Do you ever buy or collect cards in their respective albums.

[derek dea]

Do you collect cigarette cards in their respective albums.
I have noticed that especially on ebay you can get some very good sets that are in their albums a lot cheaper than loose cards.
Is it worth getting these? until loose sets are available.
I do have a few and I am quite happy, as long as they are secured in album correctly.

[lachlan]

The issue seems to be with the corner marks made by having the cards in the album so long. And yet having cards in an album at least secured them from handling damage. Bit of a paradox.

[baystokie]

Are you referring to those albums where the
cards were 'stuck-in' by virtue of their having
adhesive backs - these are useful in getting
young children interested - though not adding
much value to adult collections. There are dealers
 who can supply cheap cards with vg fronts and poor
backs especially for those who want to affix them -
the poor backs being then irrelevant.

[derek dea]

That is exactly the albums I refer to, those with cards stuck in.
Bearing in mind that is how they were meant to be displayed when originally released.

[mrp1017]

No, never. These cards usually have back damage from any glue. They also have corner dimples from the mounts. Both are destructive to cards and unappealing to me as a general collector.

[baystokie]

 As the original poster meant 'stuck-in' cards,I
wouldn't have thought he was bothered by
damaged backs and the question of dimples
from mounts would not arise? Also if kept in the
 album, card destruction would not arise'

They may be unappealing to you and that's your
prerogative but some collectors still enjoy
their hobby in this way and that's OK by me

[IanSammel]

German collectors seem to prefer cards stuck in albums rather than loose.  The problem is that the original collectors often filled up spaces by sticking in any spare card they had around, whether it was the right one or not.  Also they would use cards issued by different manufacturers to the album issuer.  After all, you can't see the back when the card is stuck in.  That means you never really know what you have got.

[baystokie]

German collectors seem to prefer cards stuck in albums rather than loose.  The problem is that the original collectors often filled up spaces by sticking in any spare card they had around, whether it was the right one or not.  Also they would use cards issued by different manufacturers to the album issuer.  After all, you can't see the back when the card is stuck in.  That means you never really know what you have got.

Many of the adhesive era cards had the
manufacturer's name on the front - and you can
always view the cards before buying. I.m just
trying to inject a sense of live and let live,
- it's not yet a capital offence!

[IanSammel]

There's nothing wrong with collecting cards in albums.  Collect what you like, that's what the hobby is all about.  Particularly German sets had very lavish albums, often more like reference books than simple card albums.  I find that the albums are just as collectable as the cards are.  Personally I like to collect a set of loose cards and an empty album to go with them rather than an album with cards stuck in.