2019 Topps Luminaries Hit Kings Auto Patch 12 of 15

Picked this up on eBay today and I believe this is my first ever card purchased from Great Britain.  Shipping was over $20 but the final price reflected that.  I find eBay's international shipping program to be really good these days on both the seller and buyer side.  I was skeptical at first, but I've had no problems with it.  Really beautiful card.  If you've read much of my blog you know I'm not really into sharpshooting or being negative about the Hobby (or life). So I give kudos to Topps for finally listening to their customers and encapsulating these high end products in individual magnetic one touch cases.  Makes shipping easy too.

Front

Back

2009 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Legendary Six - three COVID pickups

Being doubled-sided, older, and loaded with Hall of Famer patches, these 2009 cards are not exactly cheap or easy to find.  They are also the only cards I've ever purchased that came with a separate 2.5" x 3.5" Certificate of Authenticity card.

Back Sides

2004 Donruss Playoff Absolute Memorabilia Absolutely Ink #1/1

No words......no words.  The One of One.  I've drooled over this card for a decade.  And now it is....My Precious.

Booklets Picked Up During COVID

All four are things of beauty....

2010 Triple Threads Relic Combos Doubles /27

2007 Triple Threads Combos Double /36

2010 Sterling - Sterling Pairs Relics /10

2016 Panini Pantheon Sacred Deploymnets /25

2019 Allen & Ginter Subway Token

I drooled over this last summer when Ginter was released and reasonably assumed I would never have the opportunity to own one.  God Bless the $0.99 starting price auction!  Now she's mine....

2005 Upper Deck Ultimate Autos

Some fairly rare Ultimate autos picked up during COVID.  Ultimate Collection might be my favorite set ever, not just the 2005  but overall.  The quality is that good.

2005 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Baseball Stars Signatures #01/10

2005 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Ultimate Signatures Edition Signature Numbers #24/27

2005 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Signatures Platinum #1/5

2005 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Ultimate Signatures #06/15

Three Recent Mini Printing Plate Pickups

COVID has brought a different pace to life and opportunities to spend more time doing things we wouldn't usually.  It's been really pleasant to have large blocks of time to dedicate to my favorite hobby.  To that end, here are a few printing plate pickups from the past 4 months I haven't been able to post. 

2009 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions Cyan Plate Back

2009 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions Cyan Plate Front

2011 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions Yellow Plate Front

2011 Goodwin Yellow Back

2012 Gypsy Queen Cyan Front

2012 Gypsy Queen Cyan Back

2001 Fleer Red Sox 100th Anniversary Complete Set

Well this one has taken upwards of twenty years, but I finally added the Autographed card to the collection last month.  The "Threads" and the Auto are tough to find in my experience and bring a high price for cards that are not only not numbered, but actually don't have a card number at all! 

From top left, the base card, Beantown's Best insert, BoSox Sigs on card autograph.  Bottom row from left: Splendid Splinters insert, Threads game used jersey, and Yawkey's Heroes insert.

2019 Topps Series 1 & On Demand 1984 All-Star Reprint One of Ones

I've lusted after a Platinum parallel for many years.  One of those things that always seemed out of reach, a far away vision like a Lamborghini or a long vacation on a South Pacific beach.  One of the unfortunate consequences of The Fisk Obsession is that, if you're truly a dedicated obsessive, eventually your devotion begins to be rewarded. Unfortunate because reaching new plateau does nothing to quench the thirst, only deepens it. The totally unobtainable begins to seem just out of reach, if only you continue.  Thusly, a 22-year quest results in two Platinum pickups from the same set. Deep satisfying sigh.  Sips coffee.....

2014 Topps Dynasty On Card White Ink Auto and 3-Color Prime Patch # /10

The scan once again doesn't do this card justice.  One of the more expensive pickups I've made lately, I just had to have this card and wasn't willing to wait anymore. One of the best Topps designs of the last decade in my humble opinion.  Just beautiful. Topps should go back and look at this design with the gradient shading and dark sepia with the offsetting light-colored auto.  Really different and it really pops.