The total this morning, after a few more generous contributions came in, is:

$1446

I'm expecting at least one more check through the mail, which will put us OVER the $1500 mark!  Thanks again to all those who have contributed, your generosity has been astounding.

Stay tuned for the final tally, and for the results of the August 31st drawing for the Shocktrooper mini-bust + bust up.

After vowing not to buy any, I quickly became a completist when the new 4" figures debuted back in... 95?  Worse than that, I bought two of every carded figure - one to open and one to keep carded.  Fortunately when it came to ships, playsets, cinema scenes, and 12" figures I was content with one of each (to keep MIB).

Things weren't too bad until a day in early May of 1999 when dozens of figures, ships, playsets, Lego sets, etc., etc., etc. all came out on the same day.  I think I spent $600-$700 in less than two hours.  Luckily that glut lead to the Great Action Figure Drought of early 2000 when you couldn't buy a new Episode I figure to save your life.  I say luckily because that glut and the associated disgust with the hobby is what finally broke me of my completist attitude.  Well, it was that and the fact that I really wanted to buy a house but didn't think it was a good idea while carrying close to $18,000 in credit card debt (no, it wasn't all from toys).

Over the next two years (2000-2002) I cut way back on my collecting, paid off all my debts and somehow managed to save enough for a small down payment on a house.  It was during that time that I formulated my current collecting strategy:

1) Buy figures that have a vintage counterpart and are superior to all other modern versions of that figure.  These figures I open.
2) Buy figures that I can get autographed by the actor who played or voiced the character even if it doesn't fit into category 1.  These figures I keep carded
3) Buy the occasional exclusive figure if it's cool, even if it doesn't fit into category 1 or 2.  These figures I keep carded.

I no longer buy ships, playsets or 12" figures at all.  I did however buy all of the VOTC figures, even if the sculpts weren't superior to previous versions of the particular figure.

Current tally: $1339

I think there's a real chance we could reach $1500 by the end of the week.  That would be very cool because the EE savings bonds I'm going to buy are purchased at 1/2 face value, which means that for $1500 we'd be able to buy Aidan $3000 in bonds!

Remember, you can PM me for my PayPal or snail mail address and send contributions until the end of the day Friday, August 18.

Thanks, as always, to those who've already so generously contributed!

--Roger

Quote from: MetalJedi on August 12, 2006, 01:35 PM

Well I offered $20 bucks for it and got this response... "$20 dollars for the most rare item produced?"

Oooooo that must me it's more rare than a Vintage Rocket Firing Fett be right back I gotta go waste 200 bucks on a shirt. 

There probably are more Rocket Fetts than these T-shirts.  They produced more Fett protos than just about any other Vintage proto because of all the various stages is went through before they eliminated the rocket.  But just because something is rare doesn't make it valuable.

And just because something is rare today doesn't mean SWS isn't going to mass-market them at C4 to make a quick $1000.

No problem, Adam, it's good to know you would if you could.

Jesus - part of the Alaskan pipeline is offline because of "corrosion" and the execs at BP don't know how this will affect gas prices.

I heard predictions of an increase in oil prices of up to $10/barrel, which would probably translate to at least a $1/gallon increase in gasoline.

If I had to choose one modern line to focus on, I guess it would be the 3-3/4" line.  They are the most economical for me to collect.  They're also essentially all I collect that is Star Wars related now, other than autographs.  And since I mostly have 3-3/4" carded figures autographed, it's a no-brainer.

On the other hand, if I had to focus my collecting on only one aspect of all Star Wars collectibles EVER, it would be rarer, higher-end and more esoteric items from the '70s and '80s, like the Sigma ceramic pieces, a ste of original, mint condition metal lunchboxes, etc.

And finally, if I had to choose only one thing, out of everything I collect, I'd probably have to go with original comic art & convention sketches.  I love collecting mass-produced memorabilia, but there is a special feeling that goes along with buying a long-sought-after, one-of-a-kind piece of art, or a sketch/painting that was done just for you.