My Boston Store Collins McCarthy Dilemma

[JamesGallo]

Some of you that have been around a while have seen me posting about the Boston Store set I have been trying to build for nearly 15 years. I fell into a group of 61 cards and decided to build the set but I had no idea at the time what an undertaking it would be. These backs are far rarer then the standard Collins McCarthy backs by roughly a 2-1 margin.

So after all this time I have finally managed to only need 8 cards

71-Heilmainn
95-Lavan
134-Pip
142-Ruth
163-Smith
173 C Thomas
179-Witt
194-Wood

Now this is where the problem begins, there are a couple of the needed cards on ebay but they are way over priced. That aside the Ruth card is the issue at hand as there are far less BS Ruth's then Collins McCarthy. I have not seen a Boston Store Ruth on the market ever, in addition the value of this card has gone wacky so the couple low grade CM examples that have turned up in the last year have gone for between 40K-95K.

SO my issue here is only in part cost of the card but there is NO availability so back the the Dilemma.

The Last Huggins & Scott Auction had a group of 112 Collins McCarthy cards as well as a Ruth so I thought why not cross over to the CM backs it would make completing the set easier and cheaper to some degree and the Ruth is here. After taking a look at the card and thinking on it, I decided not to bid on the miscut Ruth card but still proceed to buy the group of 112 card lot.

SO, now I have a nearly complete mid grade Boston Store set and over half a Collins McCarthy set.

Completing the Boston Store set may just not ever be possible both because of no Ruth cards and the cost of it if one came to market. Even if one turned up I could only afford a lower grade example similar to the recent CM examples (I think the lowest graded known are a 2 or so).

Or I can sell the Boston Store Set and build the Collins set or I can sell it all and buy something else like rebuilding my Cracker Jack Set.

Sorry if this is a bit disjointed but I wanted to get some thoughts and of course if anyone has any of the Boston Store Cards I need do let me know as I may have a Collins back to trade or other trade options (or will buy it outright). I just hate to get stalled with a card that just may never be available and at least with the Collin set it would be possible to complete.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

James G