Collectors: To open or not to open?

[OVSUB]

I was wondering, since many on UC are collectors, if you guys open your decks that you collect?
I personally enjoy opening my decks because I see decks and cards as art to be enjoyed. How do you guys see it?

[RelativityCards]

I open practically everything, unless I think it's just too valuable to do so. I haven't opened any of my Black Monoliths

[kem-collector]

Everyone asks this question. Everyone has a different answer, reason and level of animosity against those who have a different viewpoint. Me personally, I collect decks with the intent to display them (all eventually). I have a closet full of open decks that can be used anytime. I stopped opening decks years ago because it was like...open deck, look at cards, go "cool!", put cards back in deck, put deck on shelf, never take out cards again, deck now not able to be used in a trade/sale.

If I want to see the cards inside the tuck, I do one of two things. I look online at the actual cards or I buy more than one deck.

[RelativityCards]

I'm right there with you in the two deck camp. In feast, I buy at least two and open one. In famine, I buy none... unless I really want to support a project, then I get one

[STLBluesNut]

I like to open all of my decks and I rarely buy doubles. If I do, generally the extra is for my son. I am not concerned about resale value.

To each their own though. If the next guy opens one or a brick or opens none, it has no bearing of my opinion of them or my enjoyment of my collection.

Sent from my S10+ using Tapatalk

[hsbc]

I haven't opened any of my Black Monoliths

You must! Do it NOW

[Harvonsgard]

level of animosity against those who have a different viewpoint.

Let's hope that isn't true. Who takes themself so seriously that he cares, in a negative sense, about how others handle their collection?

I for my part, love to handle cards. I grow up with classic board games like chess, checkers, mill and card games, too many to name all . I dabble into cardistry, and thinking about picking up some card magic as well. So the main part of playing cards and the reason I collect them is the playing part.

[crixmas]

I recently approached this world. I started collecting, thanks to the wonderful graphics on the cards. I also have a passion for photography, so I like to open the decks that I buy and take some photos, as you can see from my signature instagram profile. I decided that when a deck is between limited editions I buy two, one is opened the other remains closed.Logically all this if finances allow it.Sorry for my english but I use the translator.

[rousselle]

I think it's great that many of us answer this question many different ways. I love it that some collect to have, and some collect to display, and some collect to handle, while others actually use the cards. At least one of our frequent contributors will bring his collectable decks to his regular poker game to shuffle and deal during an evening of card play. Love it!

I'm one of the folks who buys more than one whenever I can so that I can have the joy of opening and handling each kind of deck I buy and still have another one sealed for the collection.

I don't always open them as soon as I get them; I like to be in the right mood, and I truly savor the moment.

I have opened every single Lotrek-produced (ie, non USPCC or LPCC manufactured) deck I own. Every. Single. One. This started because some of his earlier self-produced decks might miss a card or have duplicates of a card, but now it's just become... I don't know. Tradition! A ritual! There is a certain something to be said for the feel of opening up a Lotrek deck and truly admiring each and every card. Now, that said, I haven't shuffled every deck of his.

Yet.

And, oh, yes, I've opened a Black Monolith. Mmmm. That was a tasty, tasty deck.

Some of the open decks (again, when I have an extra or two that can stay sealed for the collection), I add to my pile of decks-in-rotation that I use for playing card games with my boys as part of our night time, getting-ready-for-bed ritual. This has allowed me to develop a strong sense of the durability and the snap and feel of decks as they are put through the paces with boys who aren't necessarily very careful when they riffle shuffle. (One of my boys is still learning how to bridge after the shuffle. Heh.) As a result, I have a well-informed opinion about not just the printing quality and the design of decks by different producers, but also the handling and longevity of the various stocks and finishes of different card manufacturers.

I've been toying with the idea of putting together a horror video showing us pulling out a beautiful, rare deck and just... shuffling the cards. Stephen King ain't got nothing on me.

Lately, when timing allows, I've been enjoying watching a friend or two on Instagram share their deck-opening experiences with a bunch of fellow collectors via a live video stream. Mmmm. Card Porn.

The thing is, though, while it's fun to watch someone else open up a deck and examine the cards, that's just no substitute for the real thing.

Truly, your mileage may vary. But, I gotta say... I do likes me some playing cards in my hands, not just sitting on a shelf.

[crixmas]

For example, I try to buy decks that have a story to read. Decks of cards that were born as a result of something. For example, I'm fascinated by how the Lost Deer Jungle card deck was born.

I think it's great that many of us answer this question many different ways. I love it that some collect to have, and some collect to display, and some collect to handle, while others actually use the cards. At least one of our frequent contributors will bring his collectable decks to his regular poker game to shuffle and deal during an evening of card play. Love it!

I'm one of the folks who buys more than one whenever I can so that I can have the joy of opening and handling each kind of deck I buy and still have another one sealed for the collection.

I don't always open them as soon as I get them; I like to be in the right mood, and I truly savor the moment.

I have opened every single Lotrek-produced (ie, non USPCC or LPCC manufactured) deck I own. Every. Single. One. This started because some of his earlier self-produced decks might miss a card or have duplicates of a card, but now it's just become... I don't know. Tradition! A ritual! There is a certain something to be said for the feel of opening up a Lotrek deck and truly admiring each and every card. Now, that said, I haven't shuffled every deck of his.

Yet.

And, oh, yes, I've opened a Black Monolith. Mmmm. That was a tasty, tasty deck.

Some of the open decks (again, when I have an extra or two that can stay sealed for the collection), I add to my pile of decks-in-rotation that I use for playing card games with my boys as part of our night time, getting-ready-for-bed ritual. This has allowed me to develop a strong sense of the durability and the snap and feel of decks as they are put through the paces with boys who aren't necessarily very careful when they riffle shuffle. (One of my boys is still learning how to bridge after the shuffle. Heh.) As a result, I have a well-informed opinion about not just the printing quality and the design of decks by different producers, but also the handling and longevity of the various stocks and finishes of different card manufacturers.

I've been toying with the idea of putting together a horror video showing us pulling out a beautiful, rare deck and just... shuffling the cards. Stephen King ain't got nothing on me.

Lately, when timing allows, I've been enjoying watching a friend or two on Instagram share their deck-opening experiences with a bunch of fellow collectors via a live video stream. Mmmm. Card Porn.

The thing is, though, while it's fun to watch someone else open up a deck and examine the cards, that's just no substitute for the real thing.

Truly, your mileage may vary. But, I gotta say... I do likes me some playing cards in my hands, not just sitting on a shelf.

[theCapraAegagrus]

I open 1 of everything.

[Adonael]

No such thing as 'too valuable' to open for me, why would I buy it if I was planning on selling it anyway? I always open no matter what, even my Icons Signature (which refuses to fan lol), luckily the wax seal/string is removable without breaking it but don't think I wouldn't have. I'm not too fussed if people actually open their decks, many people do move on or go on to sell them later and for paper goods there is a long history of collectors not opening what they collect. But for the love of all that is good if you're displaying your decks take off the ugly damn cello, it's art. Do you wrap your paintings or prints in food wrap before hanging them up on the wall? No, that would be silly and ruin it's aesthetic, visual texture and tactile value.

[Outsider]

As a general rule, I open a deck only if and when I plan to put it to immediate use. I see no point in opening a deck, looking briefly at the courts, then tossing it back in a drawer; this just devalues the collection for no utility gained.

[laitostarr777]

I was wondering, since many on UC are collectors, if you guys open your decks that you collect?
I personally enjoy opening my decks because I see decks and cards as art to be enjoyed. How do you guys see it?

In my experience in card collecting, well..... I have to open those decks, because I want to see the beauty of the custom designed playing cards - even if it means I have to open the only limited edition decks I obtained (no choice, because I can't afford getting a second copy)

While opening those decks, I have to be extra careful of opening the cards without harming the playing cards. I retain half portions of the cellophane, carefully remove the seals and stamped it either inside the tuckbox (if there are no unique design in the interior) or on the cellophane. [in worst case, just cut through the seal with a cutter]. For playing cards that have new deck order, I can either just retain or break it. For playing cards that have specific stack, I will keep the order at any cost (unless you documented the order with a photo, then feel free to shuffle it. Well-played magicians would definitely remember these stacks, and simply can go all out with it).

I heard it is general rule of collectors, that at least own two copies of each deck, so that one you can open and enjoy, and one you can keep it sealed and unopened.

Though, sometimes you get the anxiety on the unopened decks - are the cards fine? No missing cards? Is it centered well? (in case of Kickstarter, will you get the decks as promised?). Well you get the picture.... [there is one case, in which I opened The Planets Saturn deck, and I am missing one Joker, that I ended up buying another one ;w;]

[CollectADeck]

I am firmly in the two decks camp, when you can afford it. That being said, out of the 100+ unique decks I have collected in my 2ish months in this hobby, I have so far opened... 5.

[rousselle]

I am firmly in the two decks camp, when you can afford it. That being said, out of the 100+ unique decks I have collected in my 2ish months in this hobby, I have so far opened... 5.

Why rush?

[Smocito]

I open all my decks.

If I'm buying a recent deck I prefer it sealed, if I'm buying an ancient deck I prefer it opened because I want to know how the cards are (if they are dirty, marked, torn...).

[theCapraAegagrus]

As a general rule, I open a deck only if and when I plan to put it to immediate use. I see no point in opening a deck, looking briefly at the courts, then tossing it back in a drawer; this just devalues the collection for no utility gained.

The point is to decide which decks to bring out.

I can admire a deck of cards without 'putting it to use'. Fact of the matter is; I don't play cards that often anymore.

[andreac75]

My son always scolds me! We have a small collection (started a few months ago) with around 40 decks. I opened them all. 3 decks are number 1. Example 1 of 2500 for some riffle shuffle decks ......

[justplaycards]

I don't feel the need to open everything. In fact the vast majority of my collection is sealed. Obviously there are some decks (even though I have seen the artwork online) I feel I have to see for myself and these decks I double up on. The new Circus decks by Marianne Larsen for example.

I do take a bit of stick from time to time for being a non opener. But who cares, I collect for me