I believe that most collectors are completists by nature. There is some inherent drive which makes us seek to finish our quest whether it's to acquire a master set of every issue belonging to a certain genre such as,for example, Science Fiction or to a sub category within that umbrella as in striving to get one of every Star wars set and/or card ever manufactured. Of course, there are a myriad variations to this theme, but the concept is always the same- reaching the goal.

As we all know too well, this journey can get quite expensive and frustrating but ardent collectors seem to enjoy this ongoing challenge throughout the world.
Several years ago, I undertook a task which has consumed innumerable hours, countless dollars and tested the depths of my determination and perseverance.
I decided to hunt for and acquire one of every promo/prototype/sample/premium/toy card ever issued between 1988 and 2008. My quest has been unrelenting and pervasive. I have many stories which I have shared with friends on this board about the ridiculous lengths I have gone to get my fix. The breadth of the collection I have amassed is quite extensive and rivals some of the most advanced ones I have learned about. I have even bought other collectors' entire stock to add but a few cards I didn't own.

Some of you may disagree, but I believe that when it comes to non promotional sets,chase, sketch,autograph and other cards with limited print runs of the last 25 years,if you spend a reasonable time looking and have the financial resources, you can and will find the item you seek somewhere.
Yet, despite my best efforts, I am still missing hundreds of promotional cards which, regardless of how hard and where I search, I have been unable to locate ,many of which I have been looking for in over two decades.

My questions to the collective are why are some "promos" so incredibly hard to find and are some of these cards the most undervalued items of the modern non sports arena or simply an illusion?

I think for the most part some promo cards from then early 80's to mid 90's were tossed out by shops before they even got into anyone's hands.
A case in point. Back when Skybox was releasing The Sandman set, I preordered 3 boxes from a local sports card shop. The owner looked at the order and said, "You want this?" He then reached into a garbage can and handed me the Death Silver Boardered promo card. We talked and for the next few years he was open I got all his non sport card promo. Now, He had been in business since 1986. This set was released in 1994. So, for appox. 9 years he was tossing the promo cards!!!

Here are ones from 1991-1996 that rarely show up, if ever. I think Albert would agree with me.

1) Nightmare on Elm St (Impel, 1991) samples; yes, some surfaced on ebay last year, but before that, when was the last time you saw these for sale ?

2) Blue Angels (Sterling, 1991) sample cards #1-20; these never turn up; I'm still missing #17

3) Desert Storm Landforce, Skyforce, Seaforce prototypes; hard to find !

4) Creators Master Series P0 (SkyBox) I've never seen one

5) Ultraverse Master Series H1 (SkyBox) Never saw one until it showed up on ebay last week and sold for $50; I didn't win it

6) Blackball Comics (SkyBox) P01 and P02; WHY are these so hard to find ? Given out on a tour in 1994, supposedly 2500 of each made; I've seen them only ONCE--and I have them

7) Mickey Mouse & Friends Fun Cards (SkyBox) I've never seen these 3 promos from 1996, except in PCE

8) U.S. Stamp Cards (Tower, 1994) USS1-USS8; I've seen only scans of these, from others' collections

Impossible Dream.

Hammer Horror P2 wolfman

well maybe not impossible but i think the only way i will ever get one is if someone leaves me one in their will.

I hate to deflate your dreams Wolfie, but he is leaving it to me....

When I was mentioning undervalued promos, that's the very card I was referring too in my mind

quote:

Originally posted by promoking:
When I was mentioning undervalued promos, that's the very card I was referring too in my mind

We don't have to worry about wolfie or mike getting our, they both are going to go before me and you and leave us lots of goodies in there wills.

Who is this Mike person, who let him in?

quote:

Originally posted by barobehere:
........So, for appox. 9 years he was tossing the promo cards!!!

Ugh!!! I can't even think about that without wanting to cry!!!

At least part of the reason some promos hardly ever surface could be that they were released at non-card related venues. Those U.S Stamp cards could have been handed out at a stamp show. There would be some overlap with some stamp collectors also interested in cards but a lot of them could have ended up in the garbage.

Cards Illustrated (magazine) used to have some oddball promotions. Some promos might have been available through something like that.

Also, I think there are collectors who have those cards but they never needed to use a computer at work and they have never felt like they needed one at home. If they have extras, they haven't been circulated through online sales or trades.

As for promos undervalued relative to their rarity, that kind of thing happens in other hobbies. Some items just seem to sit at a low value because they just aren't capturing anyone's imagination even if they are truly uncommon.

quote:

Originally posted by David R:
Here are ones from 1991-1996 that rarely show up, if ever. I think Albert would agree with me.

1) Nightmare on Elm St (Impel, 1991) samples; yes, some surfaced on ebay last year, but before that, when was the last time you saw these for sale ?

2) Blue Angels (Sterling, 1991) sample cards #1-20; these never turn up; I'm still missing #17

3) Desert Storm Landforce, Skyforce, Seaforce prototypes; hard to find !

4) Creators Master Series P0 (SkyBox) I've never seen one

5) Ultraverse Master Series H1 (SkyBox) Never saw one until it showed up on ebay last week and sold for $50; I didn't win it

6) Blackball Comics (SkyBox) P01 and P02; WHY are these so hard to find ? Given out on a tour in 1994, supposedly 2500 of each made; I've seen them only ONCE--and I have them

7) Mickey Mouse & Friends Fun Cards (SkyBox) I've never seen these 3 promos from 1996, except in PCE

8) U.S. Stamp Cards (Tower, 1994) USS1-USS8; I've seen only scans of these, from others' collections

David,
I have many of these from your list but cannot find a "Ultraverse Master Series" H1 either.
As for the Creators Edition Master Series P0.
That card must be an error card. I believe the other promos were numbered P01, P02 etc. so P0 should be P00.
Ace

Ace, there was an Ultraverse Master Series H1 of Mantra on ebay a month or two back, as part of a lot of Ultraverse promos. It sold for $50, but I missed it.

Nope, the Creators Master Series P0 of Biohazard does exist. There is a picture of it on the sell sheet, and I know of two people who have seen it. Not me, however.

I think that most people that sell promos might not know the actual value of certain cards. So that is why they remain under-valued. The vast majority of non-sport card collectors may not follow the promo values as much as they follow the values of the cards they are looking for. And regardless of what you think a card is worth, remember that a card is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Some promo card collectors mention searching for certain hard to find promos, but I don't think they are valuable, just hard to find. There is a big difference. As some of you know, I own only 1 of 2 known complete sets of the AMP Desert Storm 10 card promo sets. Does that mean it is rare? I think it means that it is hard to find and it is too soon to tell if it is rare. Maybe that is what drives the value of some cards.

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