Need advice on a pre-WW1 type collection
 

I've been working on a pre- 1920 type collection. My goal is to show the diversity of collecting during that period. I've assembled about 25 pieces but want to add more. So what should I go after?

Again, I'm looking for things other than just typical tobacco or candy cards that all look the same. I prefer Major League and a price point where lower grades will be under $300

What suggestions do you have for something interesting to add?

Mark,

That's a very nice start to a type set that you have!

If you are looking to add something more to it, there are a number of different postcards that you could consider (Dietsche, Wolverine News Co., Max Stein, etc.), or strip cards (W514, W519, etc.). You could also add something like a Collins-McCarthy (E135) or Boston Store advertising back.

Good luck with filling your set out!

I see no t206. Also, e107 would be good to add

good luck and diverse set

Very nice

I feel like I opened the refrigerator door and my wife said "hey grab a T206" and it HAS to be right in front of me but I don't see it?

Beautiful display! Some random thoughts in case you want to add:
one T206 (I think a Snodgrass with the catchers gear be "interesting")
one of these: E90, E92, E93, E94, E95, E96, E97, E98 (pick a colorful one maybe from E93 or E94 to contrast what you've already got)
one M101-2 Sporting News Supplement (sepia toned)

And there are some beautiful postcards - browse this site - https://oldcardboard.com/cardSetList.asp?GroupID=12

Bakery cards: https://oldcardboard.com/cardSetList.asp?GroupID=13

Good luck, and please update with pics when you add to it!
Rob
:)

edited to add: looks like everyone already mentioned what I was thinking while I took too long to respond, doh!

A leather would be a cool addition.

Along with the other great suggestions I would add a 1921 Exhibits postcard. Commons can be had for under $300.

Yes, t206 are present framed to the left wall.

Exhibits and strip card suggestions don't work. They're after 1919

Mark, you have an awesome collection going there, that anyone would be proud to have. Congratulations! And I very much like how you have it set up for display.

Great diversity! I really like the leather idea from Scott, but not sure how realistic that would be at the $300 price point. I would also add a trade card like H804 or a notebook cover.

An S74-2 colored silk to go the white S74-1 silk
Colgan's Chip disc - regular version (And you can try to find separate Tin Top and Red Border versions as well.)
Nattional Game card
Polo Grounds Game card
T222 Fatima player photo card

Suggestion
 

How about a N43?
Ornate…

M116 with the blue background is nice too…

A Colgan's square proof and H818 would be cool..

I like the N43 idea. Hopefully I can find a low grade at an affordable price.

I might consider a Scrapps tobacco also for another 19th century card. T222 would also fit well.

A WG1 would be fun, but I've never seen one in the wild.

I'll probably pass on all the E90 and related. They're just too similar to each other. Same with the Polo Grounds and other Game cards

A Dietsche postcard is a good idea. I'd almost rather get one that was used and postmarked rather than graded.

The idea is to have a wide variety of looks to interest even non collectors p who couldn't tell an E90 from an e93

Great display
 

A Rose postcard if you can find a common would really stand out.

A nice bunch of cards, there.

E cards? E90-1,-2,-3. E102. E104.

T222 Fatima?

Many good suggestions, but I think to capture the diversity of what was going on back then, you will need a representative sampling of minor league cards. A C46 has a neat design and could show a Canadian team, a T210 is colorful and captures the South, and of course a Zeenut covers baseball in the West (one with a coupon would be great to show that redemption feature).

Even if you believe the e90-96s are too similar or repetitive, it seems incomplete not to have a card from one of the sets as representative of the caramel card collector. I also agree that a postcard is essential, and a Rose would be a great choice.

As for oddballs, I would find a Sporting News supplement, an m101-6 (great photography) and maybe a Piedmont stamp. I also would add a D304 Brunners Butter Krust, as it has a different look, and a 1917 bakery card, which served as a model for the 1921 issues in both size and style. Finally maybe a t213-2 Federal Leaguer with its distinctive blue typeset.

1887/1888 "Scrapps"
 

One of these in lower grade should fit your price point and would make an attractive addition to the already great range of examples that you have.

These used to be thought of as being issued by a tobacco company but were somewhat recently identified as a gum/candy issue from a company named H.D. Smith & Co.

Edited to add that I see that Mark already has a "Scrapps" card on his radar. I think it would be a great addition!

You can buy Type 1 Conlon photos for less than $300.

The baseball related T6 and one of the baseball T51s would be nice.

Mark, I'm thinking that you might not be familiar with the Old Cardboard web site: https://oldcardboard.com/

At the top of OC's home page, merely click on "N-Cards," "D-Cards," "E-Cards," "T-Cards," etc. which will lead you to info and pics for all the different card sets for each category. I have long found OC to be a very good resource for a type collector, which I am to an extent.

I'm familiar with the site and know information. I like advice for aesthetic reasons. What do people think would look good when viewing? That's what I'm asking for.

The actual goal is to interest people and visitors who are NOT card collectors. Tell them the story of what baseball collecting was like before 1919. If I'm going to show it off I'd like to make it interesting.

Got any advice there?

If the idea is to give visitors an idea of what was collected, where and how, then I would re-urge that you add the 3 minor league sets of C46, T210 and Zeenut. I don't believe the casual fan has appreciation of just how popular minor league baseball was at the time, and the variety of these three sets covering three parts of the country is interesting, IMO.

For aesthetics and diversity, then you may want the Scrapps posted by Scott M., or maybe either E125 diecut or J=K candy Type 2 (with the protruding head). Also, if WWI is your cutoff, you may want to pick an m101-6 where the player shown is wearing the sleeve patch in honor of the US troops-- many such players are in the set. Here's one with a great pose showing a slap hitter in the deadball era known for his own moment of glory.
https://photos.imageevent.com/imover...wambsganss.jpg

I'm warming up to the minor league thing. Maybe a red border Old Mill would look sharp in the group

Then definitely go with items that aren't just typical cards, items that may catch someone's eye and have them asking, "What is that?". You already have a great start and very diverse collection, what with the S74-1 silk, B18 blanket, BF2 felt pennant, Colgan's Chips, Domino Disc, Helmar Stamp, Sweet Caporal pin, and so on already in your collection.

I'd already suggested getting one of the colored version S74-2 silks to go with your white version one, along with a T222 Fatima player card and a Polo Grounds game card (which is very different from the Tom Barker game one you already have.) As others had suggested, an M101-2 Sporting News Supplement would be perfect, as would a Scrapps Tobacco card. Your $300 price point does limit your options somewhat, especially when looking at 19th century items, but if condition isn't a primary issue, you may be able to get lower condition items to fill some of your slots. So here are some more possible selections:

N284 Buchner Gold Coin Card
N183 W.S. Kimball Champions Card
1901-17 Police Gazette Supplements
W601 Sporting Life Team Composite
PC765-1 (or -2) Dietsche Tigers/Cubs Postcard
1909-10 German Baseball Stamp
1909-10 W555 (These are not strip cards and came off candy boxes.)
D304 Brunner's/Butter Krust/General Baking/Weber's Bakery Bread
1913 Baseball Series Notebook Cover
1913 Napoleon Lajoie Game Card
T330-2 Piedmont Art Stamp
PM1 Ornate Pin
1915 Postaco Stamp
Baseball/Player Related Sheet Music
Magic Lantern Ballplayer Slide

Not an all-inclusive list by any means, nor one that is necessarily always easy to find items of in your price range. But it does include many diverse items, most of which are not your typical sports card, so it definitely speaks to diversity. Good luck, you already have a super collection.

E270s
 

E270s...

https://luckeycards.com/pe270redsteinfeldt.jpg

e107
exhibit
t206
t222
rose pc
worch cigar (one with a photo background)
zeenut
1932 US Caramel
1933 Goudey
r312
1937 Dixie Lids

I had a lot more in my list then I read he only wants pre 1920....there went my Holsum Bread recommendation.
.

Great collection and variety. I also enjoy seeing examples of various sets like that.

I think I've narrowed down the next two additions to my type collection. Again, the idea is to have a story to tell about collecting pre-1919.

1918 Zeenut - as far as I can tell, the only set issued during the height of WW1

1888 Scrapps- now that they've been identified as HD Smith &Co. they could be the first set issued with gum

I'll be starting my search for reasonably priced versions of these. Any help is appreciated, also more ideas on cool Pre-WW1 cards to go after.

type cards
 

As a type collector myself, I have these suggestions:

1. You are under-represented in the colorful E cards. An E93 or E94 would be a good addition. Maybe E102 and E103.
2. There are some great looking and interesting postcard issues, such as Rose Postcards, Max Stein, PC796 Sepia, Wolverine News Tigers, or Topping & Co. Tigers that would look good in your collection.
3. Some type cards would be over $300, but I think you could get a T5 Pinkerton cabinet and a 1913 Cravats felt in your price range.