Toporcer E121 Series of 120 variation--which one do you have?

[brianp-beme]

I have a spelling variation of the George Toporcer card in the E121 Series of 120 which I have noticed is not catalogued. I assume the common card is spelled 'Toporcer', but I also have one that is spelled 'Topocer'. I would be interested to know what version other collectors have so that I can identify the tougher variation. I will post images of both of my examples in a few days.

Brian

[t213]

I have Toporcer.

Andy

[brianp-beme]

Here is the scan of the Toporcer/Topocer cards. It appears that at least in the SCD catalog that the mis-spelled 'Topocer' is the known variety, but now I have the previously uncatalogued and correct 'Toporcer' variation. As you can see in the scan, the Toporcer is trimmed, but thankfully left the name intact...otherwise no update. The back has pink lines because I soaked it (along with 100+ fellow 1920's American Caramel cards from a lined tablet).
I would still like to know if there are any other collectors out there with this variation.

Brian

[brianp-beme]

As is evident from Andy's post this may just be a variation that was never noticed (too many "R's" in his name for the brain to notice). Would love to hear what other collectors have.

Brian

[Brian Van Horn]

Here's my correct spelling variation:

[brianp-beme]

Just noticed that Lew Lipset's Encyclopedia lists the card as 'Toporcer' and makes no mention of a mis-spelling. Perhaps the 'Topocer' is more uncommon...?

Brian

[rhettyeakley]

It is a new variation, I noticed it a little while back and was able to pick up both variations...


I first noticed the variation when the SCD has him listed as Topocer (mispelled) and Lipset has him listed as Toporcer (correct), and I began looking for him to see if they both existed, which they did. I haven't noticed one being that tougher than the other, but I could be wrong.
-Rhett

[sreader3]

Great find.

Amazing that it took almost 90 years for someone to report this.

[brianp-beme]

Thanks Brian and Rhett for offering info about the Toporcer cards in your respective collections, and also I appreciate the encouragement Scott. Anyone else out there that can offer up which Toporcer E121 120 Series variation they have?

Brian

[brianp-beme]

Is the E121 set that unpopular? I have received three responses on the board and one message. Ted does a survey about red background Ty Cobb and gets 300+ examples to study over. There has to be at least a handful more E121 collectors out there...I would love to hear from them. I could understand if I were asking about some esoteric set, like W9316 or Schutter-Johnson (to pick a couple out of 100's), but this is a pretty mainstream issue. Check those Topocers/Toporcers and report to duty, soldiers!

Brian

[rhettyeakley]

Brian, don't get too discouraged. There are surprisingly few people that try to put together 1920's Caramel sets. Set collectors tend to gravitate more for the colorful sets like T206 and T205. While almost all pre-war collectors have one to several cards from the E121 set in their collections, most are content with that and never go after the set, as they view the B/W photos a bit dull and unappealing. On the flip side, me and several other collectors are drawn to these sets for the real photos- something that I always disliked about many T206 and caramel cards is that they barely resemble the person they are trying to picture.
-Rhett

[Matt]

Just my two cents, but I think it has to do with availability - how many T206s exist for every E121?

[brianp-beme]

I definitely think both Rhett and Matt are correct...these cards are much less available than T206 (by golly those puppies are plentiful), and there are relatively few collectors of the set. I think more people like collecting the 'color' issues such as the various T's and E's and R's.

I pretty much knew I would only get 8-12 responses...I was just hoping that the additional collectors who had participated in my previous E121 posts (and indicated that they had substantial E121 collections) would chime in as well .
Maybe my badgering will do the trick.

Brian

[Mark]

Brian
I collect E121's and would like to chime in, but I don't happen to have
Topo(r)cer from the set of 120. Like Rhett, I think that the photos are great. And I am especially attracted to it because of players that are included in the set. It helps to fill a huge gap between the t206's and Cracker Jacks on the one hand and the Goudey's on the other. I suppose you could say that the E120's have an even better selection, but I dislike the ornate borders. Maybe some collectors are put off the E121's because it is a challenge to finish both the set of 80 and of 120, along with the many variations. But I would think that it has so many odd variations that it would pull in more people than it puts off. Anyway, it is a wonderful set, and I appreciate all the new findings.

[brianp-beme]

Thanks Mark for your response...maybe you will be able to land a Topo someday. Along with the E120's (I agree with the ornate borders...although I do like the V61 Neilsons and the W573's more because their borders are in black and white, which is more appealing to my eye), the E121 sets are the cards that best represent the early 1920's. Too bad there wasn't a similiar comprehensive set issued in the late 20's.

Anyone else with input on Toporcer/Topocer?

Brian

[Mark]

When I first started collecting the set, I collected it the way I had collected t-206's, without any regard for the backs. So, my 1st Toporcer was a w-575-1. But now I suppose I'm moving in the direction of focusing on either the 80's or the 120's. I'm curious whether most who collect the 121's go after both the 80's and the 120's, or whether they tend to specialize.