My Completed 519/520 Graded T206 "Off Back Set" in Pictures

[Scott L.]

After finishing a 520 set a few years ago I undertook a project to swap out all of my Piedmont/Sweet Caporal/Polar Bear backs for something in "Sovereign or better." A couple of months ago I was able to acquire the last card I needed, a green Cobb portrait with a Sovereign 150 back to finish up. Over the last few weeks I purchased a scanner (Canoscan 9000F Mark II) and set out to scan in all of my T206's.

Nothing high grade. Certainly a set with its share of creases, rounded corners etc. Only one card with a serious amount of paper loss that I'd love to replace, Demmitt NY. (if anyone has one or knows JFKAutographs on eBay please let me know!)

The only card I'm missing is Monte Cross which I'll most likely never have. I'd also like to thank all the board members who sold or traded cards with me. I'll always be appreciative of that.

Below is a link to my off back set album on Flickr should anyone want to take a look through it. It's 583 cards (I have multiple backs of some cards) and breaks down as follows:

American Beauty 350 w/Frame 30
American Beauty 350 No Frame 2
American Beauty 460 2
Broad Leaf 1
Carolina Brights 1
Cycle 350 24
Cycle 460 5
EPDG 55
Hindu 7
Lenox 1
Old Mill 99
Sovereign 150 83
Sovereign 350 213
Sovereign 460 28
Polar Bear 2 (Demmitt & O'Hara St. Louis)
Tolstoi 30

https://www.flickr.com/photos/171415...7720313545071/

I also created some other albums and you can check out my photostream as well that has all of my T206's (over 700).

I'll continue to try and fine tune the set with upgrades where they make sense.

If you have any questions about cards or the process feel free to reach out here or through private message.

Happy Holidays!

Scott

[bigfish]

Well done Scott! Very very cool collection.

[inceptus]

This is amazing! Thanks for sharing!

[chrisn28]

Congrats, Scott, that's quite an achievement!

[prestigecollectibles]

Incredible collection, congratulations.

[RCFire82]

👍👏🏻

[Rhotchkiss]

Really F-ing awesome! Congrats, what an amazing set and accomplishment

[ClementeFanOh]

Scott- no golf clap from me, I am opting for a standing ovation! WELL DONE.

Trent King

[Scott L.]

Originally Posted by bigfish

Well done Scott! Very very cool collection.

Thanks Toby! Still have the EPDG Mordecai portrait I got from you a few years back.

[Mikehealer]

Very nice Scott.

[Casey2296]

Impressive Scott, congratulations.

[FrankWakefield]

That's a significant accomplishment. Congratulations, Sir.

Have you a mini time line, as in when you started with T206, when you got to 520, and then how long to complete the _______ better backs? (I was going to type offbacks, but better backs seem better. Maybe it should be uncommon backs.)

[Northviewcats]

Amazing collection. Congratulations.

[stutor]

Wow. What a great set of cards. Well done!!! This is no easy achievement…far from it. And you have so many super toughies in the bunch. I have very much enjoyed viewing them on your Flickr page. Thank you for sharing.

[Scott L.]

Originally Posted by FrankWakefield

That's a significant accomplishment. Congratulations, Sir.

Have you a mini time line, as in when you started with T206, when you got to 520, and then how long to complete the _______ better backs? (I was going to type offbacks, but better backs seem better. Maybe it should be uncommon backs.)

Thanks Frank! A loose timeline is:

Started collecting early/mid 2000’s

April 2009: I got to 518 still needing Demmitt and O’Hara but called it done at that point.

October 2018: After about a decade away from T206’s I bought a Demmitt

April 2019: Purchased an O’Hara to get to 520

Jan/Feb 2020: started the “better back” project. So it took me in the neighborhood of 4 years to complete.

[Kidnapped18]

Well done! Congrats on the set. So does Cross just come in Piedmont, Sweet Cap and Tolstoi?

[Scott L.]

Originally Posted by Kidnapped18

Well done! Congrats on the set. So does Cross just come in Piedmont, Sweet Cap and Tolstoi?

Hi Tony

Thank you for the kind words and yes that is correct. Just Piedmont, SC and Tolstoi. There are other cards that come in just P/SC/Sovereign (Rossman & O’Hara NY are 2 off the top of my head) but they aren’t anywhere near as tough as Cross.

[mullinsm]

Congrats Scott! We'll keep watching for that Cross...

[Ronnie73]

Congrats Scott!! Me being a T206 back collector, I can really appreciate your accomplishment. It's likely an out of reach goal for someone just getting started, or at least would be an expensive task. Luckily a group of us, such as yourself, got an early start on many of the rare backs. I'm pretty close myself. I don't remember my exact numbers, but at one point, I made a few lists, including one with no Piedmont, Sweet Caporal, Polar Bear, Old Mill, and Sovereign. I remember being close to 400 cards. The only problem was deciding between an American Beauty, Cycle, EPDG, or Tolstoi back of the same card. Just figured I'd bring up a possible next goal for you, and see where you stand when not counting your Sovereign's or Old Mill's. Some cards you would have to use a Sovereign or Old Mill. The chase of the cards is the fun part of collecting the set. The finishing of a goal is only fun for a week or two.

[rjackson44]

Omg wow I need 340 more oh well..😳😳congrats loved the pics

[hcv123]

I love the step up to tougher backs!

[mybuddyinc]

GREAT SCOTT !!!


Great, Scott.


Scott (also sitting at 519 )


[Oh, Monte, you rapscallion]

[Tim Kindler]

Scott,

Thanks for posting your incredible accomplishment!!!! Congrats on such an amazing looking set!!!! It was so enjoyable and relaxing getting to enjoy going through and looking at your cards tonight... Thank You!
Tim

[scoutsout47]

While the set has never been in my top 10, that is a remarkable accomplishment. It no doubt took time, patience….oh, and a lot of cash to reach this milestone. Respect.

[Scott L.]

Appreciate all the kind words.....THANK YOU!!!!!

[MVSNYC]

Scott, that's awesome! Major accomplishment!

[Leon]

That's a wonderful collection, Scott. Congrats!

Originally Posted by Scott L.

After finishing a 520 set a few years ago I undertook a project to swap out all of my Piedmont/Sweet Caporal/Polar Bear backs for something in "Sovereign or better." A couple of months ago I was able to acquire the last card I needed, a green Cobb portrait with a Sovereign 150 back to finish up. Over the last few weeks I purchased a scanner (Canoscan 9000F Mark II) and set out to scan in all of my T206's.

Nothing high grade. Certainly a set with its share of creases, rounded corners etc. Only one card with a serious amount of paper loss that I'd love to replace, Demmitt NY. (if anyone has one or knows JFKAutographs on eBay please let me know!)

The only card I'm missing is Monte Cross which I'll most likely never have. I'd also like to thank all the board members who sold or traded cards with me. I'll always be appreciative of that.

Below is a link to my off back set album on Flickr should anyone want to take a look through it. It's 583 cards (I have multiple backs of some cards) and breaks down as follows:

American Beauty 350 w/Frame 30
American Beauty 350 No Frame 2
American Beauty 460 2
Broad Leaf 1
Carolina Brights 1
Cycle 350 24
Cycle 460 5
EPDG 55
Hindu 7
Lenox 1
Old Mill 99
Sovereign 150 83
Sovereign 350 213
Sovereign 460 28
Polar Bear 2 (Demmitt & O'Hara St. Louis)
Tolstoi 30

https://www.flickr.com/photos/171415...7720313545071/

I also created some other albums and you can check out my photostream as well that has all of my T206's (over 700).

I'll continue to try and fine tune the set with upgrades where they make sense.

If you have any questions about cards or the process feel free to reach out here or through private message.

Happy Holidays!

Scott

[t206fanatic]

good stuff Scott, congrats on the accomplishment