Since the global banking crisis, so long ago, I have pretty much been the only one bidding on playing card decks from Aruba. I have never had more than one competing bid (always minimal) and generally there have been none. Even before the drop in collecting values at that time, the most I have ever seen an Aruba deck go for is $12, which was for a King International deck I have never seen again...until now. A seller was selling three Aruba decks, all sealed, and all decks I don't own. Two were colors of decks I own in different colors, but the King International is a design I don't own. I bid high on all three decks, over $15 on all three and much, much higher on the King International deck. I got outbid at the last moment on all three (not automatic bids, but just bids placed very near the end). Very strange.

I have mixed feelings. First, I am disappointed because it is pretty hard to find decks I don't own that fit in my Aruba collection. Losing on three in a 15 minute span was a bit painful. Second, I guess I am not the only person willing to pay for these decks (at least for the sealed decks). And, I guess, that means someone is out there I can trade with, or sell to, and my decks have some value.

I know that's just how it goes with collecting, but for the last 12 years, that's really not how it has gone. As I said, crazy stuff.

Michael Siskin