Trapped In Time: Remnants Of The 14th Trade

 

Welcome to what I'm planning on being a new monthly installment to my Time Travel Trading project! As I mentioned last month, the trade stack is getting long, and I decided the time has come to cull some of the more tenured cards from the trade stack. If no one has claimed them in the 4 years they've been here, then the chances of them ever being traded are slim. 

I keep a pretty detailed record of the trades I've done for this project. In fact, I have a whole unpublished page on this blog listing every card ever added and traded away. In going through these records, I found two cards that have been in my trade box the longest. Let's revisit this trade, look at these cards, and give them one last shot at being wanted before I decide what I want to do with them. If no one offers a trade before next's month's Time Travel Trade update, I'll retire them...maybe...more on that in a bit.

Trade #14 Gary (TCDB)
Traded 04/07/18: 

•  2008 Upper Deck First Edition - Starburst Common #SQ-42 Derek Jeter

Received 04/16/18:

• 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee (hockey) #53 Richard Lemieux (See Trade #85)
• 1970 Topps #103 Frank Reberger (See Trade #39)
• 1969 Topps #453 Mike Cueller (See Trade #24)
• 1969 Topps - Deckle Edge #13 Mel Stottlemyre (See Trade #45)
• 1969 Topps (football) #154 Sam Baker (See Trade #76)
• 1967 Philadelphia (football) #109 New York Giants (TC) (See Trade #76)
• 1966 Topps #444b Checklist 430-506 (CL) (See Trade #18)
• 1965 Philadelphia (football) #193 John Paluck (See Trade #85)
• 1964 Philadelphia (football) #172 Ken Gray (RC) (See Trade #89)
• 1962 Topps #278 Ken Johnson (See Trade #28)
• 1959 Topps (football) #80 Joe Perry (See Trade #87)
  
• 1956 Topps Flags of the World (non-sport) #70 Jordan
• 1952 Bowman #57 Clyde Vollmer

This trade was straight up generosity. In exchange for one card, I got 13 back, all vintage. When a card gets traded away, I italicize it and notate the trade number. As you can see, 11 of these cards are in the appreciative hands of other collectors. However, two cards have remained. It stands to reason that the older the card, the less likely someone out there reading my blog not only wants the card, but has an older card they're willing to give up. This is especially true with cards I have from the 50's and older. It's tough to match up on a trade, especially if the other collector has preferences with the card's condition. 

1952 Bowman #57 Clyde Vollmer

 

 

Prime example #1 - Not many people have a card older than 1952 hanging around in their doubles box. Fortunately, Mr. Vollmer's fate will be a positive one regardless. As a Red Sox fan, I will happily add him to my personal collection, where he will immediately become the oldest Red Sox card I possess. (Not to dissuade anyone from making a claim for him - I've traded away many great Red Sox cards for this project!)

1956 Topps Flags Of The World (non-sport) #70 Jordan

 

 

When I first got this card, I thought it was pretty cool. I especially liked how the back taught you how to say a few words in the country's language. I though someone might want it, but here it has remained. It's hard enough trading away cards from the 50's, but it adds an extra layer of difficulty when the card isn't a traditional sports card.That's what makes this card's fate a complex one. I'm still not quite sure what to do with it. I hopped on the TCDB and found a few people with this card on their want list, but the members either were not active or did not have anything older on their For Trade list. In fact, the only real option was a collector who had another card from the exact same set available to trade - the move wouldn't really do anything for the project. I could add this card to my collection as well, but to be honest, it doesn't fit. It would get stored away and forgotten - a cardboard equivalent of the Ark Of The Covenant. So what should I do? That's where you come in - I'm opening this up for a vote. Here's what I believe are the options:

1. Someone trades for it - Obviously this is the preferred option and not really a voting choice.
2. I try to make that unilateral trade on TCDB for another card from the set - If nothing else, I scratch a card off someone's want list and make them happy.
3. I add the card to my collection - Again, it doesn't really fit though!
4. I keep it in the trade stack - When I first came up with the idea of highlighting cards, I thought that maybe I'd spare cards from the 50's or older and they would remain in the stack. Besides, part of the allure of this project is the variety of cards it has!
5. Giveaway! - Maybe a trade partner gets a bonus card in their PWE, maybe I save it for some future giveaway.
6. "Cycle it out" - I also weighed the idea of removing it from the trade stack, but keeping it around and maybe adding it back in down the road. Maybe a card in the stack catches my eye, and I can use this card to make a personal swap. Maybe I just hold onto it for a year and see if there's any renewed interest. I don't know.

So bottom line, this could be your last chance to acquire these cards! If nothing else, let me know in the comments what you think I should do with that Flags Of The World card!