#40-You Need a Hobby, Inventing Benz, and Cobb
Searching for the World's Greatest Collectibles
Three Thoughts -
#1 - You Need a Hobby
I recommend collecting.
Collect what? Doesn’t matter.
Here’s an idea. Start with one coin.
Learn about it - and give your mind a break.
You need to give your mind a break from the daily grind.
Collecting coins - or anything else for that matter, serves a critical function for rest.
Collectors have tried to explain this for hundreds of years -
The collector goes on to explain -
It's never been more important to unplug - and take up a relaxing hobby.
But not just for rest. It could also help fuel your next breakthrough idea.
In the book "Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation," author Steven Johnson searches for patterns among the producers of great ideas across disciplines -
It’s likely you already have a hobby. But if you notice someone struggling for direction, recommend they find an enjoyable hobby to distract the mind for just a few minutes - and give it a rest!
#2 - Greater Economy of Force
What is it?
Thomas Edison knew exactly what it was.
Although many inventors tinkered with a gas-powered carriage before, none of them could execute. Their experiments went abandoned.
But then in 1883, Karl Benz began working quietly on his invention of a four-stroke engine powered 'horseless carriage' - alone, and in secrecy.
Gas powered carriages were such a crazy idea at that time, you were labeled a lunatic by attempting to build one.
Benz knew to stay out of the fray - until he had a prototype.
Then, even after he drove his Benz Patent-Motorwagen down a public street in Manheim, Germany in 1886, the doubts didn't stop.
It took 10 more years to repeal the "Red Flag Act," which required all self-propelled vehicles to be preceded by a person walking at least 60 yards ahead carrying a red flag.
Luckily, the great minds of the day knew the titanic shift that was underway.
In 1895, Thomas Edison was asked his thoughts on the horseless carriage.
Still a controversial subject, Edison nailed his response -
"Talking of a horseless carriage suggests to my mind that the horse is doomed... It is only a question of a short time when the carriages of every large city will be run by motors. The expense of keeping and feeding horses in a great city like New York is very heavy, and all this will be done away with. You must remember that every invention of this kind which is made adds to the general wealth by introducing a new system of greater economy of force. A great invention which facilitates commerce, enriches a country just as much as the discovery of vast hoards of gold."
Hoping for a much more cynical answer, the interviewer walked away dejected.
Karl Benz was the first to invent, then execute on the problem of a motor vehicle.
Through all the public skepticism, he introduced, in Edison's words, "a new system of greater economy of force."
Now, Mercedes Benz is a symbol of determination, luxury, style, and quality. It’s no wonder collectors pay millions for the finest examples of the historic brand.
#3 - The Greatest Baseball Card of All Time?
Everyone knows the T206 Honus Wagner baseball card sold for $7 million because it's super rare, right?
Afterall, once Wagner found out his face was featured on a tobacco baseball card advertisement, he famously ordered them to stop printing his card.
This led to the Wagner card being more rare than any other from the legendary 1909-1911 T-206 card set, right?
Wrong.
Ty Cobb has a much more rare card from the T-206 series. It features a red background with a "Ty Cobb" Tobacco advertisement on the back.
There are only 22 of these Ty Cobb cards in existence. The Honus Wagner T-206 includes 70-80 examples.
In 2016, someone paid about $1 million for the highest-grade PSA 4.5 version of the Ty Cobb T-206 'red boarder' card. But nobody knows for sure, it was a private sale.
You could easily make the case for this card being worth at least as much as the most valuable T-206 Honus Wagner.
Is it just the Honus Wagner T-206 "hype" that's overshadowing possibly the greatest baseball card of all-time?
If you had to pick one over the other, which way are you going? I know what my vote would be.
Reach me on the socials or email - I’d love to hear what you’re collecting next!
My ask of you - help someone find an enjoyable hobby this week, it might lead them on an unexpected adventure. And at the very least, it will give the mind a short rest.
Please subscribe and share this to someone who might enjoy it!
Thanks for reading, and have a great week!
TJ@atticcapital.com