T207 Set Progress
 

I've been working on a T207 set for the past few months and have picked up a bunch (some thanks to Net54 members). I'm onsite, but when I get home I'll post some of my favs. One of the things I've noticed about the set is that lower grade examples are as pleasing to me as high grade ones. Kinda weird since I'm usually a condition first freak. I've got miscuts, marked, poor examples that are cool.

Right now I'm at 77/206 on the set with a couple of the toughies included. I have a bunch raw in for grading. Stand by for scans and ......I think the set needs a nickname. I'm open to suggestions.

BTW, I don't do enough posting on the board.............with all the craziness about the negative aspects of our hobby posted ad nauseum, I'm gonna make a concerted effort to contribute. The exposure of fraud is important, I'm just not happy that it seems to be consuming the board. That is all.

Here's one - love it! Please post your favorites!

I'm a big fan of the set.

at first I wasn't keen on the portraits, but have grown to like a lot of them as well.

my first subset attempt was recruit "bat, belt, glove showing" seems like I got within a McKechnie of finishing that. By then I had decided I also liked a lot of the portraits and also read either an article or a post by I think Tim N which suggested that the recruits may have been issued in 2 series, with the 2nd series being a bit tougher.

So, I shifted to a recruit 2nd series subset which included a few portraits. Didn't get as close on that one when life got in the way and I had to stop my pursuit.

Never picked up any broadleafs due to the cost, but I do enjoy most of the the cards in the set (there are definitely some duds though) .

The Speaker is one of my favorite pre-war cards. I believe this one came from Mac of OBC fame.


I typing all this from memory so excuse me if some of the facts or names are off.

t207
 

I collect only NY Americans. My Chester Hoff back run.......

It's a great set by my standards. Doc White is one of my favorite pics.

These came in today's mail!

And these - up to 82 / 206!

Thank you for the backgroud info. I dont believe I've ever seen a Speaker in person - tough, tough card. On the hunt!!!!

T207
 

I only have one T207, which is a type card for my Louisiana collection. It is one of my favorites.

Rick

Waiting for the last catcher
 

I still pick up any nice T207 catchers that become available, but I'm still waiting for the right Irving Lewis T207 to become available.

He's the last catcher I need in the set.

Patrick

Thanks for posting a positive thread. I wish more members would do the same. One can hope.,
Love that pose. I never really collected T207 except as back types. Here those are from my previous collection.

http://luckeycards.com/pt207groupof8.jpg

T207 ...
 

Never have enough of these threads - thanks for starting, John (and I completely echo the positivity sentiment, Leon!)

Great progress so far, and so quickly! Couple of the tougher group of Recruits in those you've shown. T207 is very doable in grades around 40/3, and you'll find lots of cards with great eye appeal that are very affordable... but finishing will take patience ... maybe lots... think Job.:):)

Hard to pick a favorite to show, so I'll go with one of my first (from 1991)

Pirates!
 

Interesting story - I'm working on Pittsburgh Pirates team sets with my kids -1952-1973 Topps, 1948-1955 Bowman, T205, T3, T206 (no Wagner), 1914 and 1915 Cracker Jack and 1933 Goudey. At least that's where we started. So I'm emailing back and forth with a board member about some T206's and he mentions T207. I don't recall even hearing about them before - I check them out - initially I am not liking their "lack of color" - then I spend some more time looking and find myself drawn to them in some strange way - so we have added T207 Pirates to the list - I think we have 1-2 so far - sorry no scans readily available - also was the under bidder on a Signed Max Carey - REALLY wanted that one for the collection, but it got just out of my price range :(

Coutesy of a fellow Net54 member. Thanks!!! Should arrive tomorrow - stoked!!

John,
You are making really great progress. Very exciting to see your number grow!

John,

I don't know a lot about T207 but I know those are three nice pick ups. Thanks for sharing your progress so far.

Eric,
Thank you! I’ve been fortunate to pick up a few groups of lower grade cards that included a few toughies and it kick started me. The groups are averaging maybe $30/card - so it isn’t breaking the bank. I have 50+ in for grading. When those get back I’ll have about 120 different, but that’s when the set starts to get tough. The Wood and Saier pictured above are dupes (don’t know which I’ll be keeping) but my plan is to use cards like those as trade bait. We shall see. I’ll keep posting as they come in! Thanks, everyone, for the compliments and the words of encouragement.

John

Grabbed two more last night! My strategy of only looking at PSA graded cards and not raw or SGC has failed horribly. The idea was by looking only at PSA cards, my opportunity to purchase would be reduced, thus saving by budget. In theory it works, but I am oh so weak. Both cards look to be vg to vg/ex.

Earl Moore - Broadleaf
Eugene Woodburn - Anonymous #25 (tough back)

Side note: not many (a few) folks care about the reverse. I like Cycle backs although they aren't that difficult. A fairly comprehensive study and discussion was done by one of our own. Its fascinating stuff!

I got to 100 different with the delivery of this Bender today!!! I have about twelve more in for grading. The goal is to do the set for under $20k. Not sure if that’s possible, but I have a number of downgrades - Wood PSA4, Weaver Cycle Sgc50, etc. we will see. Meanwhile I’m just pumped to be halfway!!

So...............I've broken the 100 different mark with a couple of Ebay pickups. I am in the middle of a trade that will add a few more (get me to 105). Here's the "Playing with my cards" pic!!

Congratulations John, on reaching the half-way point on the set. That is a notable achievement!

I've always been a fan of the set, and have all the HOFers, along with Jake Daubert, Hank Gowdy, Hippo Vaughn and Joe Wood. I've often thought of collecting the set, but have let all the tough cards scare me off.

I might just give the set a try, once I finish my T205 basic set; I'm only ten cards short on it.


Steve

Steve,

Thank you for the kind words. Although its been only a short while, I've enjoyed the hunt. The tough cards will make it more fun (although check back with me in a year or so).

Some of the toughies are really tough. Good luck going forward.

Came home this week to a package from a trade with a fellow board member. Two downgrades and four new cards bringing the total to 105/206!!! Love the socks on Mr. Scott.

Down to 104/206 if I count only PSA graded cards in hand. I traded my Saier off as I have one into PSA.

I'm trying to get this set done under $20k - not sure if that's possible, but I continue to downgrade. I buy better cards with the strategy of getting more bulk for nicer cards. I've met a couple of willing traders and it makes both parties happy with the cards in hand as a result. It's weird, lower graded cards in this series don't bother me and I'm usually a condition freak.

Do other folks trade in this era of higher priced cards? How many of you pursue complete sets? I see a lot of threads on T206 and an occasional T205, but not much else. Let me know!!!

I am currently trying to complete the set, it is very tough and underrated. I have traded with multiple members here.

Learned the hard way a few times that when a really tough card comes along, if you don't jump, you may not have the opportunity again for several years or even a decade. So......……….i grabbed this today. Pumped!!

Nice card, John. Congrats.
And even moreso, if you see the emblem variation, grab it quickly.

I always liked this set and owned a couple at one time. Many of the portraits have a haunting quality to them.

Leon,

707 has one, but I’m hoping to grab something a little nicer. It’s priced aggressively, but not egregious. The “no emblem” is much tougher.

Great pick up John! Congrats.

+1
Steve

Congrats John!
 

Congrats John!

Tough card!

I'll be happy when I can finish off my run with Mr. Lewis!

Patrick

Amazing pickup

Everyone, tHanks for the kind words on the Lewis. I still have a ton to go, but I do have 25-30 at PSA for entombing and then I’ll be at 135-140. Always looking for trading partners or straight buys.

Isaac, I’m still waiting on PSA for grading on our prospective deals. Weaver stayed a SGC 4. Lemme know what you are up to.

How many complete T207 sets are out there? I know of a couple of board members with them. My guess is ten or less. Chime in!!!

Added two tough low grade beauties! I wish all my cards looked this good.

Hi John,
Congrats on the Lewis! That really is tough.

I have a set that I consider complete without the "no emblem" Lewis. One of him was enough for me. :)

You're not the only one
 

+1 - I think most feel the same

Great progress John!

I have a complete set most if which was purchased as part of a large prewar collection about 20 years ago. I have filled in a few variations that were missing. Love the set, great fun.

Back to cards
 

Switched tombs! I have a bunch in for slabbing yet - the wait drives me crazy. at 120/206.

I'd love to know the answer to that myself. I am nearly there at 195/200 for the basic set. I'm sure there are more than ten of those and I know of at least a few people with one. But the full set with all variations? I'd probably say less than that but that's nothing more than a guess.

It's just tough to get a handle on it, obviously. There are so many collectors off the grid in terms of not keeping an online profile. Plus a lot of old collections out there, too.

Cooperstown find
 

Cooperstown VFW show

Nice. I have heard the w/emblem version is actually the tougher of the two.

Not a chance
 

Sorry, Leon - not even close. Your former business partner has weighed in similarly on this point a couple of times over the recent past - no-emblem is harder (by ~far) than the with-emblem variety. Seems like even low-grade ones command north of five figures when they show up. I do not have hard evidence for this... again my memory has been getting faulty.

Can't say that I understand it, as I'm one of the minority that thinks that Livingston is the only true variation - the others were just printing errors. I'm not laying out that kind of change for one ... I'll call it done without, and be satisfied.

--
Mike

Mike,

I hear what you are saying about the potential printing error, but in examining the two Irving cards, the removal or non-printing of the emblem seems, to me , deliberate. Even the "BOSTON" appears slightly different on the two cards.

I agree with you on the "BOSTON" appearing slightly different.

I'm looking at the "T", and on the "with emblem" card, the crossbar on the T appears to be at a right-angle to the upright; whereas, on the "no emblem" card, the crossbar appears to be slightly higher on the left, and go at a downward angle to the right.

Of course, that could be because that particular "no emblem" card also appears to have richer and bolder colors than that "with emblem" card.

Steve

Agreed, Steve. John - your no-emblem has bolder color than most I've seen - which isn't many - a larger sample size would clarify for me one way or the other.

--
Mike

Finally another addition
 

From a fellow board member - tough Recruit Clyde Engle. Progress has slowed as of late. I have 60+ at PSA and picked up one or two raw (coming at you Bobby!) Up to 122 in the set!

John,

I will have a large number of singles(and a couple of lots) in my upcoming Sept/Oct auction. Hopefully some will help.

Scott

Scott,
Looking forward to it. Feel free to send a list to me when appropriate. Thanks!

John