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Page 18 The Antique Shoppe July, 2019
Always scammers in the collector
KAYE’S COLLECTOR CORNER business, regardless of age. I
eventually completed the set and
By Mike “Collector K” Kaye went on to the other series, not
sure which to start collecting next.
The 1st series was the most
TOPPS Garbage Pail Kids sought after and hardest to find.
®
The pink packs featuring Adam
Bomb became burned in my mind
I believe some of us are born with what I call Sonny’s Bookstore on 44th, I ran as I hunted for them in stores.
the, “Collector Bug”. An uncontrollable sense of to the candy aisle where I saw a One day my brother took me
excitement about a certain object and the urge to green pack of 3rd Series Garbage to an indoor flea market where
own it, or perhaps a passion for a collection of items Pail Kids marked $.49. My mom we found a store called “Crazy
which may seem random and said, “pick out Eddy’s.” His store was filled
even odd to those dearest to us, four packs” - I with Garbage Pail Kids. He had
yet nothing out of the ordinary was ecstatic. posters hanging, glass showcases
in our minds. I’m not referring The store GPK cards often had putrid images but this with error cards and every series
to a “hoarder,” who tends to owner gave one (27a) has a positive aspect pertaining to that was available at the time.
collect endless, actual garbage, me the packs intelligence, which ironically also happens The 1st series was $10.00 per
to be my spouse’s name. Value $50
I’m referring to a connoisseur in a separate pack, a fortune for a ten-year-
of valuable items, an expert of paper bag. I old. I had some money and my
rarities, a collector who can’t remember opening the first pack brother covered the rest. Crazy Eddy then pulled
resist but to build collectibles and in the car and said “Snotty Sam” out about fifteen packs and fanned them out like
surround their-self with items but my mom corrected me and a deck of cards and said, “Pick your poison”. One
that bring them comfort, joy and said “Snooty Sam”. I had no clue pack stuck out to me; it was an error pack folded
ultimately financial gain, if they what it meant, but I didn’t care, I incorrectly with half of another pack printed on it. I
so decide to part with any of it, at loved the cards picked that pack and paid. Crazy
a point before they de-part from and the stick of Eddy asked if I was opening it in
this planet. gum. the store, but I told him I wasn’t
Let’s go in a time machine First Series Garbage Pail Kids card (18a) in When I got because I wanted to take in the
back to 1982. As a little boy I Gem Mint worth $100. This is the first card home, I began excitement of slowly opening
began collecting items - this was I ever saw (on a friend’s binder) that started placing them in it later. I made it to the parking
not something anyone taught me my interest in the Topps series. number order. lot and couldn’t resist. I had
to do, it just came naturally to I had many accumulated most of the set but
me. Could it be hereditary? My brother collected duplicates, so I put them aside. I was missing the key first card 1A
Hotwheels® and later vinyl Records, while my Dad was chewing the powdered pink Nasty Nick. My brother watched
liked stamps as a youth, and eventually dabbled bubble gum sticks as I organized as I opened it. My enthusiasm
in coins. Collectors in the family tree, but none of my new treasure. I was fizzled as I realized I already
those items interested me. What determined to had the first card. I went through
did interest me in the beginning, get the entire the pack disappointed as I got
were basically worthless items. 3rd series set; 5 duplicates and regretted not
I collected bouncy balls from I was on a spending the $10 on the cards I
dime machines, stickers from mission. needed from the case as opposed
homework well done, various I first First card in the Garbage Pail Kid Series, (1a) to the gamble of a pack.
worth $400 in grade 9 mint condition.
colored plastic sticks that decided to As the years passed, I
restaurants like “Sizzler” would write down eventually completed the first 12
place on steaks to notate “well the numbers I had and then trade series and lost interest by the 13th-15th series. I
done” or “medium rare,” I even the duplicates to get the cards also had accumulated various GPK related toys,
collected rabbit’s feet until my I needed to complete the set. folders, posters and unopened boxes. I was still a
older brother told me they were Trading with other kids can be novice collector at that time since my urge to open
from “real” rabbits and after quite a task. I’ve had kids try the packages and play with the toys overtook the
showing me the nails under the to get rid of the lousy condition concept of leaving them in the original packaging.
painted fur, I quickly threw them cards and one In hindsight, I didn’t know items
all away. I then moved on to kid even tried were worth more if left in the
collecting the matchbooks from to sell me a packaging because the truth of
each restaurant and establishment GPK First series card (8a) Adam Bomb was card which the matter was I could just go
also the image for the boxes and packs for
we’d visit. I never thought to use the first 5 series. A perfect 10 with checklist wasn’t the back in the store and buy another,
the matches, just the desire of back is valued at $1,800. official peel not thinking that eventually that
seeing different art on each as I’d off sticker card would not be the case in years
leave the restaurant or establishment that had them but instead an image from the to come as supplies dried up and
near the register. I remember excitement seeing bottom of the actual box which companies stopped producing the
different colored matchbooks I knew I didn’t have. he cut out and tried to pawn off items. A true collector focuses on
As I matured, so did my taste in what I was actually as a real sticker card. I almost fell condition and rarity, planning to
collecting. for it but didn’t see the die-cut keep the items pristine, knowing
Around 1986, I saw a classmate with something sticker outline like all the real that they’d become scarce in the
called “Garbage Pail Kids” (GPK) by Topps® inside a cards have. What also threw me future.
photo album. The collector bug officially struck me. I off was the fact the card was one If you have Garbage Pail Kids
had to have them; I wanted every card that was made. I had never seen, and it turned items to sell, I’m always in the
When I got home from school that day, I begged out that he had obtained a box of Fond memories of this card because my market. Email kpeople@hotmail.
my mom to take me to the newsstand where the 4th series, which apparently Uncle Stanley came to visit me as a child com or call/text me at 561-628-
Grandpa bought his cigars. When we arrived at came out unbeknown to me. and gave me a folder with this image. 4369. Thanks, Collector K