Rob Irwin

I know the way I got into collecting is like so many other people; through a sibling. I also know that my love of history is barely unique in a place like this. So I know I have a shared background with many people. A less shared area - perhaps - is that I've always loved the thrill of the chase. When I decide I want, say, a 1914 trio with an original bar, to a cavalry unit, the utter thrill of getting out there and, (a) finding groups that fit the criteria and, (b) comparing them re: ranks, units, KIA?, price, etc, I find very, very mentally stimulating. Actually getting the trio at the end of the process is less thrilling than the chase and almost always I put it away for a year or two, or even longer, before I pull it out again, like some brand-new thing I've never seen before, and I will start on the research or whatever. And while this might not be unique either, I think it's maybe less common among collectors (many of whom would dive into the research immediately)?