Your Holy Grail - A thread about collecting and collections

[Proud2baLaker]

So I'm watching an episode of Comic Book Men and they are asking each other "What is your Holy Grail?" What is that one thing, that one collectable, that one car, that one book, painting, item, whatever, that if you could find and afford you would just have to have and would never give up when you had it? What is that thing you really want to complete your collection? This is not really meant to sound materialistic or anything, more about celebrating geekdom if you will. Simon Pegg said:

Being a geek is all about being honest about what you enjoy and not being afraid to demonstrate that affection. It means never having to play it cool about how much you like something. It’s basically a license to proudly emote on a somewhat childish level rather than behave like a supposed adult. Being a geek is extremely liberating.

This list is meant to be more about that. Celebrating geekdom and the passion that comes with enjoying and collecting something.

Ive thought about it a bit and I am having trouble narrowing it down to one thing. But there are a few:

The Lego Millennium Falcon. This was the collectors set that had over 5,000 pieces. As both a big fan of Lego and a fan of Star Wars I have wanted this for a while. Most for sale online are a few thousdand dollars at least.

As a fan of Aston Martin, I would love a One-77. I love the styling of Astons, they are gorgeous cars with an amazing sound. There are only 77 of the One-77s and they sell for well over $1 miilion. I'm still new to the whole appreciating cars thing. I know there are some crazy cars out there that are more rare and probably better looking that I dont know about (like some of the versions of the DB5 and other old Astons, or some of the older Ferraris) and as I learn about them one of them could replace the One-77 as my holy grail of cars.

Something that I couldnt buy though would be a fish. I love fishing, specifically fly-fishing. I tie my own flies as well. I am a fishing geek. I buy old fishing books, I have fish paintings on my wall, I am hoping to start collections of old fishing gear (already have some old lures). My holy grail there would be to be able to catch and land (using one of my own flies) a big trout, like 20+ lbs. Probably would be a brown trout or rainbow trout. I know that salmon can easily get that big but I am a bigger fan of trout. A trout in it's spawning colors is simply stunning.


I guess thats it for now. Not sure which of those, or other items I come up with, would be the top of my list though.

 

[Twitch Boy]

Re: Your Holy Grail - A thread about collecting and collections

The holy grail of pin collecting is probably Medieval Madness. Made in the late 90's during the sunset of arcade pinball and became a smash hit. Companies couldn't afford/didn't want to risk producing large runs of machines by that point, so when one became a hit demand outstripped supply and prices skyrocketed. An MM fully shopped and in good condition can easily fetch well north of $10K. Yes, TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS for a pinball machine.

It also features a then-unknown member of a Chicago comedy troupe doing some of the voicework. Her name? Tina Fey.

UA_ supposedly has one in their student union. I may have to organize a mission.

I also do Hot Wheels/Matchbox (since I was 3) and have moved into 1:18 scale as well.

 

[Proud2baLaker]

Re: Your Holy Grail - A thread about collecting and collections

I also do Hot Wheels/Matchbox (since I was 3) and have moved into 1:18 scale as well.

I still have a pile of Hot Wheels/Matchbox cars as well. None are in box and some probably are missing paint and what not. I'm sure I could sell them to someone but I doubt I would get much. I should at least sit down and try to figure out what I have though. The only thing I have in box is from Hot Wheels and its the One-77 (haha). I had posted on my facebook back in 2011 around Christmas how if anyone was looking for a last minute gift for me they could just you know drop 1.3 million on the car. A friend showed up at a party and gave me the Hot Wheels version.

 

[mookie1995]

Re: Your Holy Grail - A thread about collecting and collections

the only thing that mookie would qualify this for would be golf clubs (property ). mookie would like to collect memberships at a couple...

ngla
gcmc
yhc
cpc
sgc

 

[Hammer]

Re: Your Holy Grail - A thread about collecting and collections

For me, it was baseball cards, and a Mickey Mantle at that. Obviously the Honus Wagner T-206 is out of reach, but a Mantle (any mantle) would set you back $200+, and in Michigan they were nearly impossible to find, let alone afford. Keep in mind that back when I was collecting, a pack of cards ran 35 cents. I always told myself that if I ever bought a Mickey Mantle card, that would be the end of the collecting.

When I got out of college I found a card dealer near Tiger Stadium. He and I spoke about this and that, and a few minutes later a couple Mantles were in front of me, a '66 and '67. The 1966 Topps Mickey Mantle is now sitting in my back bedroom, put away with the rest of my cards, including another card out of the T-206 set that produced the above-mentioned Honus Wagner card. That was the last card I ever bought.

 

[jen]

Re: Your Holy Grail - A thread about collecting and collections

For me, it was baseball cards, and a Mickey Mantle at that. Obviously the Honus Wagner T-206 is out of reach, but a Mantle (any mantle) would set you back $200+, and in Michigan they were nearly impossible to find, let alone afford. Keep in mind that back when I was collecting, a pack of cards ran 35 cents. I always told myself that if I ever bought a Mickey Mantle card, that would be the end of the collecting.

When I got out of college I found a card dealer near Tiger Stadium. He and I spoke about this and that, and a few minutes later a couple Mantles were in front of me, a '66 and '67. The 1966 Topps Mickey Mantle is now sitting in my back bedroom, put away with the rest of my cards, including another card out of the T-206 set that produced the above-mentioned Honus Wagner card. That was the last card I ever bought.

I don't collect baseball cards anymore either (stopped when I was maybe 16-17 - although every single card is still in my closet), but I've always wanted a Hank Aaron Milwaukee Braves card. I'd like a Mantle, too (he was my dad's favorite player). Haven't quite gotten around to spending the money on them yet.

 

[Proud2baLaker]

Re: Your Holy Grail - A thread about collecting and collections

Baseball cards are another thing I have a collection of. Its not huge but it is fairly large (like 2 banana boxes worth maybe). Most are from the 80s and 90s. I'd love to sell them sometime but its not a good time for that obviously. I also inherited half of my grandmas stamp collection (my brother has the other half). We have talked about selling that as well as neigther of us has much interest in them. I have a feeling it would be a similar situation to cards in that if we would have sold them a while back it would have brought in more. Someday maybe. I never really got into the baseball cards much so I dont have a holy grail there.

Maybe for me the antique fishing lures will become a thing eventually and I can really get into collecting them. That and Legos.

 

[Hammer]

Re: Your Holy Grail - A thread about collecting and collections

I don't collect baseball cards anymore either (stopped when I was maybe 16-17 - although every single card is still in my closet), but I've always wanted a Hank Aaron Milwaukee Braves card. I'd like a Mantle, too (he was my dad's favorite player). Haven't quite gotten around to spending the money on them yet.

I haven't bought a card in 15 years or so. The last time I put together a set was the year I graduated high school (1992). Mine are also still put away. Next to my World Series baseballs from 1982 and 1984.

Oh, and went and looked. I have a 1965 Hank Aaron with the Milwaukee hat on.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Your Holy Grail - A thread about collecting and collections

Cars count?
I don't collect them, it would be a bit too expensive of a hobby. But **** what I would do for either a black-on-black-on-black '70 HemiCuda or a split window.....

As for things I actually do collect, I am starting to put together a decent collection of guns, and I guess I have a collection of antique Red Wing crocks/jugs (this is due to my mom being a huge fan, and collector, so I when I see them for below market value, I buy them)

 

[Proud2baLaker]

Re: Your Holy Grail - A thread about collecting and collections

Cars count?
I don't collect them, it would be a bit too expensive of a hobby. But **** what I would do for either a black-on-black-on-black '70 HemiCuda or a split window.....

As for things I actually do collect, I am starting to put together a decent collection of guns, and I guess I have a collection of antique Red Wing crocks/jugs (this is due to my mom being a huge fan, and collector, so I when I see them for below market value, I buy them)

Yeah for those of us on here cars may not be real possible. My original post kept evolving and suddenly included the car. Maybe for me, knowing I could never afford one without winning the lottery, maybe just being able to see one in person, or sit in it or drive it once would be sort of the holy grail.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Your Holy Grail - A thread about collecting and collections

Yeah for those of us on here cars may not be real possible. My original post kept evolving and suddenly included the car. Maybe for me, knowing I could never afford one without winning the lottery, maybe just being able to see one in person, or sit in it or drive it once would be sort of the holy grail.

Oh, I know there are some on here that could collect cars like that, apparently we are not among those that are quite lucky enough.


So, back to reality. I don't really have a holy grail of guns, at this point. There are a few that I'd really like to have, an original Colt 1911, German Luger, an old Winchester lever-action cowboy rifle....

 

[MissThundercat]

Re: Your Holy Grail - A thread about collecting and collections

For me, it's race bibs. Every race I run, I collect the bib and tack it to my wall when I finish. However, last year, I had to throw away the bib from the Twin Cities marathon because I didn't finish the race. So until I go back and finish the Twin Cities marathon, that bib will be all I'm thinking about...

 

[FreshFish]

Re: Your Holy Grail - A thread about collecting and collections

Neither of these rise to "Holy Grail" status....

at one time, it was "event" T-shirts. If I ran a 10K or a marathon, or played in a volleyball tournament, whatever. if it was something in which I actually participated, I'd like to make sure I got the associated T-shirt. The one with fondest memories is probably Outward Bound from my early 20s, we spent a week cross-country skiing - building our own lean-tos in the Boundary Waters. I have them in a box somewhere still.


when i was a kid I collected US coins. My uncle worked for Brinks and he could swap rolls of coins into and out of shipments. I'd go through roll after roll looking for coins then roll them back up and get more and do it again. I had a nearly complete collection of US pennies (missing only the very rare 1909-S VDB and a few others).

 

[JF_Gophers]

Re: Your Holy Grail - A thread about collecting and collections

I collected baseball cards as a kid, but almost none had value. So I gave them all away when I moved out of state. I also collected other baseball memorabilia for awhile. My most prized item I don't have anymore. The game tickets for the 1991 WS.

Now most of my geekdom comes from video games. I don't think there is any holy grail item for me. I own many of the old systems, and have gotten rid of some over time as well. So it just never got to the point where I had to have something and would go to any length to get it.

I do have some star wars figurines still boxed in my closet that i've never looked at. Got them while I worked at Target in the mid 90's.

 

[MinnesotaNorthStar]

Re: Your Holy Grail - A thread about collecting and collections

Hayden Panettiere

 

[pirate]

Re: Your Holy Grail - A thread about collecting and collections

I have every ticket for every event I have attended (for the most part) over the last 20+ years. Quite a stack. I try to buy programs from special events and have them in the bookcase.

I don't sift through the tickets, I know they are there and in rough chronological order...but I have never really gone through them to remind me. One thing I don't like now are printable paper tickets and reusable cards that get tickets loaded. Not as much feel for a plastic card or a sheet of printer paper.

 

[walrus]

Re: Your Holy Grail - A thread about collecting and collections

Tools, any kind really except China junk. Mostly top end truck tools, Snap On, Mac, Matco. Industrial brands, like Proto, Wright, Blackhawk. Never saw a tool I wouldn't use at some point so it gives me an excuse to buy more . I also have a few projects, 67 390 Mustang and my latest acquisition, 1952 R12 Bombardier, looks like a short bus on tracks and skis.

 

[DrDemento]

Re: Your Holy Grail - A thread about collecting and collections

When i was much younger i was a collector. Of everything and anything. Baseball cards, magazines, US coins, comic books, etc. never really knew at the time what the monetary value would or could be. When I left for college and then medical school my folks moved to Florida and my dad just gave away to the moving men all my collections since they no longer had the room. Gone were all the issues of Mad Magazine (every issue starting with #1) all my Playboy Magazines (every issue starting with #1) all my baseball cards form the 1950's and 60's (all Topps and included complete sets for most years from 1953-1963). I am sure the moving men are now retired and living in Costa Rica on the beach or something.

Many years later i am still a collector of sorts. But now whatever i have I would gladly part with. For the right price. The only things i would not sell are my wife, my cats, and family mementos that have no value to anyone anyway. But for the right price anyone could buy my cars or anything else i have. My wife, on the other hand, parts with nothing and has filled a couple of houses with collections of things. I don't know if it is the natural progression of things but age has taught me that all these things mean nothing after I am gone so I attach very little meaning to them any more. her attitude is slightly different feeling she would like to pass all these things on to someone who can appreciate them.

 

[Farce Poobah]

Re: Your Holy Grail - A thread about collecting and collections

For fans of USA Hockey, how about Mike Eruzione's 1980 "Miracle" jersey?

Auction Feb 23 in NYC by Heritage Auctions:
http://sports.ha.com/Heritage-Aucti...releaseId=2312&ic=rightcolumn-eruzione-012513

 

[gmann]

Re: Your Holy Grail - A thread about collecting and collections

I have a decent collection of cigars and that's about it.

At one point I had a pretty impressive collection of Pink Floyd stuff. Just sat in storage and never saw the light of day. Sold it to another Pink Floyd collector.