What are Non-Sports Cards?

     This category include cards on every topic except sports- cars, war, famous people, humor, space, fantasy, science fiction, planes, and so on. The cards have been issued around the world since the late 19th century, and continue to be produced today. Most often in the past, non-sports (NS) cards were found in packs of bubble gum or cigarettes.

How to collect non-sports cards

Because the scope of topics covered by NS cards is so vast, the collector has a broad choice of collecting alternatives. Many collectors choose to collect cards in a favorite series or multiple series. For example, the 1962 Topps Civil War News series is collected by many NS card collectors. Some collect no other series, hoping to assemble the best set possible.

      Other collectors may focus on a particular topic, such as "space exploration". There are many series available to satisfy this category, both older and modern. Examples include the 1957 Topps Space series, the 1963 Topps Astronauts series, and the 1969 Topps Man on the Moon series. The latter comes in two varieties, a 55-card and a 99-card variety. Other topical options include airplanes, tanks, flags, and so on.

     Still other collectors may elect to collect all the series of a particular era- the 1950's for example. That decade saw the issuance of almost 90 series by the major bubble gum manufacturers in the U.S. That number can be at least doubled by including cards from other sources, including outside the U.S.

     Yet other collectors may collect cards by type- that is, choosing one card from each series, perhaps the #1 card. This could lead to a very diverse and colorful collection.

     There are many other options for collecting- for example, by manufacturer, by size of card, etc. The beauty of NS card collecting is that each collector chooses his or her field of specialty for maximum personal enjoyment.

How do I obtain information about non-sports cards?

     At this time, detailed information about past series of NS can be difficult to obtain, but that is about to change. The classic reference work for the last 20 years has been the "Sport Americana Price Guide to the Non-Sports Cards", which is printed in two volumes: for series of cards up to 1960, and for cards issued 1961 to date. Chris Benjamin, the author, is a revered figure in NS card circles. The books, which have been through several editions, have been out of print for years, but are ocasionally offered on ebay. This is the best reference work currently available.

     The hobby is eagerly awaiting the appearance of "Non-Sports Bible", which is intended to be the ultimate guide to NS cards, covering 2500 series in almost a thousand pages. Publication has been delayed for various technical reasons, but it will probably see light in early 2007. Inquiries may be directed to "nscards at comcast.net."

      "The Wrapper" magasine, issued about 8 times a year, is a valuable publication. It features articles and research about both older and newer issues, as well as ads from many of the leading dealers in NS cards. Les Davis has been publishing this magazine all by himself for almost 30 years, and deserves enormous credit for his efforts.

    "Non-Sport Update" is a glossy quarterly magazine which does a fine job of covering the NS cards field, with emphasis on newer issues. However, excellent articles about "vintage" (pre-1970) cards do occasionally appear.

Where do I obtain NS cards?

      Ebay has become an increasingly popular source of NS cards. On any given day, thousands of surh cards are being auctioned on the site. One can buy cards in any category- professionally graded or ungraded, modern or older cards, individual cards and sets of cards, US or international cards. To locate all the NS cards available for sale on ebay, look under Collectible- Trading Cards- Other Non-Sports.

     There are also a number of dealers who offer or specialize in NS cards. Their contact information can be found in the magzines mentioned above, or through a search of the internet, using the term "Non-Sports Cards". Prominent dealers who offer an especially large selection of NS cards includes Mickey's Sportscards, Scottsdale cards (Bob Marcy), Champs and Bums Peter Lalos), Coney Island Cards, and Larry's Non-Sports cards. It is expected that the number of dealers will increase significantly as the current NS card boom continues.

     Fellow collectors is a traditional source of cards. Part of the fun of collecing is getting to know other collectors and sharing your collecting interests. Trading and buying cards from other collectors is an excellent way to achieve your collecting goals.

How do I store my NS cards?

    There are many different storage systems available for story cards. The simplest is probably wrapping rubber bands around them and keeping them in a box, which is what most kids used to do years ago. Howver, that method can result in damage to your cards.

    If you want to better preserve your cards, but are not phobic about occasional nicks and scrapes, insering them in plastic pages with plastic pockets is a good system. Such pages are available through manufacturers of card supplies, as well as many office supply stores. This system has the advantage of allowing your cards to be easily displayed in a looseleaf notebook.

    If you are more concerned about preserving the condition of your cards, you may choose to insert each of them in specially made plastic holders. These holders are made in various sizes, and come in rigid, semi-rigid and flexible style. They are available through several manufactureres, including Cardboard Gold. Some of the "Cardsaver" holders from Cardboard Gold can be inserted in plastic pages intended for photographs, to make a neat display system, three cards to a page.

    For the most valuable cards, collectors usually seek grading and encapsulation at one of the major card grading and authentication services, such as PSA, SGC, Beckett's or GAI. These services insert the card in a hard plastic holder whish is sealed to provide maximum protection. This system requires much more storage room than the other systems.

Will my NS cards be a good investment?

     Experienced collectors know that collecting cards purely for their investment potential is a risky proposition. Although the value of older NS cards has risen sharply in recent years, and may continue to rise, there is no guarantee that prices will continue to increase. In fact, there is no guarantee that they will not decline! That is because cards have no intrinsic value, and depend on the enthusiam of collectors for their value. That enthusiasm can wax or wane over the years, and values of the cards will fluctuate with those changes in favor among collectors.

     Thus, my advice is to collect primarily because you love the cards, and treat investment success as a secondary outcome to your collecting activities. That way, you will never be disappointed. No matter what happens to the value of your cards, you will still own the cards, which should be a great source of pleasure in and of themselves.

    If, however, you insist in retaining an interest in the monetary value of your cards (and frankly, many collectors do), my advice to you is to buy the highest-grade cards you can afford. Over time, the best-quality collectibles in any field show the best appreciation in value. Also, consider buying cards graded and encapsulated by one of the 3rd-party grading services mentioned above. Buying "raw" or ungraded cards can lead to disappointment years later when you discover your card was altered, or overgraded by the seller. Too late to seek recourse then! This accounts for the increasing popularity of professionally graded cards, many of which are available on ebay.

Best in collecting,

Bill Bengen