Johnson Confectioner rarity

[Jason Carota]

About a month ago, I picked up the following Johnson Confectioner card:

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q319/jay1065/1901-1969%20Red%20Sox/1900-1939/W%20Cards/w575_1_1922_johnson_confect_scott.jpg

I have only been in the prewar part of the hobby for three years. In those three years, I had never noticed one of these on eBay, at local shows, or on the B/S/T, so I jumped at the chance to acquire this card for my Sox type collection. I was prepared for some competitive bidding, but was quite surprised to win the card (I was the sole bidder) for about $20 delivered.

As-far-as rarity goes, how does the Johnson back compare to other ad backs from this set? How does it compare to other backs (T206, etc.)?

[Al C.risafulli]

Hi Jason:

Sorry I didn't see this post right away. I collect Johnson Confectioners cards, so I do know a little bit about them.

I'm glad you got the Scott - it's a great-looking example and the price was outstanding. I didn't bid because I already have one.

In terms of rarity, it's really tough to tell. Finding a card with the back stamp for a type collection isn't particularly tough - they come up from time to time if you look hard enough, and occasionally you'll find them in larger lots of E121s (I've found a few of them that way).

At the same time, they ARE pretty tough - it's taken me three years and change to get the ones I have. Looking for a specific player or team is even harder.

Because it's the only set I collect with a specific back, I wouldn't know how to compare it to some of the better-known tough backs. I'd say it's up there in terms of rarity, but nowhere close in terms of demand. Most of the tougher T206 backs, for example, seem easier to find, but sell for much higher prices because more people want them. E121s and their ilk don't seem to have as many people collecting them, and since most of the Henry Johnsons are beaters, they don't really attract the high-grade crowd.

Either way, it's a great pickup at $20 for a card that nice. I've generally been paying $20 for beat-up commons; Scott is a little better than a common and that example you had is very nice (nicer than mine).

Great job!

-Al

PS: Here's my favorite card from the set so far:

http://www.net54baseball.com/picture.php?albumid=7&pictureid=893

[Ladder7]

He always did look better in the Sox uni. Great set.

[Jason Carota]

Thanks for the info and comments, Al! Your Ruth card looks amazing, too.

How far along are you with your set?

[Al C.risafulli]

Jason:

As absolutely ridiculous as this sounds, I'm up to something like 54 cards right now, plus 5 or 6 dupes to trade with type collectors who have other examples I need.

I'll be working on this for the rest of my life, because I think there's no real way to know how many cards were issued with this stamp. But I absolutely love collecting them. Love, love, love them.

-Al