just not my way.  I've always been more of a maverick in that sense.  I do what I do and my peers either like it and accept it or they don't - and I've never let it bother me either way.  If I just did what others I knew did in order to seek their acceptance, I'd probably not be here, talking about playing cards and using them to perform magic, would never have met Lee or Tom or David Blaine, etc.