Unlisted Type Cards and "UNC"

[tonyo]

Rick recently offered the Home Run Candy Hubbell card on the BST which he advertised as rare and Leon concured.

As usual I looked for the card in the only two sources I currently use: My list from Old Cardboard, and the 2011 SCD Std Catalog. Couldn't find it in either place.

I've seen issues that weren't on my OC list, but were in the SCD but this is the first time I couldn't find a card in either source.

I just read Leon's post in the other type card thread saying he still runs across cards he didn't know existed...............How often does this happen to you veteran type collectors?

also is the "UNC" designation a generic term that is assigned by "just anyone" to represent an issue that does not have an ACC designation? What is some history behind the UNC designation?


Tony

[steve B]

UNC is just an abbeviation for uncataloged. It's used in other hobbies too, especially stamps.

I'm not sure how something would be "officially" UNC. And it varies with what catalog you use. (And what you consider cataloged)
ACC didn't have checklists, so until the sports collectors bible came out UNC would have been an entirely new set.
Sports collectors bible had checklists, so you could figure out previously unlisted players.
The early Becketts helped a bit with better checklists on some stuff, and pictures. But far fewer checklists.
SCD took it a whole lot farther, probably as far as they could with a space constraint.
I don't have it, but the old Judge book probably goes farther while focusing on one set.

There's room for a whole lot more, As there is a load of detailed information that hasn't made it into a formal catalog. The superset spreadsheet, and the confirmed lists for T206 come to mind, T205 needs something similar.
And all the lists that made up the earlier books were probably published before either in a book I don't know about, or in one of the early hobby publications. I know the first place I saw many checklists was the Trader speaks.

Steve B

[Leon]

At least as early as 1942 there were "official" player checklists. This book has 50+ pages of intricate player lists.
As for issues that are of unknown variety, even though I was lucky enough to find some fairly recently, it's a rare occurence. It could be months or years (or never) before I find anymore. I might chime in some more later. This subject is akin to Teddy Z talking about his beloved T206s. We are still finding new info on Unc sets and refining what we already know. Great topic.

[buymycards]

Hi Tony,
It took me a long time to find the 1936 E-UNC in the Standard Catalog. It is listed under 1936-E-UNC on page 154 of the latest Vintage only Standard Catalog. The pricing in the catalog is very low compared to prices that are actually being realized for these cards.

Like Leon, I enjoy looking for obscure cards or cards that may be one of a kind. A 1920's? Nebraska Indians card closed on ebay last night. I haven't seen any other cards from this set, although the Nebraska collectors who are board members may be familiar with this issue. I regret that I didn't place a higher bid on this card, but the price jumped up by over $100 in the last 8 seconds.

I also ran across an late 1930's Eau Claire Bears minor league card that I haven't seen before that may be one of a kind.

As a side note, I have been looking at some of the PSA, SGC, and BGS pop reports for some of the difficult to find issues, and there seems to be some discrepancies in some of the data. The cards don't come up for sale very often and they don't get graded very often, so the grading companies may not always know exactly what they are grading.

Rick

[steve B]

That's a wonderful book. Is it collected clippings from the bulletin or a collection of reprinted lists that had been printed there before?

And I have a feeling I know where all the old hobby publicatons have gone

As a list we should put together a bibliography of card publications.I think it would be fascinating, and probably longer than I'd thought.

Steev B

Originally Posted by Leon

At least as early as 1942 there were "official" player checklists. This book has 50+ pages of intricate player lists.
As for issues that are of unknown variety, even though I was lucky enough to find some fairly recently, it's a rare occurence. It could be months or a few years before I find anymore. I might chime in some more later. This subject is akin to Teddy Z talking about his beloved T206s. We are still finding new info on Unc sets and refining what we already know. Great subject.

[tonyo]

Originally Posted by buymycards

Hi Tony,
It took me a long time to find the 1936 E-UNC in the Standard Catalog. It is listed under 1936-E-UNC on page 154 of the latest Vintage only Standard Catalog. The pricing in the catalog is very low compared to prices that are
Rick

Well Rick I stand corrected.... The Home Run Candy Card IS listed in the 2011 Std Catalog as well. 1936 E-UNC Candy just as you said. And yes the prices are alot lower than what yours sold for. Since I use the Std Catalog (and old cardboard) as a relative guideline, I probably wouldn't have bought the Hubbell anyway, but it is a good lesson for me as a type collector. I'll know next time I see a card like this one, even if it takes a few years!

[ethicsprof]

great hearing of your type collecting efforts.
you've already received good information.
i must say that your focus on Old Cardboard and the THE catalogue makes great sense to me. I have found that having some parameters and guidelines within the parameters provide some measure of self-governance which keeps me at least a bit practical in my acquisitions and not feeling like 'i'm all over the place.' Admittedly, when I see a great bargain---and I mean a great bargain--- i do push at the parameters gladly.
all the best,
barry

[Exhibitman]

FWIW, as long as it is a card from the era and not a modern creation I am always interested in it as a fan of unusual type cards and related items. I like encyclopedic compilations of data, so the more the merrier! The 'Unc" designation is just a categorizing device that card data compilers like me use to indicate that a card has been pinned down to a source that would have been categorized as such had it been known at the time. Like this M-Unc:

[Leon]

Steve- Here are a few pages from the book. It is approx. 10" x 6" and is as can be seen. I think the cover is correct enough in dating at circa 1942. I guess it is a Card Collectors Bulletin with fairly full checklists (for the time).







Adam-

I have that one listed with my M120 Detroit Free Press premiums. Neat pieces....(the sizes on these might not be relatively correct with each other)

[brianp-beme]

Leon...the Card Collector's Bulletin you have posted looks to be Buck Barker's personal copy, as the handwritting matches up to what I have seen on many Zeenuts, etc. Did it come from his estate? It is always cool to see the formation of checklists before they have been set in stone.

Brian

[Leon]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

Leon...the Card Collector's Bulletin you have posted looks to be Buck Barker's personal copy, as the handwritting matches up to what I have seen on many Zeenuts, etc. Did it come from his estate? It is always cool to see the formation of checklists before they have been set in stone.

Brian

Hi Brian
Yes, I believe it is his personal copy as acquired much of his periodical collection. What I have shown thus far is the tip of the iceberg. The T206 lists are interesting.....and shed some more light on at least one hobby rumor.

[Exhibitman]

Leon, the Detroit Times and the Detroit Free Press were rivals. The Times was a Hearst paper; the Free Press was independent then became a Knight paper in 1940. Different papers, different issues.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Leon, the Detroit Times and the Detroit Free Press were rivals. The Times was a Hearst paper; the Free Press was independent then became a Knight paper in 1940. Different papers, different issues.

Thanks Adam...it's all I could find . At least they are both from Detroit!!