We recently introduced a new regular feature in Scoop: Origin Issue. The subject is a straightforward question, but one with many different answers: Why do you collect?

The subject this time Tom Gordon III, the President of ComicsPriceGuide.com.

For some of us collecting is a genetic trait. I am part of a family that has had at least five generations of collectors. My great-great-great Uncle Phillip L. Straus went west in the 1860s and collected Indian artifacts and traded with members the Crow Indian Nation.

My great-great Uncle Phillip G. Straus lived in Baltimore, Maryland and continued collecting through the turn of the century. He amassed a collection of over 50,000 autographs, and a large coin collection. His Americana collection contained an original hand written copy of the Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key, and he obtained President Abraham Lincoln’s White House appointment book from the first six months of the Lincoln Administration. He personally knew many notable individuals from the 19th century and the early 20th century, including John Singleton Mosby the Confederate "Grey Ghost," John Suratt, the son of Mary Suratt who was hanged for her part in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, and President Theodore Roosevelt.

My grandfather, Tom Gordon Sr., has been collecting since 1936. He is a collector of coins, stamps, political memorabilia, and other Americana. My father, Tom Gordon Jr., collects and deals in political Americana, American military items, 19th century country store material, paper Americana, and antique advertising.

I was very young when I started collecting, around four or five years old, and I collected everything. Early on I was very interested in fossils and rocks and would save rocks from various places I visited. Over the years my interests having included comic books, comic character memorabilia, original art, coins, Lincoln memorabilia, historical Americana and a wide variety of other items. I choose items that have an interesting history to them.

People ask why do you collect? I know for everyone there are many different reasons and mine it is primarily the history. It is the history of the item and also the times surrounding it, but also in my case it is my family history. I also, enjoy the discovery of new items which have never been seen by follow collectors. I’ve been fortunate to have contributed a number of items to numerous price guides and hobby articles of previously undocumented items in the past.

Growing up I had a number of older Dell comics which were my Dad’s, I can’t really say what my first comic was. I had some of his old TV and funny animal comics from when he was a kid. He gave most of his comics away to other kids who could not afford to buy them.  The first book I do remember buying was a copy of Detective Comics #455. I got that book one day when my Grandfather and I were out looking at coins.

When I graduated college I was operating Monumental Collectibles which bought and sold vintage comics and related memorabilia. In 2003 I joined Gemstone Publishing and was involved with both The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide and The Hake’s Guide To Pop Culture. I was able to use my research skills and interesting in history to add to these publications as well as several others. In 2008 I joined ComicsPriceGuide.com and have expanded coverage of comic history and related hobby news among other website upgrades at CPG. 

The best experience in collecting is meeting and getting to personally know many of the people who are involved. The most important part of collecting is the history, memories, and relationships that go along with this great hobby.

If you’d like to share your origin issue, drop us a line with “Origin Issue” in the subject line. We’re looking for a maximum of 200 words addressing why you collect (and it doesn’t have to be comic books).