I'd estimate our hobby in its infancy because:
- many sets are new to our hobby each year
- many cards are new to existing sets, identified each year
- many sets are uncataloged, and there is no apparent attempt to correct this
- there is no clear demarcation between non-sports cards and other paper collectibles


What are your thoughts on this?

I would concur with Gil, adding to his reasons the lack (or at least I am unaware) of the existance of a group (club, association, society, call-it-what-you-will) whose defined mission (goal) is to identify, categorize, and solve some of the issues mentioned by Gil.

With tremendous thank-you's to the Burdicks, Forbes, Watsons, and Bobbitts (and others) of the hobby; there is still a huge void in information concerning non-sports that seems to be daunting to the beginning collector, or even the advanced collector, and thereby quite detrimental.

Jon.

Although Jon, your statements are entirely true; it is also true that tremendous progress has been achieved over this past year. In no small way attributable to the efforts of Calandriello, Watson, Reilly and others.
We are all on this team, and Dan continuously cites those who have been most helpful.
Many of us however, have really little to add. And it is probably true that it is best to stay out of the way.
I think that it has only been a little over a year ago that this board was formed. For me, prior to that I did not have an active n/s activity, although I added slowly over the years to those sets which I started long ago. This past 1+ years has been quite an eye-opener for many of us, I would venture.

I agree with Gil just because he is a great guy!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me too.

But I don't understand a word he says.

... but I help him drink his wine ... an' he always has some mighty fine wine.

You are forgetting about the works of the Cartophilic Society of Great Britain and their 5 volume World Index published in the 50's. Although I guess that's Tobacco only.

Gil, I disagree with a few of your statements. Here is my .02 - this pertains to American issues only.
Many sets are added - I don't know of 'many' sets being added either this year or last to any issuer of cards unless they are new. I think most if any, new issues come from the 'F' or 'D' areas of collecting, I don't see many 'R' 'T' 'N' 'E' sets that are new.
Many cards are new/added - again, I'm not too sure we've seen many cards added to an existing set/series. There is more of a chance in the 'N' 'T' or 'E' sets than 'R' cards.
Many sets are uncatalogued - both Benjamin and Watson have come up with a way to catalog discovered sets since the last ACC book.
There is no clear demarcation in non sport to other paper collectibles, I agree 100% with this, everything from the back of cereal boxes to valentine issues are considered part of the 'non sport' family and in my mind some are justified and some are not.
Does this mean the hobby is in its infancy - not really but compared to other well known hobbies (stamp collecting, civil war, autographs etc), certainly our hobby is near the bottom. Just think, one day you'll be able to tell your kids and grandkids that you 'helped' further the hobby by your contributions, I know I'll tell my kids that.