Speaking of starting sets....how about 1918 Zeenuts?

[Archive]

Posted By: Brian McQueen

I've acquired a few of these lately and was wondering what other's thoughts were on the possibility of amassing the entire set? I've come to within 10-12 of finishing off the 1911 Zeenut set over the course of the past 5-6 months but am thinking this will be more of a challenge since I very rarely see any of these on Ebay/House Auctions. Any other board members currently going after this one?

[Archive]

Posted By: Steve M.

after one card. And now you have it.

[Archive]

Posted By: barrysloate

Is the fact that 1918 was a war year and paper may have been scarce have anything to do with the rarity of the set?

[Archive]

Posted By: Tom Boblitt

would be a great person to comment on these. I had one in my type collection I sold at an REA auction recently but Mark said they are exceptionally difficult to complete. Maybe since they are really the only Zeenuts with any color on them, they are more in demand, and thus harder to actually finish a set. I have same problems with red-bordered Colgans.....although they are even MORE expensive.....

[Archive]

Posted By: Brian McQueen

Barry - I've heard that from other board members (Mark being one I believe) and it makes sense. The US didn't get involved in World War I until 1917, if my history serves me correct. The 1917 Zeenut set would have been already produced at the time we entered the war so the only year that would have been affected by the war would be 1918.

The point about the red borders is also a good one. The 1918 set sits smack in the middle of 6-7 Zeenut sets that feature white or fairly colorless layouts before the Sepia sets kicked in in the early 1920s. So really, this is one of the very few Zeenut sets with any vivid coloring to it at all. Even the first sets were primarily "browns and tans".

So 1918 Zeenut red borders command a premium. Colgan red borders also command a premium. Why didn't this "vintage card + red borders = desireable" formula carry over to those t210s that I just sold on Ebay for lower than I was hoping

[Archive]

Posted By: Zach Rice

I was told by a collector who recently gave up on the set that Mark Macrae had told him that no complete set existed. Beyond that I can't help you much, but they are beautiful cards aren't they ? certainly my favorite year.

[Archive]

Posted By: Joe Jones

I say go for it Brian. I am sure it will be very challenging, especially since you will be fighting with type collectors for cards. There is nothing wrong with collecting a set that will take years to complete.

Just Imagine all of those red borders lined up on a sheet

[Archive]

Posted By: Mark Macrae

Check the archives....This set has already been discussed in the past....Tough to complete...Two complete sets documented Zach. One belongs to a private collector, the other to the California Historical Society. Several other collectors including myself, need less than 10 to finish their sets (or at least what is presently documented as a set). Brian, with patience & persistance, you should finish by the time you retire

[Archive]

Posted By: Rhys

I have been looking for an O'Doul for about 8 years and have NEVER seen one come up for sale publicly as an example of how rare a particular player is. I believe there are specific players who are much rarer to find, O'Doul included, while others appear more regularly. They are nice looking cards and very tough to find in decent grade (even more so than other zeenuts in my opinion).

[Archive]

Posted By: Bob

Brian- Since I am a completist nut and still hold the hope of finishing my own Don Quixote sets, D311 and 1911 Zeenut, when you get close to the end I'll gladly sell you my pair of 1918s which right now are definitely only type cards in my collection.
Absolute scarcity has made the D311s almost impossible to complete (as you know) and collector mania has made the 1911 Zeenut set almost as bad. That doggone 1918 set is a killer, no doubt.
tbob