What's a good "first" vintage set to collect?

[JustinD]

As for great photos and affordability I think a run at w517s would be fun and is on my list in the future.

It's a strip set, so the purists may avoid it, but I am a big fan as the photo quality is top notch compared to the cards of the era. The 2 Ruths and Gehrig are the only real intimidating ones and they are not that pricey if you watch auctions. Tons of HOF members in this one.

Here's the database entry if you are unfamiliar - http://www.tradingcarddb.com/ViewAllSet.cfm/sid/84235

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by JustinD

As for great photos and affordability I think a run at w517s would be fun and is on my list in the future.

It's a strip set, so the purists may avoid it, but I am a big fan as the photo quality is top notch compared to the cards of the era. The 2 Ruths and Gehrig are the only real intimidating ones and they are not that pricey if you watch auctions. Tons of HOF members in this one.

Here's the database entry if you are unfamiliar - http://www.tradingcarddb.com/ViewAllSet.cfm/sid/84235

That's pretty cool. "Strip set" means that they were originally issued multiple cards attached and to get them to size they were cut by individuals?

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by Topnotchsy

That's pretty cool. "Strip set" means that they were originally issued multiple cards attached and to get them to size they were cut by individuals?

Basically.

Store owners would give them to customers from the candy counter as a premium. This find last year of some counter boxes will help explain:

http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/...-original-box/

[sterlingfox]

How about 35 Goudey 4 in 1? Only 36 cards if you do unique fronts only, and Ruth is in there. Should be fairly inexpensive if you stick to low-mid grade, isn't too difficult to find, and it's full of HOFers. You could get all 36 cards for around $1500 in an average grade of around VG/EX. This is likely the most budget friendly mainstream set that includes Ruth. HOFers of note include H.Greenberg, J.Foxx, M.Ott, D.Dean, T.Lazzeri, and a host of others.

Later you can expand on it and do the master set of 114 front/back combos, but that will get tougher, as several of the specific combos are short prints.

[Leon]

Check out E95 too. It has a great Cobby, Matty and a Wags.....several other HOF'ers and only 25 cards in the set. Good luck with whichever way you go. Here is my ex-Cobby. Who wouldn't love this card! (Here is a link to the set too)
http://www.oldcardboard.com/e/e1/e095/e95list.asp




.

[ValKehl]

Jeff, if you put much emphasis on your first criteria, especially the "major criteria for me on this are images that really look like the player" part of it, then IMHO, your two best choices by far are the E121 and M101 sets. Another choice is the E120 set. I do confess that I very much prefer the B&W, real-photo sets over the colorful, artists'-rendition sets.
Val

[Kawika]

I asked myself the same questions as the OP a few years back and also came up with the E93 set. This was in 2009 so I don't remember specifically what I paid for the cards but I don't recall any one being a particular toughie. There's not a clunker in the set - the Cobb, Matty and Wags are all appealing - and the Leach and Phillippe are breathtaking in almost any condition.

Thinking about these cards makes me miss Jim Blumenthal. What a wonderful guy he was.

My humble set: https://tinyurl.com/manpbkx

[Sean]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

Jeff, if you put much emphasis on your first criteria, especially the "major criteria for me on this are images that really look like the player" part of it, then IMHO, your two best choices by far are the E121 and M101 sets. Another choice is the E120 set. I do confess that I very much prefer the B&W, real-photo sets over the colorful, artists'-rendition sets.
Val

Here's an e121 for example:

scan0049.jpg

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by JustinD

Basically.

Store owners would give them to customers from the candy counter as a premium. This find last year of some counter boxes will help explain:

http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/...-original-box/

Really cool, thanks for the education!