Looking for a unique 2024 pursuit
 

While I continue to chip away at The Monster and look to add to my raw T205 set, I'd like to also embark on a new collecting journey in 2024 that follows a less-traveled road.

So I'm looking for suggestions.

What relatively uncommon pre-war set (compared to the previously mentioned T sets) could I tackle? I'd like one that presents a bit of a challenge as far as finding cards but not impossible or even overly frustrating. I don't want to have to break my budget and am open to lower grades. Don't have to be graded.

I'm interested in historical value as well as aesthetic. Cards not everyone would think to buy.

Ideas?

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I like the e90-1 American Caramel set. The Joe Jackson
Is expensive but it's a great set.
If you feel a lot of the players overlap with t206 and t205 you could go to the 1920's
I really like the American Caramel sets from the 1920s. 1921 and 1922 are great. 1927 is also fun to collect. They are challenging and they have Babe Ruth in the set.

Sweet Caporal P2 pins.

1933 DeLong or Sport Kings

1933 DeLong ... cool cards, challenging but not crazy impossible to find, a small set of 24 cards loaded with Hall of Famers, but the only big money one in lower grade is Gehrig.

I have an all-PSA graded set minus Gehrig, if you want to just put it to bed on one fell swoop!

How about e92 Dockman (no Cobb and Wagners are fairly common, plus some greats like Matty and Young). I also really like an e101 or e102 set (same fronts and e92). Another couple of cool sets are D304 (and lots of back variations) or the D322 Tip Top (Wagner will cost you an arm and leg). Finally, T3 is, in my opinion, the prettiest set of all time with many t206 action poses and a ton of great players.

1933 George C. Miller
 

1933 George C. Miller set is great- 32 card set without huge hall of fame players. The Foxx and Dean are pricey- but can be obtained. There is also a chase card- Ivy Andrews that has a cool back story. Good luck with the hunt.

W514 is relatively affordable if you’re ok with blank backs and period art. Has numerous ‘Black Sox players’, Joe Jackson, as well as Ruth’s curse of the bambino card.

Nice in hand
 

1916 M101-4/5 and their ad back variety has me occupied at the moment. There are familiar players from the T and E sets plus a lot of new faces that make it interesting. Some of the poses are the same as Cracker Jacks, they are basically the printed versin of the original photos used for them. The light gloss coating they have gives them more depth than the other, later black and white cards.

Since you are so heavily invested in two sets from 1909-11, why not put together a type set of cards from other sets during the Tobacco Card Era?

I enjoyed the e95 and e96 sets. Reasonable amount of cards. Lots of HOFers. Reasonably priced in general and have some different poses from most other sets.

Maybe start a different pre-war set. :p:p:p:p:p

e98
e94
e101
e102

Not the entire set but the T210s are some beautiful cards with the red borders. Same goes for the T212s. You could just pick a team or two to go after.

Imo Obaks are beautiful, still-reasonable cards that might be worth a look. The big problem is that there are no huge names.

Huge thanks to all the suggestions thus far. I like the idea of a set with manageable size, a couple of more significant value cards but a lot of lesser-known players. I enjoy learning their stories.

I'll continue to welcome ideas. I'm going to start looking more deeply into all these and will share my journey.

Y'all are awesome!

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CUT IT OUT!!! It’s already hard enough to find DeLong cards at a decent price. :)

Mike,

Love this thread.

I get pigeonholed into T206 and thanks to you guys have now looked up every set mentioned and learned a little more about them.

Appreciate you guys expanding the collecting horizons

E90-1 seems like a great option, I’ve always loved the pastel colors on the M116’s.

“Side hustles” are an awesome part of cards.

My side collecting interests have gotten me into post war (56 Topps HOF’ers), as well as Olympic cards of various Chariots of Fire runners. One day I’ll start the 1910 National Licorice track athletes as well.

I even bought an Olympic postcard last week, something I never thought I’d get into…. Would be another fun rabbit hole for you to look into…

Will enjoy following your decision and future progress!

Matt Galvin

T201 factory 30
 

Fun and easy set, quirky yet satisfying to hunt.

+1.
E90-1 is the t206 of caramel cards.

As a few mentioned I would also agree the e90-1 American Carmel set is a great choice if you are looking for sets that are "relatively uncommon" compared to sets like the Goudey, Cracker Jack etc.

There are 120 cards in the set, which is a good amount to continue set collecting for a while. Lot of HOFers and as someone mentioned Joe Jackson is in it, with what is considered his Rookie Card.

Tattoo orbit could be fun. It has big names like Hornsby and Foxx, but no Ruth or Gehrig to sink the budget.