My first purchase of 2013 was made using my quarterly payout from the eBay Bucks program. I found a seller listing a 2011 Topps Chrome Cam Newton RC that was graded a BGS 9.5 with high subgrades, which is always my preference! Although Cam had an off year, I still think he has great long term potential and it was a price I couldn't pass up. After using my eBay Bucks, the card cost me a little over $5. Grading cost alone is more than that and you run the risk your card won't get the grade you're looking for. I'm thinking of expanding my football card collection this year and this was a card (at a cost) that I couldn't pass up.
My second purchase of 2013 was another "must have" card for my collection. Trot Nixon is one of my all time favorite players from the Red Sox teams that I grew up watching. The SP Holoview insert set is also one of my favorite insert sets from my childhood collecting days. While I'm primarily a BGS 9.5 guy, there are certain lower priced cards that are just more abundant in terms of PSA population. I was able to purchase this PSA 10 version of Trot Nixon's SP Holoview at a reasonable cost and have added this beauty to my collection of Red Sox cards.
2013 will be an interesting year from a collecting standpoint!
What was your first purchase of 2013? Do you have collecting goals / resolutions for 2013? Please share them in the comments section. Until next time, keep collecting!