I Can't Believe It's Not Cardboard - Highlighting Other Personal Collectibles (Dany Heatley Bust)

There was a time back in 2011-2012 that I was trying to make up for lost time. I hadn't collected a lot in the early 2000s and my collection severely lacked in that time frame. While purchasing newer product that year, I would also try to track down some different items from the first 3-4 years of the century to add to my collection. One such trip down that path took me to the 2002-03 Upper Deck Classic Portraits set.  I did a write-up on this set and the box that opened quite a while ago.  You can check that out here if you are so inclined.  

While I'm not going to get into the particulars here, I will mention the significance of this set being that Upper Deck basically stopped production on this after a lackluster pre-order from hobby dealers.  This made boxes themselves fairly rare, for lack of a better word. While the set is made up of 100 base cards and 38 rookies, it's the subject of today's feature that garners all the attention. That's right. We are talking about the Upper Deck Mini-Bust Collection. 

With an extensive checklist that features 17 different players in home, away and alternate sweaters, these collectible marvels also featured autographed versions, real marble versions, and ones made of glass.  The mini-bust I was able to procure from my box back then was an autograph version of Dany Heatley (home jersey).  

For those not familiar, the busts are a waist-up representation of the player perched atop a small marble column, which in turn is resting on a display slab. Since mine is the autograph version, you can see that the front plate of the display has a sticker autograph of the Atlanta Thrasher's legend.  

The side of the marble column features the Upper Deck logo, which also appears to be a sticker or at least some type of decal.  The back goes into further detail of the player's jersey with number and name. 

On the bottom of the statue, there is an Upper Deck seal which explains..."You have received a bust personally autographed by Dany Heatley. This label was signed and sent to Upper Deck directly from Dany Heatley, then permanently affixed to the bust. This certificate expressly warrants the authenticity of the depicted athlete's signature."

You can see by mine, it's been loved a bit. Heatley's stick blade was snapped at some point. I don't remember if I did that or if it came that way, probably the later.  Also, the permanent label on the front is kind of peeling up on the corner. You'll also notice some scratching to the back of the jersey and a few spots of chipped paint. But, with all that said, it's a piece that I have out on display and show proudly along with my other collectibles.

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