Card Show Pickups: Kira Kira

"Kira" is the Japanese word for shiny. So, here's the shiny! These are all cards from the May collector's card show, which a small show with maybe six dealers. I came away with a few great finds at great prices - that Jeter card I showed last week was probably the best, but some of these were acquired at great prices.

 Perhaps this Elite of Nine insert tops that list. This insert series is serial numbered to only 50 copies each and usually carries an unnecessarily high premium. We're talking late-90s prices - $20 for commons isn't that uncommon. They're clear acetate cards - my scanner has a black background so that gives my scan a darker image.

 These two inserts are fairly run-of-the-mill but not that easily found. I didn't need the Uehara but the price was right.

 This Running Specialists insert from 2005 carries a decent premium over other inserts, but again, good deal means gotta grab.

 Packs from Epoch's 2017 and 2018 team sets (Rookies and Stars this year) may be super-cheap, but that's partly because the only things inside are base cards for most of the packs. Remember 1992 Topps? One Gold card per pack? Well, Holografica inserts fall at about that rate, and generally that's all you can look forward to in a box. This year, variations aren't any more uncommon than regular cards. So these inserts come at a premium. But real card shows with real dealers know they're not really that valuable. (The autographs are where the real money is.)

 Every time I see a 2001 or 2002 BBM insert I end up buying it. Maybe I'll try building a master set.

 Foil signature cards are common "premium" cards found in BBM's box sets. Most collectors have realized that these really aren't that special and prices have dropped, but there are still plenty of sets I need samples for.

 BBM issued a box set commemorating the Carp's 2016 season and included a large 3D box topper in each box. I now have two of them - this one only cost me 100 yen, I think!

And that'll do it for tonight! The next card show is this Sunday, actually, though it's the big Trading Card Festa, with card shops instead of collector-dealers. As such, it can be hit-or-miss; sometimes there'll be a really fun box to open up (I got two boxes of Topps Stickers at a super-low price a few years ago) or there will be a fun dime box, but other times it's just regular sellers with essentially regular prices.

I do have a few things I'll be searching for specifically. A couple new sets are hitting shelves this week: the Buffaloes and Hawks team sets from BBM, Tigers team set from Epoch, Calbee Series 2. And maybe I'll be lucky with my Calbee and other set building?

Until next time....