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Posted By: J Levine

Been working on the backs/variations/printings for a long time now. I feel I am getting closer. Eventually I will publish my results but as of now, there was at least 2 and probably 3 distinct printings with certain cards substituted in later and some removed to make room. Not to mention that the companies seem to have printed different variations and cards.

Just for fun since a couple of people asked...here is a quick breakdown of back rarity based on over seven years of tracking backs sold on ebay, auctions, shows, and catalogs. Granted, no study can be complete (cards in collections, etc.) but I think that this is fairly accurate.

From hardest to easiest...
Drum
Hindu
Broadleaf (black)
Broadleaf (brown)
Piedmont Fact. 42
American Beauty (black)
American Beauty (green)
Cycle
Soverign
Hassan Fact. 30
Sweet Cap. (black) Fact. 42
Honest Long Cut
Hassan Fact. 649
Sweet Cap. (black) Fact. 25
Sweet Cap. (red)
Polar Bear
Piedmont Fact. 25

Polar Bear and Sweet Cap. red are virtually identical in scarcity. Yes, Piedmont Fact. 42 is very scarce but I think that it may jump up to around Cycle if more people would recognize it but I have had a hard time finding these. In the past some people have split Soverign into light green and dark green but I think that it is just fading. Again, this is not set in stone but feel free to argue. I will try to compile the true results and breakdowns next week and post it then.

-Joshua