General Forum

The other day I was thinking about the concept of reprints.  The forum post about the recent sale of a 52 Mantle card reminded me of this.  

What are your feelings about reprints?  I was thinking the other day looking at my bookshelf that I have some classic books that are of course not 1st edition.  Yet it's no less the same book even though it has been reprinted many years later.  I know that people do collect 1st edition books, but I feel like most who enjoy reading books don't care that the book is not an original publication.

This got me to thinking about trading cards.  Most people who collect trading card are not interested in reprints really-myself included.  Of course this has to do with the collectibility and ability to sell them.  But a lot of collectors like myself don't really ever look to sell their cards.  I enjoy them for what they are.  Although I must admit that maybe part of enjoying them is knowing that they actually do carry some sort of rarity/value that makes them special even if I never intend to sell them.

I am not really sure if I have any point to make, but just curious what the thought are out there on reprints.  I figure someone looking to build a complete set could subsitute a reprint for cards so expensive they are impossible to collect.  

I really do not like reprints. I dont even like the Topps "reissues". This is why. I often buy collections and give a quick glance to see what is in there for potential. Reprints cause me to say to myself, "Oh wait. Never mind. Nothing to see here. Its a bunch of THOSE cards". I hate to go on Merkari or something thinking there is a stack of 1961 Topps only for it to be Heritage.

Another thing about reprints is the ne'er do wells that try to pass them off as legit. Especially with tobacco cards.

I suppose its how you look at them. I mean although I don't collect baseball I appreciate a 50-60 yr old card in mint condition, but think that that card prolly won't see the light of day until the next sale, as opposed to a reprint that looks the same that can be put in a binder and appreciated? There is a card that I dont have from the 30s and probably wouldn't buy at 75% off (so 1k instead of 4k)) but could easily afford a reprint and appreciate it all the same simply because i don't have one.. Just thinking about it, you could view reprints as reissues and collect them as you would any other card of a player or team. (Not saying they are the same as the originals but additions)

Reprints are sort of hit or miss for me. I enjoy them for the fact that it can give people who aren't into the hobby as much as others. But the same problem is here as well. Because some reprints can look pretty similar to the actual cards. And I don't get why Topps occasionally reprints cards from 10 years ago or less, because that's just kind of dumb in my eyes.

I don't have a problem with them, but I know some do.

I like reprints in context of higher dollar vintage cards that I choose to not spend the market price on. 

I dislike reprints that do not clearly state such on back.

Mark

Not a fan of reprints.   Comparing them to books is not the way to go.   Completely different animal in my opinion.   The only way to compare cards to books is if a card was sequentially numbered, let say to 100.    Some would rather have #1 as opposed to #94 though both have the identical pictures and stats.

There is a difference between reprints and counterfeits.  I like reprints.  I detest counterfeits.

THIS!

This man gets it

Exactly what David said. Reprints can be fun if done right. The 1996-97 Topps Stars Rookie Reprints set is one of my favorite inserts in history. There's no way they could be passed off as original either. But a bootleg? That's literally criminal. 

I especially like reprints that are done with an upgrade over the original. For example, back to the same set, the Refractor version of the rookie reprints, or the autograph version. 

If Topps still had the NBA license I'd be begging them to reprint the 1969-70, 70-71, 76-77 and 80-81 sets at standard size. Either heritage stock or bleached stock, I don't care.