I Don't Usually Do This...

 So I worked through all of my Magic card traders and went through the 401 games buylist, looking to get rid of as many cards as I could, many of them being for 7 cents a card trade in value. Well, I was able to cobble together about $300 of trade value - below is what I spent just less than half of the money on. I went for mostly older cards that were more expensive than I would usually buy, but being able to turn about 1,500 cards of "junk" as far as my collecting goes, into cards I care about and collect (and in a lot less space) - a great transaction. Besides, selling those cards as bulk for what they were, I would have been lucky to get even $100 cash.

We start with Draco, which is the last of 5 artifact cards in the Planeshift set. There is an alternate art copy for one, but I treat that as a variation and won't count it for the base set artifacts themselves, so that one is happily complete here. A few years later than the set first came out in 2001, but better late than never!

The land is a one and done for Scourge lands that provide colourless mana, so I figured I should pick it up so it's a simple completed set, and since I have the few artifacts as well, I am done with the Scourge set completely - yay!

Though I didn't get to finish them off, I did pick up a bunch of Time Spiral and "Time Shifted" Time Spiral artifact cards because there are some pretty cool cards, and I was missing a whole bunch.

The other area I picked up some cards from were base sets - 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th edition to be exact. Actually in doing so, one card I needed was the Howling Mine below in 6th edition, but they made a note and sent the 5th edition version because they didn't have 6th edition. Normally not a big deal, and from a value perspective, I end up slightly ahead, but wasn't really what I wanted. I left it, but if it had been any more expensive of a card, and I would have brought it up.

Similarly, this was a heavy played card, and I'd almost say it was more than heavily played...

You can see with the older white border cards, why they moved away to the black border on all sets, the wear on the white borders, and related dirt marks are very heavy and noticeable. With black border, you may get white "chips" or dings on the outer border, but you don't really get to see the dirt or other markings on them.

Again, for my purposes, the card is fine, but I could see it being considered more than heavily played, though that can be a wife range in quality.

We end with the most exciting (to me), part of the pick ups. These four Unglued cards (the ones with the cracked egg symbol), are the last four artifact cards I needed to complete the set. It's getting harder to find, and a bit pricier to pull the trigger, on some of the older sets and missing artifact cards I have, so finishing this one which is from 1998, excites me.

The last two cards from Unhinged, don't quite finish off that set, but are bigger cards in the goal to complete it. Gleemax, as silly as the cost looks, can actually be cast because there are infinite mana loops which can be created, so you could get there. As for Mox Lotus, that is the card in the set which does get you the easy way of using Gleemax - now you really just need 15 mana to cast the Mox Lotus. Any time you can pick up a Lotus in Magic, is a good day....heck, or even a Mox....or in this case, both.

I Need A Hero...

 Well, if you needed a hero and went to Loblaw stores last fall, you could get stickers from the 64 sticker Marvel Be A Hero set - one pack for every $25 spent. I had one lying around that I forgot to open at the time, so let's take a look.

In 2024, a similar non-sticker set of "cards" was released and there was a mad rush to collect them, which settled down. I don't think there was nearly the same reaction to this set, but still a nice little set to collect if you like Marvel.

The set up is similar - 4 stickers per "pack", front as shown above and the back below.

Picked this up at No Frills, and I ensured no children under 36 months were harmed in the making of this post.

No surprise Guardians of the Galaxy and X-Men make up all the cards I get.

I did learn something though. No idea what card 46 was until I looked it up. Apparently the Giardians ship is called The Milano and is named after actress Alyssa Milano from Who's The Boss and Charmed (at least that is where I always remember her from).

It also is apparently a Lego set, which I looked up and seems pretty cool if you are into such things, though a bit pricey as the one I saw was about $240 CDN.

I'll stick with checking out the free cards from Loblaw stores, thanks!

Getting Double

 Getting a string of cards in a lot like this one, you end up with duplicates in quick order sometimes, and most of my luck, that's not been a good thing, but today we benefit with seeing double...

You get the front and back shot of this nice Mitch Marner base card, all in one scan! Still sucks he left Toronto, but I digress, appreciate getting a couple more copies of the card - sweet!

We also get an insert, and I'll show both sides here so you can see the spiffy way to tell them, which I fully appreciate...

The design on the front does look different, so you can likely tell something is up with the card, but exactly what to call it - just check the back...

Now, it doesn't need to be this clear with the "Black Rainbow", I'd be more than happy if it were just above or below the 2023-24 Allure Hockey line, that works too. As someone with vision issues, I do absolutely appreciate the little nod, especially when there are 53 different possible parallels.

Unfortunately, in another lot of Allure cards from the 2026 Lot, those are all my highlights, but for those looking for some cards in the set themselves...here's a peek at the rest...

You can tell, scanning the cards this way, their curve did well to push up on the lid, and push some of the cards away from the scanner bed. Not a big deal, and seems to be with many if not all the Allure cards, so expect it's just how they roll with age.

Finally cross the massive 10 card line for Toronto cards coming from the lot....okay, not a high line to cross, but still a mark!

I have space for specific accomplishments, but still waiting for there to be one....

A Card Show and English and French!

A few months ago, there was a free card show at the Burlington Mall, and it must have gone well enough, it was back again yesterday. I went, hoping the same vendors would be there, and maybe more. I was curious to see if the number of vendors increased, or were a measure of success and whether it would become a regular thing. Well, I'd say there was about 15% more vendors, so it may be a somewhat regular recurring thing, and there were plenty of people when it opened at 10am. The downside, the sports cards were even less than what they were last time. Instead of 90% Pokemon, I'd say it was now 95% Pokemon and One Piece - no Magic and just a few sports card related offerings. Of the 4 or so sports card tables, three were a mix of Pokemon and sports cards, and the sports cards were all "higher end" singles, and I was not looking to spend $20-$2,000 on a card today. I did find a "cheaper" box at one table and flipped through with the criteria, Leaf cards pre-1975 and $2 or less a card.

That said, this is what I walked away with at $2 per card...

The Quinn is beat up but it's his rookie card, it's Pat Quinn, and it's from 1969-70, so give the card a break. The condition on the rest are quite good save some soft corners which are to be expected, but that was about all I found for $2 a card. I could have found more for $5 a card, but when I open those gates, I'd be afraid the money would just start flying. Besides, I'd rather work some trades on TCDB and move some of my own cards for trade, to better homes. Still, a nice enough experience, and if it's every few months, I'd probably go to check it out each time, in case there is something worthwhile to pick up. No unopened sports product though, plenty enough for Pokemon if you wanted to spend the money though.

Separately, on to the 2026 Lot...

1991-92 Pro Set was everywhere when I was collecting as a kid - I mean, I think I even busted a box of the stuff from each series. It's one I am sure I had a completed set for at some point. Buying sports cards lots even now, plenty of these "junk wax" sets that show up, and I don't expect much difference here, so some 1911-92 Pro Set is part for the course.

These are typical fare for the set, some stars and All-Stars, but it's not just English as we have some of the French variety to share as well...

Much easier to tell with the backs. I always take a quick peek at the heading on the stats in order to tell which version we are dealing with. A quick way for me as it stands out more than reading the write up, but of course that would work as well.

Could have been better with less Montreal representation, but I guess being the French version, that does feel more appropriate.

Well, these cards don't help me on my keepers out of the lot, but do keep hockey well ahead on representation in this lot...very Canadian....

Kawhi Not?

 Back to the 2026 Lot, and we get more Mosaic basketball, but solid on the Raptor representation!

We get Powell above, but at this point, former, Kawhi below was a big deal at the time this set was originally released.

After winning the championship in Toronto, Kawhi quickly turned and left the city. I think that at the time, fans in the city were a bit bitter on the abrupt change. Yes, it was a blow softened by the championship win, but many were hoping it could be turned into a couple, or more, it just wasn't to be.

Toronto did well with Kawhi gone right after the championship win, but couldn't quite keep the steam and the team fell apart a bit after 2020-21, well for a couple years anyway.

As for these cards, most are ones that have come up before but a handful are "new", so still looking to maybe complete the set save for the rookies - but time will tell.

A Surprise Package

 Every now and then, there is packages which go back and forth with Sportscards From The Dollar Store, and today I get to share a package which came my way. I usually send Sens or Bills as they need not stay here and are enjoyed there. Today, the Jays  (and a few Leafs)  that have a new home...

I had never seen the 1994 Leaf Slideshow insert cards before, and this Alomar is a nice one and done Blue Jay from the 10 card set. This was cool technology back in the day with the slideshow look and feel of the picture on the card, and it looks awesome held up to light too.

The 2014 Bowman Platinum Edwin is the second of three Jays from that base set, and then we get some newer Jays as well.

A first 2024 Topps Holiday Jay with Joey, and then all 4 Donruss 2025 base cards to knock off that team set quick as can be - sweet!

We get a bunch of 2025Topps Series 1 Jays. First 2025 flagship cards I have had in hand, and the design is fine. Reminds me more of a Bowman design, but it's okay - definitely not a favorite. I am not fofended by it, but it's not one I look at and think I really need to collect beyond getting my Jays.

We end with a few Leafs as any trade between two Canadians has to at least consider including hockey. The Ovation insert is one I hadn't seen before from the Upper Deck offering, and the Allure is the second of three base card Leafs from that set, so plenty of success in adding to the Toronto collection which is always greatly appreciated.

A Score-y From Orry

 Another fantastic trade to share, this one with Orry04 which is our fourth trade at TCDB (not that we have been trading anywhere else though). What he sent my way, is a whole bunch of baseball goodness and a bit of wrestling to boot..

We start with my first purple prizm card from 2021 Panini Prizm which looks nice and sleek. Same can be said about the Holo Semien.

Triston is the odd man out, being a 2021 Topps flagship base set addition and not part of the Jays collect, but just as important in the trade.

The pair of 2021 Topps A&G Chrome minis, are, sensing a theme, the first such cards from that insert set for my collection of Jays.

The Springer Wanted insert from 2021 Topps Big Leauge is new, and a one and done Jays insert set.

The Vladdy Classic insert is also a nice one and done Jays insert set - sweet....and the Emergent Hernandez as well.

The Rainbos Foil Hernandez top centre looks very nice in hand, but the Blue Ice Prizms for the Blue Jays are amazing! Any team colour equivalent parallel always adds a bit of wow factor.

Just one off the pure base team set for 2023 Topps Holiday with the couple unnecessary set additions. I mean, we have had games with snow before, but this fake design stuff just to sell the set - meh.

With these two cards, my 2020 Topps Road To Wrestlemania set is down to one last need - better than when I thought I was done incorrectly and found I was missing three cards.

Fantastic trade, and very much appreciated!