Uhtred the Viking
Verified Trader,
Well 2021 is disappearing, time to look back and reflect on where my collecting activities took me. As in past years I'll be creating theme pages, they won't show all of the cards that fit that theme, but will point to my main areas of focus. There is no special order to them, except that I consider the last 2 pages as representing the most enjoyable of my activities.
Top 10 2021 HI cover pg by Al Gschwendtner, on Flickr
If you're like me, you enjoy going to the mailbox and wondering what will be showing up on any given day. Consider this my digital version of snail mail to each of you. :beer:
Top 10 2021 Team Canada by Al Gschwendtner, on Flickr
I've put a lot of effort into the Upper Deck Team Canada Master Collection cards that have Iginla on them. In fact I have an Iginla/Nash auto card arriving today, count me as a big fan of this set.
Top 10 2021 COMC.2 by Al Gschwendtner, on Flickr
I've put a lot of work into shiny '90's sets, and COMC was a great place to pick up the cards I needed. I was just notified a couple of days ago that my latest order has shipped, 5 weeks after I placed it. Hopefully the shipping problems of the past are behind them. In the meantime, these cards all go into binders for easy viewing!
Top 10 2021 Instagram by Al Gschwendtner, on Flickr
I have really found a home on Istagram, really enjoying the interaction and viewing opportunities. I managed to do a few deals over there in 2021. The OPC Platinum Rainbow Orange completed the rainbow for me, and the Power Streak was a set that I had never seen before. I traded for the complete set. The OPC Coast to Coast auto was offered to me, I hadn't seen another copy so was thrilled to add it to my pc.
Top 10 2021 Leaf by Al Gschwendtner, on Flickr
Leaf continues to provide some really cool cards to chase for my Iginla pc. Shout out to Eric Andrews (HammerHawks on HI & WALaxer19 on Twitter) and co-host with Aaron (creasecollector) of the Center Ice Hockey Card Podcast. Eric helped me add 2 cards from the Captain's Log set, and one of them was purchased for me on the floor of The National while Eric was walking the floor. He contacted me to ask if I needed it, and I guess I can now say that I purchased a card at the National.
Top 10 2021 Presidents Choice by Al Gschwendtner, on Flickr
Dr. Price continues to produce top notch cards for our collections. These were all welcome additions in 2021. Thank you Dr. Price for the efforts that you and your team put into your products!
Top 10 2021 Graded Iginla cards by Al Gschwendtner, on Flickr
This was the year that I put a more concerted effort into buying graded Iginla cards. I'd like to obtain a version of Iggy's rookie card from each of the grading companies down the road. Overtime Grading is a local company, I was able to drop the card off at a local show, and pick it up another show. It is a binder card, so I'm ok with the grade.
Top 10 2021 Yzerman by Al Gschwendtner, on Flickr
I continued to plug away at my Yzerman pc, the majority of which are slabbed cards from ITG UM. My top 2 Yzerman cards will be showing up at the end of this thread.
Top 10 2021 eBay by Al Gschwendtner, on Flickr
eBay continues to be my #1 source for new cards. It's always a bonus when you can find those scarcer cards from many years ago.
Top 10 2021 Jeremy Lee deal by Al Gschwendtner, on Flickr
Here is a sample of the 19 cards I bought from Jeremy earlier this year.
We've probably known each other for about 15 years now. He contacted me after buying a major collection from a local collector, and mentioned that there were quite a few Iginla cards. I always look forward to seeing what Jeremy has for sale, and I've bought many top notch cards from him over the years. Really appreciate this opportunity buddy!
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Top 10 20201 Top 4 by Al Gschwendtner, on Flickr
These are the cards that I consider to be my top pickups for 2021.
The Panini Prime "Prime Authentics" was the most coveted card from my deal with Jeremy. I had seen it in the hands of the original owner several years ago at one of the local trading nights, and never forgot it. If I was organized enough to have a want list it would have been at the top.
The Detroit “Decades” card was also from Jeremy, and is another card that would be at the top of that imagined want list.
The 33rd National Superbox card came from a deal that I did on Hobby Insider (HI). It is still in a slab, as is the Detroit “Decades” card, but I cropped the slab out so that the page would look better.
Leaf has a real winner with their “Chosen Few” set, such gorgeous cards! I love the huge window, and getting a large piece of the Detroit wheel is icing on the cake.
I hope everyone had a great year of collecting, and all the best for 2022!
Happy New Year!
Top 10 2021 HI cover pg by Al Gschwendtner, on FlickrIf you're like me, you enjoy going to the mailbox and wondering what will be showing up on any given day. Consider this my digital version of snail mail to each of you. :beer:
Top 10 2021 Team Canada by Al Gschwendtner, on FlickrI've put a lot of effort into the Upper Deck Team Canada Master Collection cards that have Iginla on them. In fact I have an Iginla/Nash auto card arriving today, count me as a big fan of this set.
Top 10 2021 COMC.2 by Al Gschwendtner, on FlickrI've put a lot of work into shiny '90's sets, and COMC was a great place to pick up the cards I needed. I was just notified a couple of days ago that my latest order has shipped, 5 weeks after I placed it. Hopefully the shipping problems of the past are behind them. In the meantime, these cards all go into binders for easy viewing!
Top 10 2021 Instagram by Al Gschwendtner, on FlickrI have really found a home on Istagram, really enjoying the interaction and viewing opportunities. I managed to do a few deals over there in 2021. The OPC Platinum Rainbow Orange completed the rainbow for me, and the Power Streak was a set that I had never seen before. I traded for the complete set. The OPC Coast to Coast auto was offered to me, I hadn't seen another copy so was thrilled to add it to my pc.
Top 10 2021 Leaf by Al Gschwendtner, on FlickrLeaf continues to provide some really cool cards to chase for my Iginla pc. Shout out to Eric Andrews (HammerHawks on HI & WALaxer19 on Twitter) and co-host with Aaron (creasecollector) of the Center Ice Hockey Card Podcast. Eric helped me add 2 cards from the Captain's Log set, and one of them was purchased for me on the floor of The National while Eric was walking the floor. He contacted me to ask if I needed it, and I guess I can now say that I purchased a card at the National.
Top 10 2021 Presidents Choice by Al Gschwendtner, on FlickrDr. Price continues to produce top notch cards for our collections. These were all welcome additions in 2021. Thank you Dr. Price for the efforts that you and your team put into your products!
Top 10 2021 Graded Iginla cards by Al Gschwendtner, on FlickrThis was the year that I put a more concerted effort into buying graded Iginla cards. I'd like to obtain a version of Iggy's rookie card from each of the grading companies down the road. Overtime Grading is a local company, I was able to drop the card off at a local show, and pick it up another show. It is a binder card, so I'm ok with the grade.
Top 10 2021 Yzerman by Al Gschwendtner, on FlickrI continued to plug away at my Yzerman pc, the majority of which are slabbed cards from ITG UM. My top 2 Yzerman cards will be showing up at the end of this thread.
Top 10 2021 eBay by Al Gschwendtner, on FlickreBay continues to be my #1 source for new cards. It's always a bonus when you can find those scarcer cards from many years ago.
Top 10 2021 Jeremy Lee deal by Al Gschwendtner, on FlickrHere is a sample of the 19 cards I bought from Jeremy earlier this year.
We've probably known each other for about 15 years now. He contacted me after buying a major collection from a local collector, and mentioned that there were quite a few Iginla cards. I always look forward to seeing what Jeremy has for sale, and I've bought many top notch cards from him over the years. Really appreciate this opportunity buddy!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Top 10 20201 Top 4 by Al Gschwendtner, on FlickrThese are the cards that I consider to be my top pickups for 2021.
The Panini Prime "Prime Authentics" was the most coveted card from my deal with Jeremy. I had seen it in the hands of the original owner several years ago at one of the local trading nights, and never forgot it. If I was organized enough to have a want list it would have been at the top.
The Detroit “Decades” card was also from Jeremy, and is another card that would be at the top of that imagined want list.
The 33rd National Superbox card came from a deal that I did on Hobby Insider (HI). It is still in a slab, as is the Detroit “Decades” card, but I cropped the slab out so that the page would look better.
Leaf has a real winner with their “Chosen Few” set, such gorgeous cards! I love the huge window, and getting a large piece of the Detroit wheel is icing on the cake.
I hope everyone had a great year of collecting, and all the best for 2022!
Happy New Year!
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Thanks for the shoutout about the podcast, too!
