2023 Collectors Wrap Up
03/01/2024Looks like I’m skipping my monthly recap and turning it into my 2023 Wrap Up? It sure does.
Going into year three as a collector I was still struggling to find my goal. Like many I started opening packs and collecting modern cards to get into the hobby but with set after set coming out every few months this became more and more frustrating and fomo became a big factor. In my “early days” I was obsessed with pulling the shiny VMAX Charizard and it just never happened. After almost giving up I went to a local drugstore and found a Pikachu V Collection from that very set. The box was already ripped open on one side and I almost left it behind but something deep inside me told me to buy it. On my way back home I texted a good friend of mine that I was going to open that box as soon as I was home and asked if he wanted to join on a quick FaceTime call. When opening the second pack I said that this was going to be THE ONE. On the reverse slot I finally saw something big and shiny. There it was. After all this time I pulled my early days chase card. Without a doubt I had to send this one in to PSA. A few months later it returned as a PSA 10. Miracles do come true I guess.
Probably the biggest part of my year was my goal to complete the Neo Sets in Japanese. I started with my this binder back in may 2022 and kind of let that sit in my shelf for quite a while. As some of you know from my Hall of Pain, I enjoy going for the full sets not really caring about the perfect condition. Sleeved and inside the binder they do look just fine and make collecting them a lot more affordable. That strategy does come in handy as the later months will show. At least I keep my sets limited to the one language I started it in. Which is why long after I finished my Team Rocket in German I finally replaced the last three English cards in there with their correct counterparts. With 2023 in the books I can proudly say I am done with Neo Genesis and Neo Discovery. Neo Revelation and Neo Destiny I basically only need five of the ten Shining Pokémon and those last two god damn overpriced Unown cards (H and G). The shining cards for me sort of opened my mind to a new level of collecting. I never thought in the first place I would go for such expensive cards myself. But what else do you do when you finally find your passion. Taking risks for me never really worked out so why not this time.
One more thing I can also proudly say I finished in 2023 is my Imakuni? Collection. Those cards are just another out of this world piece of Pokémon history. When you first see them you simply know that there is something wrong with the mastermind behind it. That is why without a doubt this small part of my collection probably has the biggest place in my heart. If you ever feel like talking about Imakuni, just go ahead and message me on instagram.
Speaking of instagram, all in all this year I had the privilege of getting to know so many great people in this hobby. Also being able to meet some of them at shows or in private made this journey just so much more fun and I’d like to thank everyone for being there.
But what about my goals for 2024? If you have been following me over the last few months you might saw the things I jumped into last year and want to improve my collection on. That being more Sports cards and also more One Piece. The main focus will of course still be Pokémon, but I am open to exploring more. Also it is time to get to experience the community more in person at upcoming events.
Let’s see what 2024 has planned for us.
What exactly can you expect from me in the upcoming weeks:
– Big maildays from my Christmas/New years shopping spree
– PSA Return
– GSG Return
– Gala TCG incl. Arita Experience
Last years final buys and my first buy of the year (1/1/24 at 3am……) will make the cards of December 2023 for me. More details as soon as they arrive.
Thank you for reading 🫶🏻
