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Question for long time collectors...

I am not asking this to be a jerk, but I really want to know. For those of you out there who have been collecting for a long time, do you come across items in your own collection that you didn't even remember owning?

A friend here has been looking for a British stage actor and another friend on another site is in search of a nice Harrison Ford index card signed in black. So I started going through bins and boxes looking for some old signed playbills and a book that I own(ed) signed by Harrison. Now please keep in mind that throughout my college years and twenties I moved a lot, so stuff was boxed up and moved so often that some boxes never got unpacked. I have been in my house now for almost a decade and some stuff just hasn't been gone through.

I came across books signed by Eddie Bunker (Mr. Blue in Reservoir Dogs), Roderick Thorp writer of the character that John McClane is based on, Joseph Campbell, Leigh Brackett, Terry Brooks, George Lucas, Brian Daley, William Goldman and so many more.

Does this happen to you? If it has or does, let me know.... I am hoping I am not the only one losing their mind.

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Permalink Reply by Joe W. on March 1, 2016 at 3:39pm

I don't forget what I own but often don't have a clue where I put it. Does that count?

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Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on March 1, 2016 at 4:19pm

I started collecting back in the early 1970s then seriously around 1975-76. I then was collecting mostly historical autographs and documents. Then went through a period of not collecting too much unless I came across it. So every now and then I run across something I completely forgot and would have sworn I didn't have. I also have purchased autographs for my various collections only too discover I already have it.

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Permalink Reply by Peter Lougheed on March 1, 2016 at 5:42pm

I love when that happens...like giving yourself a Christmas present.

As I get older, what I remember is in my collection is getting outnumbered by the items I forget I own.

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Permalink Reply by Ian Baldock on March 1, 2016 at 6:07pm

In the last month or so I have been moving stuff into those Iotya albums and have come across a few sports autographs I forgot I had.Of course my collection is not in the thousands!

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Permalink Reply by Pete Bendu on March 1, 2016 at 7:30pm

Thanks guys....feeling slightly better that I am not completely alone in this phenomenon.

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Permalink Reply by Richard Booth on March 1, 2016 at 11:09pm

Hi Pete,

I always look through my collection in storage when I get chance and always find things I forgot I owned or had in my collection! Most of the time it is a very happy surprise!

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on March 2, 2016 at 1:01am

Hi,

Yep. It is like shopping only everything is prescreened and very affordable! ;)

Eric!

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Permalink Reply by David Jones on March 2, 2016 at 1:33am

It happens to me with books.

Over time I have accidentally collected three signed first editions of The Da Vinci Code and three signed true first (self published) editions of Eragon. Go figure.

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Permalink Reply by Pete Bendu on March 2, 2016 at 4:44am

Yes, mine were mostly all books as well, they don't display well so they get put away. Ian McKellen LOTR book, Ian Holm LOTR book, Andy Serkis Gollum book, even a later work by Philip K. Dick signed, George Carlin, Bill Murray, Isaac Hayes.....all just sitting in a huge plastic tote. A pile of Kevin Smith's ventures into comics signed as well as another box of comics filled with random artists and writers who worked on books I enjoyed.

I guess it's time to seriously start a full inventory.