Speaking of rarities, exactly how rare are the E98 Old Puts?

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Posted By: Tbob

I know they are pretty darn scarce. I am gnashing my teeth because my E98 Old Put Clarke was in the lost shipment that UPS bungled. I was just wondering how rare they really are. My own experience is that they I have seen far fewer for sale or displayed than E94 overprints. I have never heard of another Old Put Clarke other than the one Doug Allen found for me at the National several years ago so if you ever see one for sale, either raw or graded, please let me know as it could be (probably is) mine.
By the way, although E98s come in 4 colors, all Old Puts come in only one of the colors.
Thanks,
tb

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Posted By: Robert

I know Old Puts are a lot more rare than a red hindu!

What is the only color that they come in?

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Posted By: leon

The fronts come in red (more common?) or blue....and the backs are all the purple type stamp.....regards

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Posted By: Robert

What color was the clarke you had Tbob?

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Posted By: Scott Elkins

I think they are about as rare as a T205 Drum, if not rarer - I know you did't want to hear that Tbob. I still have the Mastronet catalog the Cobb I bought from Greg was first sold in. According to the write up on the Cobb Old Put, it is the ONLY one is existence and could very easily be his rarest card, if the set is considered a seperate set from the regular E98's. Also, the ad states that not more than a handful exist. Don't really know what this means, but I would guess around a dozen or so exist of different players. BTW, as most of you know, the Cobb has a red front. Brian Daniels says he has an SGC 70 Clarke Old Put - what color is your front Brian???

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Posted By: Bottom of the Ninth

Knew I should have held on to that one. Think Brian told me not to sell it too.

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Posted By: Scott Elkins

It is my favorite - edging out my E90-1 Shoeless Joe! I doubt I will ever get rid of it, but if I should find myself in that situation, I will offer it ro you first, since you were so great to deal with!

BTW - TBOB! You could have saved eBay fees had you sold me the Croft's Cocoa Lajoie directly!!!!!!!!! Anyway, I have a couple of E98's, if you need them - Red Cobb (not the Old Put) and a blue M. Brown (at GAI currently - hope it will make it back to East Stone Gap Safely!). I would have mentioned the blue Kling, but know you have one. If you need any of these, feel free to e-mail me - BTW, I would rather trade for some Croft's than sell, since I don't collect E98's (you guys putting these Master Sets together have driven me out on the prices!).

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Posted By: Bruce Babcock

These are very tough to find. Certainly tougher than the E94 overprints. I personally have only seen about 10, including shows & catalogs.

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Posted By: leon

It all depends on what E94 overprint you are talking about...as a whole then yes I believe you are correct...more E94 overprints than Old Put's..individually some E94 overprints are more rare...imo...later

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Posted By: Marc S.

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Posted By: Marc S.

One thing I never understood with the Big Book was this:

If you look at the listing for D355 Niagra Baking - it basically says that it is a really rare issue - but, beware, since it is easy to put a fake overprint on an E101 to make a D355. But such things are never brought up in regard to E98 Old Put or any of the E94s.

Just a little nit-picky thing to me. I've never encountered a "fake" D355 Niagra Baking overprint, and the issue is so rare anyway, I think all would be immediately suspicious if more than one turned up in any one place at once. Oh well - I digress.

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Posted By: Tbob

My Clarke had a red background. I would like to see a scan of one with a blue background, every collector I know says they do not exist in any color but red.
I also lost a regular E98 Clarke with an orange front in the ill-fated GAI/UPS shipment.
Scott- wish I had listed the Crofts Cocoa Lajoie on this board before putting it on ebay but I guess the last week has addled my brain. Thanks for buying it.
Bob

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Posted By: leon

You asked.....

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Posted By: warshawlaw

"on the crapper" is one of my alltime favorites...

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Posted By: Bruce Babcock

Yes, Leon, I meant that there are, generally speaking, more total E94 overprints than there are E98 overprints. I wasn't completely clear. Certainly some of the various types of E94 overprints are much tougher than others, and some are certainly as tough or tougher than the "Old Put." I sold an "Oppie Dildock's" to Doug Allen back in 2000 without realizing how tough they were.

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Posted By: Robert A

to list the order of E94 overprints from toughest to most common or...maybe not?

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Posted By: leon

I have watched them fairly closely for the last 7-8 years so any old timer that has concentrated on them would probably know more than I however here are my observations.....

1.easiest (if there is such a thing) is by far the Blomes Chocolates
2-8.the next 2-8 are about the same rarity imo
9. Pennant Winners- have seen 3 total and have 1
10. most difficult and uniquely known so far OH YOU FAN.....

a list of all of them with back pics can be seen on my website.....
regards

http://www.geocities.com/typecard777/Collection.html

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Posted By: Tbob

That's the first one I have ever seen or that was actually verified. I guess that blows the old "they are only issued in red" theory to hell