What if..Burdick had classified T206's with respect to their individual 15 T-brands ?

drdduet · #1 02-24-2010, 10:43 AM

Good, solid points.

The manufacturers of the day were motivated by profit (nothing has changed).

The cards of the day were premiums, not the product(that has changed).

The success of the original T206 "issue" (the 150 series), as evidenced by period periodicals and newspaper articles, prompted increased distribution as a manner of increased revenue. Thus the "pilot" study was a success and ATC followed suit with its top brands.

The manufacturer did not intend on the idea of a "set", thus the collecting community has the task of making this determination.

barrysloate · #2 02-24-2010, 10:50 AM

Jim- one interesting point to consider: the 150 series did not have 150 cards; the 350 series didn't bring the total to 350 cards; and the 460 series likewise didn't comprise 460 cards. These were just marketing ploys, to let the public know that they were still producing more cards and introducing new players. Even the manufacturers really weren't sure where it was headed, and at what point it would end.

E93 · #3 02-24-2010, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Jim- one interesting point to consider: the 150 series did not have 150 cards; the 350 series didn't bring the total to 350 cards; and the 460 series likewise didn't comprise 460 cards. These were just marketing ploys, to let the public know that they were still producing more cards and introducing new players. Even the manufacturers really weren't sure where it was headed, and at what point it would end.

Yes, that is true, but it does not change the fact that it seems to have been conceptualized as a unified project - not one where the issuer determined that since there are far less than 100 different fronts subjects with Drum backs that we should not put "350 Subjects" on the back. The evidence suggests that they conceptualized the project as a unified project across specific brands.
JimB

barrysloate · #4 02-24-2010, 11:12 AM

Well they certainly knew the project was popular, and was getting bigger. I doubt they had any idea that when they began issuing cards in the fall of 1909 they would still be popular and in demand a year and a half later. I think the set's ultimate size was a result of its continued popularity. Had it bombed it would have ended with series 150.

E93 · #5 02-24-2010, 11:20 AM

The bottom line is that people can think about it, conceptualize it, and collect it any way they want. There are justifications for a lot of ways of organizing it. Ted has collected sets by brands. He is surely not the only one. Others may collect by series, etc.

Personally, I agree with the way Burdwick classified the cards with the exception that I think Coupon type 1s should have also been included. Had Coupon type 2 or 3 never been issued, it would not even be a topic of conversation.
JimB

barrysloate · #6 02-24-2010, 11:41 AM

My thoughts were based on Scott Reader's point that a set is the product of the manufacturer's intent. In the case of T206, the manufacturer began with a rough idea of what the set would look like and how it would be distributed. The enormous popularity it would ultimately experience took it beyond what was originally envisioned.

drdduet · #7 02-24-2010, 12:20 PM

Another question--

What if Burdick had classified T206's based on their series?

A classification scheme like that would "make" a Piedmont 150 series only subject more similar to a Sovereign 150 only subject than to a Piedmont 350 series issue.

I believe there are strong logical arguments for the current T206 classification, T206 by brand classification, and T206 by series classification.

The United States was a much "smaller" place in 1909-1911, and distances were much greater (100 miles away was much "further" than it is today). Regional distribution of products was meant to be just that. It was unlikely and impractical for some kid in Virginia to communicate with a kid in NY about what cards he had and needed, let alone discuss what brands were associated with what subjects. Furthermore, many states like to leave Louisiana out of the US today, and I would imagine it was much easier to do in Burdick's time. We are our own 3rd world country in many ways!

Maybe there is also an argument to support T206 classification by brand AND series--T206 Piedmont 150 only series, T206 Sovereign 150 only series, T206 Sweet Caporal 150 only series, Hindu Southern Leaguers, Piedmont 150/350 SLers, Pied 350 only SLers, Coupon 350 only series, Coupon SLer series (150/350 and/or 350 only), Polar Bear 350 only, etc....I think a T206 purist would choose to look at the set this way. Whereas a T206 collector would look at calling a T206 set a collection of all the possible "fronts." Only my bank limits me from collecting as a purist!

Regardless, IMHO T206 consists of sets within a set. No matter how you slice up the Monster, it will grow another limb/head.

All of these white border cards (E's and T's, sports and nonsports) from this period have stories to tell, and I believe that analysis of the subject across all spectrums may reveal some yet unsolved mysteries or at least reveal leads to answers.

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