Chuck Jennings practices law in Indiana, where he lives with his wife Susan. Besides sports and gardening, Chuck collects credit cards. In the following interview, we talk about his interest in credit card collecting, an area of ephemera that many people know little about.
ephemera: How did you become interested in credit card collecting, Chuck?
Jennings: I first began collecting credit cards in 1969. It was an extension of my interest then in numismatics. I found it a little more challenging and interesting than coins, and I made an assumption that at some date in the future we would limit our use of coins. Because issuers encouraged users to destroy expired cards, I concluded there would be fewer cards available in early years. I eventually ran across an article about others who had made the same change, and joined an organization that was the predecessor to the current American Credit Card Collectors Society. I became a member, and eventually served in several roles, and currently on the Board as past chairman. We have several hundred members around the globe with the same interests.
ephemera: I'll be a lot of people will be surprised to hear there is such an organization with so many members. What challenges or obstacles do you encounter as a collector? How do you overcome these challenges?
Jennings: One challenge was that in my earliest days I was unaware of other collectors. Many of the current collectors began about the same decade, but we were unaware of each other. So as a result our first efforts were to collect the cards we received, and to apply for others. Because of the positions taken by issuers, it was very important to keep your credit records clear, with no blemishes, and to overcome any problem with references to the number of applications for cards within specific time periods.
Once the collectors group was formed, it became possible to trade and buy/sell cards. Now eBay allows us to buy and sell credit coins, plates, and cards over 10 years and obtain pieces that we otherwise would never see or know of unless we were lucky. At the time I attended the first Convention of the ACCCS, I was astounded to see literally 10’s of thousands of cards new to me, and I began attending religiously every year, and I have traded myself many thousands of cards over the past 10 years.
The ACCCS Convention this year is September 18-20, in Las Vegas. The ACCCS and the Convention was the primary way to overcome the obstacles. None of our members have encountered problems with retaining and trading or selling credit coins, plates or cards. Despite what the issuers say about destruction, none of us have ever had any problem with improper use of our cards, accounts, etc, and no problems with identity theft, etc. The only problem we have with credit cards are the same exorbitant interest rates that we would be charged , like anyone else, if we do not pay the balance. Some issuers welcome our group and interests, although a few treat us like less than desirables. Some of our members are employees, and ex-employees of some of the biggest issuers of credit cards.
ephemera: What are your favorite charge cards? Do you have a crowning jewel or show stopper in your collection? If so, what is it?
Jennings: I have extensive collections of credit coins, and charge plates, and also one of the larger collections of the older, princess-sized retail cards. My specialty in the current sized cards are retail issued cards. I really do not think of any one piece that I have for example, of the coins, that would not be matched by a few of the plates or plastic cards. I rate my favorites more by categories rather than by item. My favorite category, with many fascinating pieces, would be the coins, followed closely by the princess plastic, then the charge plates, and then standard-sized plastic. I, like others, also favor The American Express and Diners Club cards of the early years.
ephemera: What resources do you recommend to would-be charge card collectors?
Jennings: Charge coins the first catalog is over 25 years old prepared by Edward Dence. The most recent, about 3-5 years old is by Stephen Alpert. Both have a few images, and a lot of descriptions. Charge Plates a new catalog this year by Jerry Ballard is the authority. The society website is the location for many articles, images, etc.
ephemera: Thanks, Chuck. I know a lot of readers will get a real charge out of this interview. Seriously, it's a great area of ephemera that I think deserves a lot more attention from collectors.
For more details about trading cards, read my ephemera card guide.Search Abebooks for the books listed in this interview.
