In this new, limited blog series, “20 Ways to Collect While Stuck at Home,” we offer ideas for enjoying your collection at times when a standard hobby experience is not possible. Illness, financial constraints, or any number of factors might temporarily keep collectors from participating as they normally would, but that does not mean that their hobby needs to be put on hold.
Time is On Your Side 
So, word is you’ve got some newfound time on your hands to devote a few quality hours to your card collection. That’s great. Not only can you take stock of what you’ve got during the quarantine, but you can figure out what you still need. With that in mind, you might want to start perusing some of those old sets you have laying around and start submitting those cards to PSA. Storing your singles in corrugated boxes is fine or inserted in nine-card pocket sheets inside sturdy binders. But what if you could get your cards graded by the industry leader and then simply see your collection of cards online, complete with digital images of the card fronts and backs? Well, sit back and keep reading because I’ve got news for you.
There’s a tried-and-true interactive online archiving tool for your cards and it comes free of charge from PSA. It’s simple to use, convenient and provides a terrific digital showcase for you to keep track of your PSA-graded cards and tickets. The PSA Set Registry has helped to revolutionize trading card and ticket collecting around the world. Established in 2001, it’s a growing sensation and currently boasts more than 26,000 active users and 168,376 registered sets. And you’ll be happy to know that in addition to the major sports’ categories like baseball, basketball, football and hockey, it offers categories in miscellaneous sports and non-sports too. To get started, all you need to do is create an account.
Archive Cards Online
Many of the world’s finest trading card and ticket collections are currently archived on the PSA Set Registry as it gives collectors the opportunity to safely show off their PSA-graded items in a secure online environment. They can also compare their collections against some of the greatest ones ever assembled. You can start with just one card or ticket and build your set over time or add an entire collection. What’s more, you can post images of your items, view those of other collectors in your area of interest and go from there!
What’s more, you can remain completely anonymous in the PSA Set Registry, if you so choose. You can name your sets however you wish: “Baseball Hall of Famers,” “NBA Rookies,” “NHL MVPs” or “New England Patriots Running Backs,” for example. The sky is the limit and you can even elect to keep your set closed from public view until you are ready to unveil your collection. If you’re a competitive card collector, the PSA Set Registry provides an outlet for you as well with its recently enacted “Achievement Program.” Collectors can accumulate points and earn digital medals by virtue of their dedicated collecting habits.
The Benefits of Joining
As if the fun you’ll have participating in the PSA Set Registry is not enough, you will also receive other important benefits:
- Recognition for your collection. If your set is in the top five “All-Time Finest,” your collection (and your name, if you desire) will be listed in the PSA Set Registry at the top of the list of all sets in that category.
- Free submissions. We recognize that not every card and ticket in every important collection has been graded by PSA. To encourage participation in the PSA Set Registry program, we offer free grading submissions to registrants. Depending on the size of your collection, you can receive up to three free submissions.
- Selling on Collectors.com. PSA Set Registry members have exclusive privileges on Collectors.com, the source for all your collecting needs.
The PSA Set Registry enables you to track your inventory, costs and populations, build and update sets, enjoy friendly competition, meet other collectors who share common interests, create a photo album of your collection, and share your sets with others. What are you waiting for? Join the PSA Set Registry today!
Although my cards are in rough condition, I have worked hard over the last 30 years supplementing my childhood collection. I now have complete baseball sets for 1950-1951 Bowman as well as 1952-present Topps with the exception of the 1962 Topps set. I have about 100 cards PSA graded. I am a collector but I have never sold a card nor I am sure I ever want to.