What is the most condition sensitive set of cards?

I have for sometime, I am sure you guys have also, seen descriptions where the seller claims the card is from the most condition sensitive set.

What makes the set so condition sensitive and what set is the King of condition sensitive sets.

Packaging?
Distribution?
Printing Process?
Inks?
Card Stock?

I am sure you know my vote is for T205's but I am not as experienced as many more of you are when it comes to different cards in the Pre-War Era.

[Leon]

I think you need to look at what cards you never see in high grade to answer this question. A few that come to mind are:

T213-1
T216 Virginia Extra
E107

Any that are paper thin will be condition sensitive. Also, E105 since most have that nasty crease in them.....If I had to pick from the original list of reasons why they are sensitive it would be their paper stock and method of distribution, though this might not apply to E107, as I know a bit less about their distribution methods....but they are rarely found in high grade. Good question.

[drdduet]

T213-1's, I believe the highest graded is a PSA 4 and there may be one of those--not certain.

[scottglevy]

For a major set....I'd say the 1914 CJ. These cards are really quite thin.

[Jim VB]

Scott,

Isn't the big difference between 1914 CJ and 1915 CJ due to the fact that the 1914's were only available individually, in CJ boxes and 1915's were also available through the mail?

This makes the 1914's much tougher to find in nice condition.

[ValKehl]

obscure one, the 1921-22 Schapira Brothers Big Show Candy, are usually found creased horizontally thru the middle because the cards were folded when inserted into the very small candy boxes.
Val

[Steve D]

My list would include:

T205
N300
E107
1914 CJ (only available in boxes, as opposed to 1915 which could be obtained via mail).
E105 (apparently were folded to fit in the packaging)
T200
E271


Steve

[barrysloate]

E221 Bishop team cards...and I was going to say E105 but Steve beat me to it.

[Jim VB]

I think there were also certain series in the 1933 Goudey set that were printed on inferior cardboard and, therefore, condition sensitive.

But they're still pretty easy to find.

[Bobsbats]

T204 is my choice....

[tiger8mush]

Originally Posted by Jim VB

Scott,

Isn't the big difference between 1914 CJ and 1915 CJ due to the fact that the 1914's were only available individually, in CJ boxes and 1915's were also available through the mail?

This makes the 1914's much tougher to find in nice condition.

The 1914s are on thinner paper stock than the 1915s. I no longer own any 1915s, but I remember noting that difference when I compared the two side by side, raw.

[jbsports33]

early Cuban issues and many minor league sets like Zeenuts,

major set would be the T205 cards

Jimmy

[Fred]

T200s
T222s

Really thin stock

[Leon]

Another would be E271 Darby Chocolates. The only major find of these was about 50 of the (60-75?) singles known, not counting the half a dozen or so full boxes. They were found in a barn, tacked to the walls, if I remember correctly. (or had been tacked to the walls at one time) This is about their average condition

[Michael Peich]

Fred beat me to it, but I would second T222s. That thin photographic paper stock creases if you look at it the wrong way, to say nothing of breaking off at the corners.

[sgbernard]

Like T205, the colored-border cards like T210 and T211 show even the slightest nicks to border a million times more than a T206 or caramel card with white borders.

T209 B&Ws have a bad flaking problem: I've not seen another issue that flakes like those.

But above all, someone's gotta mention the George Millers (R300s). If you want to talk about distribution affecting a card, those hole-punched cancellations are killer.

[Orioles1954]

T213-2 more than T213-1

[E93]

I don't know why, but among mainstream E sets, E98s are remarkably tough in mid-high grade. There seems to be a very high percentage of them with paper loss on the back.
JimB
P.S. E105s are extremely tough! Many have heavy folds down the middle.

[drdduet]

"T213-2 more than T213-1"

Care to elaborate?

[rman444]

Originally Posted by Leon

T216 Virginia Extra

I think this has to be the winner.

[ethicsprof]

My T200s and T222s seem to wrinkle when i look at them, even though they are slabbed and stored in a safe.

best,
barry

[familytoad]

I have limited evidence, but from the looks of my T216, I must blame the thin paper and QC process!!
I have two HOFers from E105...and neither has the nasty fold that has been mentioned....not that I would mind if you've seen some of my beauties!

[Orioles1954]

Originally Posted by drdduet

"T213-2 more than T213-1"

Care to elaborate?

Sure,

My logic is often half-baked, but my point will come across. According to the combined population reports of PSA & SGC

1910 T213-1 Coupon: 34 of 149 cards or 22.9% graded VG or better

1914 T213-2 Coupon: 43 of 1683 cards or 26.1% graded VG or better

Being that there are (1500+) more T213-2 Coupon on the books, and there is only a 3.2% differential (despite the huge population difference), I feel that T213-2 are more condition-sensitive. Factor in the glossy coating which T213-1 doesn't have, there are even more problems for the T213-2 series.

[FrankWakefield]

.

[DixieBaseball]

T213-1
T222
T211 (Excessive Flaking and Cracking)

[Kenny Cole]

All Cuban issues are condition-sensitive simply because of the climate. However, the Caramelos Deportivos sets were printed on what is basically newspaper. While they may exist, I have never seen even one graded above a 40.

[teetwoohsix]

What about the T330-2 Piedmont Art Stamps?I know they're not cards,but when talking "condition sensitive"...........

[Fuddjcal]

I surprised nobody mention the T-1971's with the black border

[fkw]

E93, E94, E97, T209 B&W surface chipping
T222, T200 corners break off, crazing, creases, curling
N172 fading (pink)
R308 and other sun/spit photos... developed wrong
Schapira Candy and E105 sometimes folded to get into package
M101-2 folded over the years
T3 pinholes
Most W cards and coupon cards.... ripped instead of cut
Postcards used with postmarks on front sometimes
R300 and some E121 candy... redemption punched
4 in 1 Exhibits, T202, etc. cut into individual cards, some others had corner coupon removed
Candy box cards cut without border etc.
R318, V300, E125, Scrapps, R&S, etc. punched out, or missing background or stands or even pieces (hands, bat)

[canjond]

Lections - most are 1s or 2s with only 2 cards that have graded a 5 and 6 respectively.

[sox1903wschamp]

For me, E-107 and T-204.

[tbob]

No one mentioned the very sensitive T207s? Besides the crazing problem, a tiny bend or wrinkle looks like Route 66 on these brownies.
1971 Topps set is a condition sensitive killer too.

Wow I guess there is no King to the sets.. Alot of answers and all a very vaild. I am sure there are far more so lets wait and see.

[Zach Wheat]

Along with T200's, T207's and others previously mentioned, I would also have to give consideration for V61 Type I's as being condition sensitive. The card stock is paper thin, cards always seem to have wrinkles as well as food stains on the back.

[brianp-beme]

I have never seen a 1940 Hughes Confection card that looked decent. These were supposedly placed right against ice cream packaging, so you can imagine that the end result is not pretty, perhaps something akin to the card having been dragged across a gravel road and then left face up and exposed to the sunlight.

Brian