How to Start a Football Card Collection

For Americans, football cards are second only to baseball cards in popularity. Thousands of collectors have gotten together online to share tips and ideas, which has made it relatively easy to start a collection. Here is everything you need to know to jump-start your football card collection.

Instructions

1. Purchase a price guide. Serious collectors should buy a football card pricing guide immediately. Guides are inexpensive and give useful information on specific cards or card sets. They also help you from being taken advantage of if you purchase from private sellers or in online auctions.

2. Research and ask questions. In addition to buying a pricing guide, do some research on the value trends of football cards. Ask other collectors for advice. Go online and find collector websites with insider info. Don't jump into card collecting with your eyes closed, or you will find yourself with a pile full of valueless cards.

3. Stock up on supplies. Any novice football card collector needs to have supplies that protect the cards. There are plenty of products available, such as: albums, plastic pages, soft sleeves, top loads (hard plastic individual holders), storage boxes and display cases. These supplies can be found in craft stores, hobby shops or on the Internet.

4. Consider purchasing a "starter package." Buying supplies, cards, subscriptions and memberships a la carte can get pricey. Online retailers and hobby shops sell football-card-collecting beginner's packages. These are helpful because you receive your materials and resources all at once and usually save money by bundling everything together.

5. Subscribe to a collectors' magazine. Card collection magazines are usually inexpensive and a great resource for hobbyists. A subscription might be well worth the price with the inside tips and advice it provides.

6. Start small. Don't expect to get priceless football cards immediately. Be patient. Look for the value in less popular cards. Be a bargain hunter. Remember that the most insignificant cards could someday be worth millions.

Tips & Warnings

• Acquiring college football cards is a great way to start a collection. College football is very popular, which makes these cards easy to find. They will not be as valuable as NFL cards, but they make for a more well-rounded collection.

• Watch out for baseball card collectors who are trading football cards. Some of these dealers may not have the knowledge in football that they do in baseball. They may unintentionally (or intentionally) give you a raw deal. This isn't true of all baseball card collectors, of course. Just be careful.