jetsman
Verified Trader
I don't usually go to flea markets.
As a generality, I find that they're usually not worth the time investment. The 'dealers' tend to be shady and treat sports like the red-haired step cousin of the general collectibles world. If anything's there, it's usually fringe collectibles like team-logo'd mittens.
Now having said that, I have had some good finds in the past like a practice-used Jets WHA puck, and a buddy of mine found a Ken Wregget game used and autographed stick.
So when the same buddy was in town visiting this weekend we decided to go back to that same flea market where he had previous success.
The hall was the same dingy place that I remembered it to be. There were definitely some cool antiques, but there were a fair number of Captain Sweatpants converging and it felt like they were there more to hang out with each other than serve wandering shopper eyes.
Of note, before I show my find, was there was a HUGE number of video game sellers - Atari through Xbox 360. I've been thinking about this for a while and I'm willing to place money that the next big thing in vintage collectibles will be old video game cartridges. I think the pending documentary on the Atari ET video game will do huge for this growing industry.
Now where was I? Oh yeah, the unique pickup.
So after looking at a few tables that contained overpriced hockey cards and the aforementioned NHL kid gloves we came a cross a decent variety table. My buddy picked up a Fleetwood Mac concert book while I was looking curiously at a Jets Christmas card. I balked at it as i held it up since it had a kids name on it, but saw an odd piece of paper beneath it. $5 later it was mine:
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I stumbled across the prototype COA for a Jets GU jersey.
Two important features:
1> Mikhail Smith (Jets fans will know what I'm referring to with that one) had his name crossed out in place of Barry Shenkarow, team owner. This means the cert. was either being given a higher authority certification, or would've happened after Smith's removal from office in January '94, meaning it would have been created during the latter part of the 93-94 season, which matches with...
2> the signature at the top of Keith Tkachuk. I think this is cool that a COA would be signed not only by the team official but also by the player who's jersey this corresponds to. Interestingly, Tkahcuk's signature is crossed out on this prototype.
Given that I'll never own a Jets gamer, I think this is about as cool as it gets, and having a Jets official document - one that probably shouldn't have gotten out to the public - is a sweet addition and will end up on a wall in my man cave or office.
As a generality, I find that they're usually not worth the time investment. The 'dealers' tend to be shady and treat sports like the red-haired step cousin of the general collectibles world. If anything's there, it's usually fringe collectibles like team-logo'd mittens.
Now having said that, I have had some good finds in the past like a practice-used Jets WHA puck, and a buddy of mine found a Ken Wregget game used and autographed stick.
So when the same buddy was in town visiting this weekend we decided to go back to that same flea market where he had previous success.
The hall was the same dingy place that I remembered it to be. There were definitely some cool antiques, but there were a fair number of Captain Sweatpants converging and it felt like they were there more to hang out with each other than serve wandering shopper eyes.
Of note, before I show my find, was there was a HUGE number of video game sellers - Atari through Xbox 360. I've been thinking about this for a while and I'm willing to place money that the next big thing in vintage collectibles will be old video game cartridges. I think the pending documentary on the Atari ET video game will do huge for this growing industry.
Now where was I? Oh yeah, the unique pickup.
So after looking at a few tables that contained overpriced hockey cards and the aforementioned NHL kid gloves we came a cross a decent variety table. My buddy picked up a Fleetwood Mac concert book while I was looking curiously at a Jets Christmas card. I balked at it as i held it up since it had a kids name on it, but saw an odd piece of paper beneath it. $5 later it was mine:
I stumbled across the prototype COA for a Jets GU jersey.
Two important features:
1> Mikhail Smith (Jets fans will know what I'm referring to with that one) had his name crossed out in place of Barry Shenkarow, team owner. This means the cert. was either being given a higher authority certification, or would've happened after Smith's removal from office in January '94, meaning it would have been created during the latter part of the 93-94 season, which matches with...
2> the signature at the top of Keith Tkachuk. I think this is cool that a COA would be signed not only by the team official but also by the player who's jersey this corresponds to. Interestingly, Tkahcuk's signature is crossed out on this prototype.
Given that I'll never own a Jets gamer, I think this is about as cool as it gets, and having a Jets official document - one that probably shouldn't have gotten out to the public - is a sweet addition and will end up on a wall in my man cave or office.
