A big debate amongst the TTM community is which cards should be used for autograph requests.
Factor #1: Can you say goodbye?
The first factor every collector needs to consider is whether they are prepared to lose a card forever. There really is no player with a 100% success rate for signing and returning TTM requests. Therefore it is important for the collector to choose a card they are willing to part with forever.
Factor #2: Money, Money, Money!
The second factor, which ties into the first factor, is the value of a card. In theory, when a player signs a card it destroys the card and therefore leaves it worthless. Don't fret, the value of a signed card is not the card itself but the player's autograph. Therefore, it is my opinion, collectors should use low value cards.
Factor #3: Type of Card
The third factor to consider is the face of the card. Some cards smudge very easily. It is important to choose a card that will have a nice clean finish without bubbling or smudging. Topps and Bowman Chrome cards are some of the worst due to their glossy finish. Allen & Ginter is used by many TTM collector's because they are cardboard and sharpie ink works well on this type of finish.
My personal preference:
Drum roll please...the card I use most often that works perfectly with all three factors is the Topps Opening Day series. For starters these cards are fairly cheap. Between buying cards, envelopes, and stamps, the TTM hobby can get a little pricey. Dave and Adam's Card World currently has 2011 Topps Opening Day cards on clearance. Because they are inexpensive they do not carry very much value. This is perfect for autographs TTM! You never have to worry about destroying the value of a card. Obtaining a player's autograph can only increase the value of the card. Not only are they inexpensive, but they have little or no gloss. Not one of my opening day cards are smudged and blue sharpie looks very nice against the player's photo.
I hope this post helps all those TTM collector's out there! I would love to hear what other collector's like to use and why!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
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