One year later

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Posted By: Ed McCollum

It was a year ago this week that I made the decision to sell off most of my t206s and concentrate only on collecting those that had a rubber stamping on the back from Howe McCormick. At that time, I had four in my collection, and thought this would be a good way to persue the set, never knowing exactly how many he might have had or what players.

With a lot of help from the great collectors on this board, I'm now up to 41, with the possibility of many more in the very near future. Thanks to all who have made this possible.

This link is to a slide show that shows what I've got so far. Maybe you'll see one of your old cards, or one you pointed me in the direction of. Again, thanks.


Ed


http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s81/T206ster/McCormickScans/?albumview=slideshow

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Posted By: Aaron Patton

Absolutely incredible.

Great work, Ed.

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Posted By: Dave F

That is great work...and unfortunately shows a dedication to sticking on track that I dont have...

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Posted By: Steve

Dave, That's why I take Ritalin.

Ed, Fantastic work -Collecting and all that scanning.

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Posted By: Brad L.

I am not familiar with that rubber stamp. Could you briefly enlighten me on who that is and why they stamped the cards? Also, does that take away, or add value to those cards? Sweet cards by the way.

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Posted By: Al C.risafulli

Ed, of all the cool collections on 54, and all the creative ways of collecting, yours is my absolute favorite. It's just fascinating to me.

And the fact that you've found 41 of these is amazing.

-Al

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Posted By: Ed McCollum

I got my first card with his stamp back about 1991 or '92. Then twelve years later, I saw another on eBay and bid on it. Then a thread started on the board about t cards with rubber stampings, and what they may have been stamped for. It got me started on "why not try and rebuild a collection that could possibly have been started almost 100 years ago".

What I do know about Ulric Howe McCormick is he was born on July 31, 1895, died sometime in July, 1976, served in WWI, married soon after the war, and never seemed to stray too far from Gainesville, Fla. His birth and death certificates, his service papers and marriage license all came from the same county.

One theory on the board was that early collectors stamped all cards they had dupes of and would send them to other collectors to try and make trades. That way, they could keep track of what was theirs, or someone elses. But it strikes me as strange that all of his cards I seen or purchased so far are either Piedmont, Hindu, or Old Mill ... no Sweet Caps? They would seem pretty common, especially if you were mailing trades to other collectors.

Guess value is a relative thing...I like them, so that is what I buy. So far, 16 of those I've purchased had been graded (I busted them all out), with grades ranging from PSA 1 to 4 (all with the MK qualifier) and SGC 10 or 20. Can't really imagine that unless you were specifically looking for a certain stamp that it would make the card any more valuable to anyone else.

I do know of 33 others out there. Six I have no idea who has them (they were purchased from eBay before I started this quest, but shown in group scans as the seller continued to sell other cards they had), and most of the others are in private collections that might be available if I could find replacements for them. I'll just keep plugging away at it and see where I'm at in five, ten, twenty years from now.

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Posted By: Jantz

I also think this is a unique way of collecting. I know that whenever I'm at a show or on Ebay and I see a T206 with a stamped back I immediately think about you & your endeavor. If I ever find one at a show, I'll grab it for you. Please continue to keep us updated on your pursuit because I for one find this interesting.

Jantz

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Posted By: Todd Schultz

count me among the many impressed by your collection--you had a great idea and I love the dedication. One reason you may not see any or many Sweet Caporal cards is because that brand was popular and far more available in the Northeast, while its counterpart in the South was Piedmont. If the young man spent his entire youth in Florida, it would make sense he would not be around alot of Sweet Cap smokers, and that the southern brands would dominate.

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Posted By: T206Collector

...about collecting your stamped T206 cards holds true for one of the best things about my parallel T206 pursuit of autographed T206 cards: condition and grade of the card are really irrelevant, at least in terms of acquisition -- i.e., you buy what you see with the stamp, regardless of condition, since the condition is secondary to the stamp.

Rather than limiting, it is a really liberating way of collecting pre-war cards. It also keeps you to a fixed budget, and preserves the thrill of the hunt, for these special T206 cards.

One question: ever seen a Howe McCormick stamp on anything other than a T206? When I started seeing signatures on T201s, T202s and T205s, I had to expand my collecting scope to accommodate them.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Visit http://www.t206collector.com to see signed pre-war card galleries, articles, my blog and more!

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Posted By: Dave Haas

Very cool. Have you found multiple stamped cards of the same player or did he stamp just one of each?

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Posted By: Ed McCollum

Dang, thats one card I didn't count in my list of 33 I know of. Make that 34. I have two Grahams, and while I own one Camnitz, I know of another of the same pose.

James Feagin told me of an E98 that had McCormick's stamp on it, but I'm not familiar with that issue at all. He asked me if I was aware of any other issues, but that was the first I heard of anything other than t206s.

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Posted By: Anthony S.

Cool story, Ed. Not sure if I have a Howie, but I'll check my set when I get home next week, and if I do you're welcome to it.

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Posted By: Sean BH

That's a pretty cool collection of cards.

The time to comb eBay to find the stamp must be a full time job?

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Posted By: Ed McCollum

I usually spend the lunch hour of my full-time job going through newly listed. Do the same thing when I get home from my part-time job (usually between 10 and midnight most nights). Then again when I get up in the morning (between 6 and 7). But it helps that so many here on the board know of my quest, as quite often, I'll get an e-mail letting me know of one before I see it.

I truly can't say thanks enough to those who are out there helping me.

Ed

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Posted By: Bob Pomilla

Interesting way to collect. Congratulations on your success!

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Posted By: Matt

Ed - do you also email all the sellers who only post front scans and get back scans? Your dedication is incredible!

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Posted By: Bob

That's a cool way to collect. I know I started trying to buy up Lionel Carter 1938 Goudeys thinking I might be able to keep them together but they are scattered over the winds, so I stopped. I do have 6 or 7 of the toughest ones in the SGC Carter holders though.
Good luck!

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Posted By: Al C.risafulli

Not to hijack, but wait.

Lionel Carter 1938 Goudeys?

When did they hit the market? I've wanted one since I found out about them! I thought the complete set was kept together?

-Al

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Posted By: Brad L.

Wow, that is a very cool way to collect these cards. It adds a whole other level of nostalgia to collecting. And very cool that you have some info on the original collector. Good luck!

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Posted By: barry arnold

Wow, Ed!
Great slide show and wonderful singleminded collection!!!
Great seeing my ole Pattee there with you.
all the best,

barry

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Posted By: Bob

Al- Sorry, my goof (I do collect 38 Goudeys) I meant the Tattoo Orbit set.
tbob (A mind is a terrible thing to waste)

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Posted By: Scott M

Ed,

That is a great idea for a collecting focus and you've made really great progress on it.

I love the thought that you are putting together a collection of cards that was likely together nearly 100 years ago.

Continued luck in finding and acquiring more examples!

Scott

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Posted By: Jeff Schwarz

Ed,
You inspired me to look at my set and I have Lundgren - Cubs with a Piedmont back and a Howe stamp. It was exciting. Email me at coachjeff1@aol.com to discuss. Also found 2 others with different stamps on them. Hope I can help!

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Posted By: jay wolt

Ed - Very impressive
what a neat & unique way to collect.
If I run across any I will let you know.

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Posted By: Ed McCollum

Like I've said, the folks here on the board are a great help to me in trying to find these. Just another example. e-mail sent.
Ed