[Guest]

After a few weeks, I have accumulated quite a few cards for my collection. Along the way, I have also gathered some cards to trade away. My list of extras follows below, but right now … here is what I still NEED:

Costume:
  Harry's Grey Shirt #'d to 475
  Hermione Grangers Pink Top #'d to 628

Prop Cards:
  Wanted Poster #'d to 335
  Whomping Willow #'d to 172

Film Cards:
  Knight Bus
  Harry speaking with Mr. Weasley

And these are my EXTRAS:

Costume:
  Hermione Pants # 543 of 730
  Hermione Pants # 675 of 730
  Cornelius Fudge # 187 of 830
  Harry Potters Quidditch Robe (far) # 735 of 1143
  Cedric Diggory Quidditch # 71 of 2173
  Cedric Diggory Quidditch # 298 of 2173
  Cedric Diggory Quidditch # 299 of 2173
  Harry Potter's Robe # 1308 of 2173
  Harry Potter's Robe # 1129 of 2173
  Harry Potters Quidditch Robe (close) # 451 of 2173
  Harry Potters Quidditch Robe (close) # 1167 of 2173
  Harry Potters Quidditch Robe (close) # 1182 of 2173
  Harry Potters Quidditch Robe (close) # 1747 of 2173
  Remus Lupins Coat # 1320 of 2900
  Remus Lupins Coat # 1446 of 2900
  Remus Lupins Coat # 1958 of 2900
  Remus Lupins Coat # 2384 of 2900
  George Weasley Costume (retail) # 2355 of 2803
  George Weasley Costume (retail) # 2359 of 2803

Prop Cards:
  Daily Prophet # 434 of 480
  Divination Class # 066 of 845
  Divination Class # 877 of 930
  Sleeping Bag # 852 of 1980
  Sleeping Bag # 861 of 1980
  Sleeping Bag # 1148 of 1980

Okay, temptation crept in & I bought a fourth case (this will DEFINITELY be my last   )...Here is the breakdown:

Case Topper:
  Sirius in Jail (set now complete)

Autographs:
  Uncle Vernon Red. (second)
  Dudley Dursley

Film Cells:
  Harry flying Buckbeak # 898 of 900  
  Lupin in his Office # 479 of 900  

Costume Cards:
  Sybill Trelawney # 238 of 330  
  Harry Cardigan # 1129 of 2173
  Cedric Diggory # 298 of 2173
  Cedric Diggory # 299 of 2173
  Cornelius Fudge # 187 of 830
  Harry Quidditch (far) # 735 of 1143
  Harry Quidditch (close) # 1747 of 2173

Prop Cards:
  Divination Class # 877 of 930
  Sleeping Bag # 852 of 1980
  Marauder's Map # 09 of 500  

Those cards with a " " are cards I needed & will cherish forever & ever.  I will try to get my lists (both wants & needs) posted as soon as I get a chance  

CASE # THREE:
Case Topper: Hermione punches Malfoy

Costume Cards:
Aunt Marge # 324 of 430  
Harry & Cedric Double Costume # 491 of 628  
Ron Weasley Sweater # 343 of 731  
Harry Quidditch Robe (Far away) # 829 of 1143
Harry Quidditch Robe (Close up) # 1167 of 2173
Harry Black Robe # 1308 of 2173
Professor Lupin Coat # 298 of 2900  

Prop Cards:
The Daily Prophet (with writing) # 104 of 480  
Sleeping Bag # 1546 of 1980

Creature Cards:
Grim Fur # 262 of 880  

Film Cards:
Harry performin Patronus # 049 of 900  
Harry standing behind Snape # 102 of 900  
Werewolf # 302 of 900  

Autographs:
Genevieve Gaunt as Pansy Parkinson  
Lee Ingleby as Stan Shunpike  

In all, I am happiest about this case. I, too, got alot of cards I already had, but I got some decent ones at that. I have placed a " " by those cards which are new in this case. And, I have placed a " " by those cards that I got in this box that I will be keeping, along with or instead of, the original. I will try to get my trade list out as soon as I can. Must give my peeps first dibs on what I will trade away. By y'all,
Fernando

You may think you are investing but remember they are in the end only pieces of cardboard and only worth what the market will pay at the time you decide to sell

For me personally - - - I am not into investing. I strictly like having nice cards in my collection. I have been collecting for nearly 15 years. I love the pursuit of the high dollar card. But way back when, before 1997, there weren’t cards like these to be found (Autograph Cards as they have evolved, Costume Cards, Prop Cards, Sketch Cards, and so on).

There were some Autographs, but they were signed by the Artists who drew the characters featured in the set (Brian Pulido & Steven Hughes for Lady Death, William Tucci for Shi, and so on), and these are only worth around $50 each. It is true that trading card collecting has evolved, and the only thing I am sad about (but participate in immensely) was the introduction of e-Bay. I would say 97% of my dealings on e-Bay have been purchases, because I know these cards are hard to find.

As for the costs involved - - - well, I am in a “special case” right now. I bought a house 7 years ago for real cheap. I just got a Home Equity Line of Credit, which is allowing me to “secretly” buy 2 extra cases. I manage the finances, and told my wife I was buying 1 case & got caught up in the excitement. As a result, I bought 2 extra cases, something I would not have been able to do 2 or 3 weeks ago.
been collecting for nearly 15 years.

      As a general rule of thumb (never did understand this saying  ), if I pull one of the "rare" Autographs in the boxes/cases I open, then I go forward to complete the Autograph set. If I don't pull one of these, then the Autographs that I did pull become trade bait. It is very hard for me to justify $2K to my wife for 1 card (geez, $50 is alot to her for me to spend on cards at all ).

I wish morenomark had gotten the side with awesome cards back then, so that karma would be with me now. We have each opened 2 cases, he has gotten 6 Autographs (including Hermione), loads of Film cards + many props & cotumes. Hopefully, the final case I am waiting for will have some stuff to make up for this one!

[1]

Here is my second case:

Case Topper: Harry riding Buckbeak

Madam Rosmerta Costume: 037 of 250
Aunt Marge Costume: 212 of 430
Neville Longbottom Costume: 0856 of 1170
Cedric Diggory Costume: 0071 of 2173
Harry Potter Quidditch Costume: 1182 of 2173
Remus Lupin Costume: 1320 of 2900
Remus Lupin Costume: 2384 of 2900
Divination Class Prop: 733 of 930
Divination Class Prop: 734 of 930
Unfogging the Future Prop: 749 of 930

Film Cards:
    178 of 900 Harry casting a spell

Autograph Cards:
   NONE  :'(

The bad thing about this case...I gave morenomark $600 to get me another case at the local show last night. He bought 1 Box & got 1 Autograph card, 1 Film card & 1 Costume card          

Here is my first case - opened on Tuesday Nov 9, 04:

Case Topper: Hermione punches Malfoy

Box Toppers: # 1 (3), 2 (2), 3 (3), 4 (2)

Harry Potter Quidditch Costume: 0941 of 1143
Harry Potter Quidditch Costume: 0451 of 2173
Harry Potter Quidditch Costume: 2143 of 2173
Harry Potter Costume: 1341 of 2173
Cedric Diggory Costume: 0090 of 2173
Remus Lupin Costume: 1958 of 2900
Remus Lupin Costume: 1446 of 2900
Divination Class Prop: 066 of 845
Sleeping Bag Prop: 1148 of 1980
Grim Fur Creature: 475 of 880
Film Cards:
    807 of 900 Harry with Snape
    043 of 900 Hermione punches Malfoy
    347 of 900 Harry standing by on Halloween
Foil Cards: 5 complete sets + #'s 1, 3, 5, 6, 8
Autograph Cards:
    Warwick Davis as Choir Conductor
    Redemption for Richard Griffiths as Uncle Vernon

And Finally:

Box 3:

1 complete set
7 cards short of a second set

Retail Foils # 1, 3, 5, 7, 9
George Weasley Costume Card # 2355 of 2803


Box 4:

1 complete set
5 cards short of a second set

Retail Foils # 2, 4, 5, 7, 8
George Weasley Costume Card # 1031 of 2803

Box 1:

1 complete set
2 cards short of a second set

5 Retail Foils # 1, 3, 3, 6, 8
George Weasley Costume Card # 2359 of 2803


Box 2:

1 complete set
2 cards short of a second set

5 Retail Foils # 1, 2, 3, 6, 9
Harry Potter Costume Card # 0133 of 2575

Combining both boxes:
3 complete sets + 4 short of a fourth set
short 3 retail foils with 5 extras (traded with morenomark, so got all 9 retail foils)
2 Costumes, including the nice low numbered Harry Potter

I have pre-ordered 1 case. Hopefully I get some decent inserts.

Hey Beckham,
   Modesto, eh? You are about 450 miles north of where I live. Any chance your "local card dealer" can take an extra order for a case? Thanks,
frd

That would be a picture of me skating!

I knew it, but morenomark kept telling me that you are a human-type entity.  
Sorry for calling it a surfer girl, where is my mind after all   Inline skates they are indeed  

Hey Roz,
   what happened to your surfer girl picture by your name?

     Just curious if anyone has mentioned in the forum that this is ArtBoxs' first attempt at "normal" trading cards? Prior to this set they had multiple sets of "ActionFlipz" which are 2 1/2 in by 2 1/2 in lenticular cards. Followed by their nice "FilmCardz" which went full size, but with a cell in the center of the cards. I have several sets from both formats that they started with, and like them very much.
     Hopefully, like Ferdinand says, they continue with their brilliancy of the first set. Still hoping I win a lottery soon so I can get one of those Pear Leaves Cards   :'(

I should hope not. This first set by ArtBox was awesome. The levels of inserts were both attainable (retail & hobby foils & some of the Autos, Props and costumes) which made it liked by most who bought boxes. And more by those who could afford to buy cases & got some of the higher levels of props, costumes & Autos. The idea is to keep the lowly folk (us) happy, and dreaming for the stars.  
frd

Hey sonarghost,
   I also saw a case for sale for I think $669. That is too steep for me, but a decent enough price for a 16-box case!

Oops,  
Forgot to list the sites:
History of the United States:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/allender/histofus.htm

Jeff Allender's House of Checklists index page:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/allender/jachlist.htm

Hey Beckham1 (and anyone else interested),
   try this site for the checklist on the "History of the United States" you mentioned. As a matter of fact, if you go to this page, you can read all about Jeff Allender's House of Checklists. If a list is not available, and you have information on it, Jeff would probably post it to the sitte giving YOU all the credit for the details of whichever set you provided information on!    

By the way -
   When asked "What is the best or most expensive card you have ever pulled?", is this referring only to the HP series, or all cards in general? If it includes all cards, then I have a doozy for you all! When I was stationed in Europe back in 1990 to 1997, I bought a case of cards for the Upper Deck SP Football inaugural set back in 1995, I pulled 2 Joe Montana autographs in consecutive packs (they were supposed to be inserted at a rate of 1 in "think" 435 packs). I opened 3 boxes & sold the rest a trade shows. I traded both of the Montana Autographs for a leg & an arm (1 for the leg & 1 for the arm   LOL)Shortly after, I gave up trading Sports cards to dedicate myself to my true calling "Non-Sports"