1921 E121 ("Series of 80")
 

Both the E121-80 set and the E121-120 set have checklists of 120+ cards. My question is whether the "Series of 80" designation was accurate at some point in 1921 or if there were always 120 (or more) E121s. That is, was there an initial set, perhaps of the "first line ends in 'eighty'" type that was in fact complete at 80 cards, with the larger set being produced later in the same year with the "first line ends in 'eighty of the'" backs?

The timeline would be the opposite of what you laid out as the “…eighty of the” 100% came first.

That being said it may very well be that there were several “different” series of 80 cards over the course of 1921.

Likely timeline…

1.) Type 1 and Type 4 backs (issued at least for a time concurrently) with several printings at the minimum each likely constituting a “set” at the time.
2.) Type 2 (back end with “…eighty”)
3.) Type 3 (serif bottom line on back…something continued with the E121 Series of 120)

Also keep in mind that somewhere in between #1 and #2 above the E122 set was made.

Very helpful, thank you.

Glenn, Rhett wrote a comprehensive article entitled "1920-22 E121 and Related Sets: Many of the Mysteries Unraveled" which appears on Issue #26 - Fall 2011 of Old Cardboard Magazine: ttps://oldcardboard.com/misc/issue26/issue26.asp

Individual back issues of Old Cardboard Magazine can be orsered for $10 each postpaid: https://oldcardboard.com/subscriptions.asp

Yeah, they tried to sell me back issues after they sent my subscription to the wrong address.