E94...set completed!

[ullmandds]

Last night I took a road trip to my nearest fed ex facility(30 miles rt) because some auction house who is notorious for attracting super high bids on rare backed t206's can't seem to ship my cards to the correct address...and now my e94 set is complete...barring some eventual upgrades. The cards were packaged in a babushka doll of boxes:[img][/img]

I fell in love with E94's around 1992 while I was living with my parents and I got in touch with a guy on the old prodigy vintage card board...he said a friend of his had just inherited a box of old cards and didn't know anything about them...but mentioned ty cobb. I met these 2 fellows at a mcdonalds in central nj and the guy had 2 complete e94 sets...minus a mcgraw and about 15-20 e90-1's and a load of non sport cards in a cigar box...and I distinctly remember him having a t215 oriental character card as well. I was a small time collector and offered to help him sell them in exchange for some of the e90-1's but it never happened...and I've regretted it ever since.

And as a result of that experience...I've always loved e94's. I picked up my first 3 in a bargain bin at the 95 nat'l for $5 ea in st louis...and then decided to try to collect the Murray card with all of the different backs. I still need the violet murray...along with tbob and josh i think...i've only seen one...but have no idea who owns it now? I traded a handful of tougher t206 backs to scott elkins for a beater...super common gold lajoie a few years ago. I picked up a lot that included cobb and speaker from REA 2 years ago and decided to go for the set. Nice low grade cards don't come up for sale very often and they definitely sell closer to vg prices when nice.

I'd like to thanks everyone who helped me...via trades and sales. I've never really been a set collector and besides e90-2 this is the only vintage set I've ever attempted.

The Young is definitely one of if not the toughest card in the set from my experience...if you're looking for specific colors of a certain player you may be looking for a while...ask TBOB!

I may have made a specific effort to obtain more of the purple(violet) cards when they were available...whereas none of the other colors besides the murray run were a factor in my acquisition...so the sample is somewhat random:

[img][/img]

In toll including a few dupes the tally is:

3 blue
4 dark green
6 purple(violet)
7 red
7 lime green
10 gold

I'd like to add an m113 to my e94 collection someday...and possibly an orange background e94 and will continue to upgrade as the opportunities present themselves.

[img][/img]

[brianp-beme]

Congrats Peter...neat back story on these and a cool little display of all the rainbow of E94 colors. I have always felt E94's were one of the tougher small caramel sets to pick up examples, so to complete it is definitely a collecting accomplishment.

Brian

[Mikehealer]

Nice going Pete.

[Northviewcats]

Your collection looks beautiful when displayed together. Congratulation on the achievement.

Joe

[jp1216]

Very nice set. Great story too. Enjoy.

[calvindog]

Wow. What a set!

[3-2-count]

Congratulations Pete. Quite the accomplishment............
Great set!!

[glynparson]

Awesome set, great job.

[smtjoy]

Congrats, just love that photo of them all spread out, awesome cards!

[atx840]

Congrats Pete, those sure are purdy. Hmm now you have me thinking

[ullmandds]

thanks everyone...i really appreciate the kind words...and the sharing of my enjoyment in collecting this set!

Further scrutiny shows of 37 cards...only 2 backs have the uber-rare "single quotation mark variation" in front of Ty Cobbs name.

[freakhappy]

Great accomplishment, Peter...that has to feel great! How long did you say you were trying to complete this set?

[Jason]

Job well done sir.

[tbob]

Pete- good job! Unless there is a White Swamp Find of E94s, the E94 prices will continue to climb as the cards are becoming as scarce as hen's teeth.
I hope you get an M113 and an orange background. The first is doable if you have the money, the second....doubtful. There is only one orange background of each card known to exist and I don't believe a few have ever surfaced (Wagner, Byrne and Dougherty) although they may exist in a collection somewhere. I personally own 5 and 4 have their provenance from the Brian Daniels collection, although only 1 came directly from Brian. The 5th orange actually came from the Lionel Carter collection, dispelling any rumors that all orange background cards came from one sheet and one source. I hope you can find one but it is going to be very tough.
As far as the violet Murray, yup, you are 100% correct, that one has been a pain to find.
Best regards,
tbob

[toppcat]

Epic-congrats!

[mawitzi]

Wow - that is a beautiful set. I am very jealous. Nice job.

[vintagerookies51]

Congratulations! The set looks amazing. It makes me want to start one of my own

[teetwoohsix]

Congrats, those are some beautiful looking cards !!! Great job !!!

Sincerely, Clayton

[pcoz]

Pete,
Congrats! Great story and beautiful set!!