By Jackson Melin
Twice a year, Tempe, Ariz. is host to the Collectibles on College’s state card show. The show, now going on its 10th anniversary, offers a wide range of collectibles ranging from signed photos to pop figures to packs of Pokémon cards.
“We’re trying to connect and give back to the collectible hobby more,” Collectibles on College Associate Luis Sanchez said. “We want to branch out more than just sports memorabilia, reaching out into different collectibles that maybe you don’t usually see.”
450 tables surrounded the convention, all with different vendors and collectibles. Some tables had games to win small prizes or raffle tickets for bigger rewards.
Sports cards tend to dominate the market. Large briefcases full of 2.5×3.5 inch pieces of cardboard on full display, either on the table or just under.
The cost of items ranged from as little as 50 cents all the way up to $200,000. One of the more notable items was a card signed by both Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
The show also featured athlete signings, with photo ops available. There is also James Spence Authentication (JSA) autograph authentication on-site, so you can authenticate your items while at the show.
The next show will be Nov. 7-9 at the Phoenix Convention Center.
