As a somewhat obsessed set collector, I am aware of the pattern that arises when accumulating cards from a set with series.
I've completed the 1971 and 1972 Topps sets recently and both of them are known for getting more challenging as the series increase in number. Because I have limited means and the people I trade with have limited means (the rich collectors aren't wasting their time with sets, or if they are it's something from eons ago). So that means the last cards that I need for the set usually end up being high-numbered cards and stars.
My latest project is the 1973 Topps set and although it isn't as difficult to complete as '71 or '72, it does feature tricky high-numbered cards and plenty of stars. I know that trades will yield lower-series cards and lesser stars. That's perfectly fine. I don't expect anything different.
But for some reason I have this obsession with making sure that THIS TIME I won't leave all the high-numbered cards and stars until the end.
The most recent card show I attended, I tried to pick up a few 1973 high numbers. When I shop online for '73s, I am starting to scout out stars rather than "cheap deals." Then, maybe, just maybe, the very end of my set-collecting journey won't be such a grind.
Meanwhile, I gladly take whatever people want to send me. Recently, reader Dave sent some 1973 Topps needs as a thanks for the Greatest 100 Cards of the '70s countdown. Woo-hoo! I don't do countdowns for cards, but this is an unexpected bonus!
The vast majority of the cards were center cut, meaning they came from between numbers 200-400. I was quite happy with this, because even though they aren't high numbers, they are from an area where I was sorely lacking.
Let's see a few:
There were a few outliers in the package, as I quickly close in on finishing up the first couple of series.
But the vast majority were center-cut beauties.
But I have to get cracking on those high-numbers and star cards.
You set collectors understand. It's just something I have to do.
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