Is the 1914 Fatima T222 set impossible to complete?

[kcohen]

I personally know of one full set (2 now with Bill Cornell) and the last card this person got was the Henry. Extremely tough to find I believe.

[tbob]

Very hard to complete but not as impossible as some other sets like the 1911 Zeenuts. It seems it is always a matter of timing with these sets. I know it took me a long time to complete the 150 series set of 1910 Obaks because others were competing but now it seems like there isn't as much competition although the cards appear infrequently.
Timing, timing, timing.

[uffda51]

Very nice, Bill! And a nice web page to display them.

[Michael Peich]

It is a very difficult set to complete for all the reasons folks have stated, but it is also a satisfying set. I think I am the person Ken is referring to as needing only the Henry to complete my set. That card came to me as a result of a chance encounter with another collector (and NET54 Board member) standing next to me in Ken's booth a few years ago. So, yes, Henry is the stopper that keeps many people from completing the set. (By the way, I would add Lee Magee, another difficult, but not impossible card, to Frank's list of scarce 222s.)

I don't know that I would limit myself to not starting the set unless I had a Henry card in hand. I think it is a fun set to collect because of the quality of the photos. And now that prices for the cards have settled down a bit, the set can be put together with comparative ease. I am helping a friend of mine do that. Besides, what's the fun in collecting a set if you don't have to spend time looking for the elusive card or two or three that you need to complete it? Bob is finished with his Obak 150 subject backs, but I need six more cards to finish mine, and I enjoy the challenge of finding them.

Another issue regarding T222s is their fragility. Because they were printed on thin photographic stock, it is difficult to find them in Vg or above condition. So, if you are a condition freak, you could become frustrated. My Henry card is trimmed, and one of the most condition challenged cards in my set, but I was not going to pass up the chance to acquire him because I knew it would grade AUTH.

Finally, one of the most definitive sources of information on T222s is on Bill Cornell's website, http://.t207.com/t222.shtml . Bill has done exhaustive research to fill in the complete story on the issue, and all of it is presented in informative, readable prose.

Here's my Henry. So start the set--you'll enjoy yourself.

Cheers, Mike

[ls7plus]

I agree with Mike completely. With a really tough card, don't pass it up because its not in the best of condition--Grab it, as it might be years before you see it again. Great acquistion, Mike!

Larry

[FrankWakefield]

Michael P, that is one fine card.

My point wasn't to not start collecting these great cards unless you get Henry. Just don't get confident that you will complete them until you have Henry in hand. Once you have him, then I think it becomes possible.

[Mrvintage]

How much does a john henry usually go for?

[bcornell]

Originally Posted by Mrvintage

How much does a john henry usually go for?

There are only 5 that I know of, so the prices have varied. $1K might be a benchmark.

Henry is very tough, but I wouldn't necessarily single him out. I think that any of the cards with a "13" or higher number in the lower left corner are equally scarce. For example, I've never seen a Schulte that wasn't in terrible condition. Lelivelt, L.Magee, Lobert, Austin, Morgan... those are all equally hard.