A 6-year odyssey....AMERICAN BEAUTY 460 sub-set....75 cards complete (I think)

[tedzan]

In 2005, I decided to break-up my 2nd set of T206's (521 cards) to start putting together an all PIEDMONT set of T206's. I began to trade off (or sell) all
non-PIEDMONT cards (approx. 350-T206's) from this set. In the process, this Zach Wheat card with the AMERICAN BEAUTY 460 (AB 460) back caught my
interest, as it was the only AB 460 card in my set. It got me to thinking.....how really tough are these AB 460 cards ? Well, I found out, as I embarked on
collecting this subset. I was able to complete a 519-card all-PIEDMONT set by the end of 2005. Now, after 6 years, I think I've completed an AB 460 set.

As a consequence of my experience in putting together this sub-set, I have observed a definite pattern regarding the AB 460 cards and the UZIT cards.
That is, 28 subjects from the 350/460 series share identical fronts between these two T-brands. This "twin effect" is not just a coincidence, but was the
manner in which American Litho. printed these cards at the end of the T206 press runs in the Spring of 1911.
Furthermore, there is mutual exclusivity between the Red HINDU and AB 460 cards in the 350/460 series. This factor tells us that these 28 - AB 460 cards
from the 350/460 series are final. And, with all 46 subjects from the 460-only series found with the AB 460 back. I feel quite certain that this AB 460 set
is complete with 74 cards.

Of course, this remains to be seen, and I might be proven wrong. So, please check-out your T206 collections for any AB 460 cards that are not listed here.







These 5 cards have eluded me for most of this 6-year odyssey; but, I finally acquired them in this past year.





AMERICAN BEAUTY 460 checklist = 74 cards

350/460 Series.......................... 28 cards

Berger
Bradley (bat)
Burch (fielding)
Cobb (bat off shoulder)
Conroy (bat)
Crawford (bat)
Jennings (one hand)
Jennings (two hands)
Jordan (bat)
Lajoie (bat)
Lake (no ball)
Leach (cap)
Leifield (bat)
Manning (pitching)
McQuillan (bat)
Mullin (bat)
Overall (yellow sky)
Pelty (vertical)
Pfeister (throwing)
F. Smith (Chicago & Boston)

Steinfeldt (bat)
Tinker (bat off)
Wagner (bat on right shoulder)
Doc White (pitching)
Wilhelm (bat)
Willetts
Willis (bat)
Wiltse (pitching)


460-only Series......................... 46 cards

Abbaticcio (blue sleeves)
Ball (Cleveland)
Bell (pitching)
Bescher (arms above)
Bergen (catching)
Bridwell (portrait-cap)
Camnitz (arms at side)
Camnitz (arms up)
Chance (bat)
Chase (trophy)
Crandall (portrait-cap)
Devore
Doyle (portrait)
Duffy
Ford
Frill
Gandil
Geyer
Herzog (Boston)
Howell (hands at waist)

Hummell
Lake (with ball)
Latham
Marquard (follow thru)
McGraw (portrait-cap)
McGraw (glove at hip)
Merkle (throwing)
Meyers (portrait)
Murray (portrait)
Needham
Oldring (bat)
Overall (blue sky)
Payne
Pfeffer
Schaefer (Washington)
Schulte (back view)
Schlei (portrait)
Schlei (bat)
Seymour (portrait)
Sheckard (glove)

H. Smith (Brooklyn)
Stovall (bat)
Tannehill (Chicago)
Tinker (bat on)
Wheat
Wiltse (portrait-cap)



Thanks to everyone on Net54....and, especially Scot Reader, Frank Wakefield, Brian Weisner, Art Martineau, and Jim Rivera, who have helped me in various
ways (cards, info, etc.) these past 6 years in putting together this AB 460 set.


TED Z

[FrankWakefield]

You're most welcome for my humble help. I wonder if there's any magic in the 75 number, if that relates as a multiple of a sheet size, or something.

Great bunch of cards. I recall that the first AB 460 I got was Zach Wheat. And after I got him I saw a few more of him with an AB back. Great post. Thank you, Ted.

[tedzan]

Well, we have here quite a coincidence....this Zach Wheat was my first AB 460 card which I acquired back in the 1980's for only $10.

You'll be pleased to know that the Duffy I acquired from you is one of the "upper level" cards in my set.

This set is by no means finished, as I have approx. 25 'lower level" cards that I am gradually upgrading.

Thanks again, ole buddy.

TED Z

[cfc1909]

Your welcome. I have a very nice collection of AB cards but only about 15 or so are 460. If you would be so kind to bring this set to Philly so I can check it out -I am very interested to see that many together and check out the borders.

Most are cut narrow but I am sure there has to be some that are not. really would like to check this out.

[toppcat]

Ted, very impressive! Now, what next?!

[sreader3]

Ted,

Thanks for the acknowledgement (although I'm not sure it's deserved).

Any idea what you'll be tackling next?

Scot

[ChiefBenderForever]

Congrats Ted that is a pretty amazing sub set !

[Fred]

Thank you Ted! A post worth reading and enjoying!

[mrvster]

Ted,

CONGRATS!! your an animal.....your contribution to the hobby and those you mentioned are beyond words.... a very respectable accomplishment...how about tackling the sister uzit
set next??????that would take a lifetime!!! and a truckload of cash....



this is my first ab 460 , but i purchased because of the curious "print mark"(thanks Larry Harris, you rock)....have any of you seen/witnessed one on an ab beauty, or ab 460 print mark????????

again Ted, great job

Peace

Johnny

[jimonym]

Congrats Ted. That's a very tough subset, as your six years' effort demonstrates.

[Mikehealer]

Nice going Ted, quite an accomplishment. It's always nice to see someone finish off a set/subset, thanks for sharing. By the way it was a pleasure meeting
you at the National this past year. Take care, Mike.

[teetwoohsix]

Excellent job TedZ !!! That is quite an accomplishment !!! I don't even have 1 AB back yet (yet).

Thanks for sharing the story of the journey also- a very fun read

Sincerely, Clayton

[E93]

Congrats Ted! That is awesome! I would love to see it too if you decide to bring it to the National this summer.
JimB

[lharri3600]

Ted,
It was nice finally meeting you last year at the National (though is was in a strange way)!
Let me put it this way, tickets to a Bills game $100.00, tickets to a Sabre game $60, meeting you, PRICELESS! One day I'm going to put my gradnsons on my knees and tell them about a hobby legend named Ted Z. God bless you my friend, I'll be in touch.

[tedzan]

You're too much, after all that, I can only say......

GOD Bless you Larry and your family.

Thanks,

TED Z

[tedzan]

Thanks guys.

So, you ask what's next ?

Well, I finally completed my (very) long-term, and low priority adventure.....the T201 set. Great artistry from American Lithographic.
Extremely clever design, perhaps the most clever of any BB card set (Topps emulated this design with their 1955 Doubleheader set).
I have this Topps set, and I must say that these cards are somewhat neater than the T201's, in that a BB stadium picture puzzle in
their background is created by arranging the cards accordingly.

Another interesting fact of the T201 cards is......they were initially inserted in MECCA packs from Factory #30 (NYC). Then MECCA
cigarette production was transferred to the Rochester (NY) plant.....Factory #649. The great majority of T201 cards were inserted
in packs from this factory.
This is "Deja Vu....all over again" (as Yogi Berra would say) of the T206 Sweet Caporal 150, Factory #649 scenario.


OK, two new projects on the "back-burner"......

1....I have approx. 1/3 rd of the cards (12) with the AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 (no frame) backs. However, this is a low-priority project.

2....This will take at least 6 years to complete. Collecting the 28 red HINDU cards in the 350/460 series. This subset will "complement"
my AMERICAN BEAUTY 460 "no-prints". To date, I have only 6 of these red HINDU's. Consider what the Johnson and the CYoung cards
will cost me....I don't want to

Best regards guys,

TED Z

[rebelsart]

Ted,
Congratulations on an amazing accomplishment! Happy to help in a small way.
Good luck on your next project.
Art M.

[Sterling Sports Auctions]

Congrats Ted, I know what an accomplishment that is. I started my journey into the Cycle 460 subset at about the same time. I am up to 83 and know how tough it is to come up with some of these cards, let alone even see them offered.

I loved to see a list of the last few you were able to track. I see Frill was in your lot of last cards and he was in the final 10 I was able to track.

My goal this year is to be able to get 10 more Cycle 460s off my list any and all help would be great.

Once again, nice job, Ted.

Lee

[tedzan]

That printer's line right above the "s" in "Cigarettes" is very interesting. I've never seen it before.

No, I don't think I'll start a UZIT sub-set.

Incidently, how did you arrive at a female gender for the UZIT's ?

I would assign a "female" gender to the AMERICAN BEAUTY's

Therefore, the UZIT's should be "males".....yes....no ? ?


Thanks guy,

TED Z

[mrvster]

Ted

Your a living legend!! and you contributions to the hobby are amazing

your right, a male gender is more appropo for the uzits...i was very excited to see this ab 460 with the print mark and gobbled it up from Larry, who is the man btw!!! i love your future endeavors and look forward to your progress, especially the red hindus, that will quite an accomplishment, if i see any, i will send you scans...

i figured you would be the man to identify this curious mark.....i have very similiar ones on pieds, sweet caps, polar bear, and now ab 460.........

anyway, keep up the great work

i hope to help you with your future projects


Peace

Johnny V

[ethicsprof]

congratulations,ole friend.
a great accomplishment with the concerted, diligent efforts that only a
Monster killer can muster!
i'll light up one of my AB cigarettes in your honor tonight.
But do not be afraid---i will not smoke it.

all the best,
barry

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by bowlingshoegiverouterguy

Congrats Ted, I know what an accomplishment that is. I started my journey into the Cycle 460 subset at about the same time. I am up to 83 and know how tough it is to come up with some of these cards, let alone even see them offered.

I loved to see a list of the last few you were able to track. I see Frill was in your lot of last cards and he was in the final 10 I was able to track.

My goal this year is to be able to get 10 more Cycle 460s off my list any and all help would be great.

Once again, nice job, Ted.

Lee

Lee

I remember back in 2005, when we compared notes and that you were starting to collect the CYCLE 460's; and, I started on the AB 460's. And, this was great,
since we would not be contending with each other.

I think you will agree with this opinion of mine......I say that AB 460 and CYCLE 460 cards are underrated in terms of scarcity. Of course, collectors can always
get one of these T206's for a "Type" card. However, as you and I have discovered in trying to garner all of these cards in order to complete a sub-set of them,
these two T206 backs are much, much tougher than most T206 collectors realize.

Here's the short-list that you requested. As I recall, I would say that the toughest 5 cards for me were Frill, Oldring, Overall (sunset sky), Doc White (pitching),
and Wilhelm (bat).

I will post the toughest 10 cards in putting this AB 460 sub-set together for your info later.

I have bookmarked your CYCLE 460 wantlist. I will certainly be looking out for these cards for you.


TED Z

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by FrankWakefield

You're most welcome for my humble help. I wonder if there's any magic in the 75 number, if that relates as a multiple of a sheet size, or something.

Great bunch of cards. I recall that the first AB 460 I got was Zach Wheat. And after I got him I saw a few more of him with an AB back. Great post. Thank you, Ted.

Frank

I would say that there is no significance to the number 75 with respect to any T206 sheet format. It is simply in the math. There are 103 possible candidates
that could have been printed with the AMERICAN BEAUTY 460 advertisement. However, 28 of the subjects from the 350/460 series were printed with the Red
HINDU back, which we know are mutually exclusive with AB 460 subjects; therefore......103 - 28 = 75

Consider the following, though......

With respect to the 46 cards in the 460-Only series. I have observed that the Duffy and Ford cards are DOUBLE-PRINTS (DP). This observation is reinforced by
two T206 surveys and two Graded Co. pop-reports. Therefore, if my theory regarding 48-card printing sheets is valid, these two DP's filled out a 48 card sheet.

Incidently, in 1910 Russ Ford won 26 games while losing only 6 (with an ERA = 1.65). Since these AB 460 cards were printed in the Spring of 1911, it is a good
bet that American Litho. double-printed Ford....since he was the new "rookie" sensation for the New York Highlanders.







Best regards my friend,

TED Z

[tedzan]

In the above post, I show the two most often seen AB 460 cards. So, now I will display the cards that were the most difficult for me
to find in my "hunt" for AB 460 cards these past 6 years.














With the exception of the top 5 cards......these lower 8 cards were not necessarily the last cards that I acquired. But, they were
certainly very rarely seen (relative to the other 62 cards in this subset). During the 6 years, only 1 or 2 samples of these subjects
were seen (at Shows, or on Ebay). Where as, the majority of the other AB 460 cards were seen 3 - 6 times. In this 6-year period
period, I can account for 14 cards of Duffy, and 15 cards of Ford with the AB 460 back.



TED Z

[tonyk1975]

Congratulations on your accomplishment Ted. You have taught me so much about this wonderful set and I am eternally grateful. For a while I've been wanting to make a run at a particular back and you have now I am inspired me to go after AB460.

[wonkaticket]

Ted, please bring this to the show I would love to see this set!

Perhaps I can bring my portable scanner and we can scan some more, neat set!

Cheers,

John

[tedzan]

Hey Wonka, looking forward to seeing you in April.


TED Z

[scottglevy]

Johnny,

I have not seen a printers mark like that on any AB460s. Cool item.

Best,
Scott

[dstraate]

Originally Posted by tedzan

That printer's line right above the "s" in "Cigarettes" is very interesting. I've never seen it before.

No, I don't think I'll start a UZIT sub-set.

Incidently, how did you arrive at a female gender for the UZIT's ?

I would assign a "female" gender to the AMERICAN BEAUTY's

Therefore, the UZIT's should be "males".....yes....no ? ?


Thanks guy,

TED Z

Men tend to UZIT before they think it over. So I vote a male gender.

[mrvster]

Scott,

Thanks i have never either....pieds, sweet cap, polar bear....first ab, and a 460 to boot
How have ya been?? hows the family???nice pick up on the drum back...i don't collect any other than these freaks, but nice pick up

did you finish the raw set?????

Peace

Johnny

[wonkaticket]

Originally Posted by tedzan

Hey Wonka, looking forward to seeing you in April.


TED Z

Likewise, be sure to bring this amazing set I can't wait to flip thru! Congrats again.

John