Special thanks to everyone on the board who helps with my collection

[wolf441]

Congrats Ed, I love the Howe collection!

And Erick probably has the best eyes in the hobby for T206s. He ain't called the Hound for nothin'!!

[h2oya311]

best collecting focus in the hobby! keep up the good work!

[Thromdog]

Sure you've seen it.....

https://www.hugginsandscott.com/cgi-...l?itemid=90779

4 of em.....

Jennings 1 hand
Marquard throwing
Atz
Merkle portrait

[tab]

Very neat to try to put someone's collection back together. How did you get started with collecting his back stamped cards?

[Howe’s Hunter]

In 1991, while traditionally collecting T206s, I purchased a Hindu-backed card sight-unseen, and upon arrival, it had a rubber stamp on the back of Howe McCormick. Move forward to late 2006, I see another card on eBay with the same stamp and decide to buy it. Mention it here on the board, and I start to hear from many collectors who have one or two, and decided to try and reassemble his collection. Sold the nearly 200 I had at the time in 2007 and since then now own 267, am awaiting one in the mail next week, and know of another 38 that exist with his stamp, but aren't in my collection. There are even more out there I am sure, as they show up in bunches on occasion.

Born in 1896, he lived in the store his parents owned in a neighborhood that had a McCormick Street, named after his grandfather, who was a prominent Presbyterian minister at the turn of the century. Went to U of F, served in the Army in WWI, was discharged, married, moved out of the store and had a daughter. Last census info I've found was from 1930, when his occupation was listed as salesman. Died in 1976, his wife a couple years later. Haven't found any living relatives through several attempts at Ancestry.com.

I just found it interesting to find two cards that far apart that had the same stamp and decided to try and see how many there were. Had no idea it would go this far, or bring me in contact with so many of the wonderful members of this board who have helped along the way. My continued thanks to all.


TO CLARIFY: that was about a year ago. I have been able to contact Howe's second cousin who is still living in the Gainesville area (sort of) and stay in touch with him.

Thanks.

[Howe’s Hunter]

Originally Posted by Thromdog

Sure you've seen it.....

https://www.hugginsandscott.com/cgi-...l?itemid=90779

Nope, I hadn't. First I'd heard of it or seen it. Thanks, Jeff.

[4815162342]

Originally Posted by h2oya311

best collecting focus in the hobby! keep up the good work!

+1 It's always fun to read updates on your quest.

[whitehse]

This may sound weird but I almost feel like your collection is mine as well, or maybe more like it "belongs" to the Net54 boards in general since it seems we were there when the collection started. I obviously have zero dollars invested like you do but I do have a great interest in these stamped cards and seeing them all together once again and am always on the lookout for more. I think many of us are "invested" in your pursuit without having any money invested.

[Howe’s Hunter]

Hadn't really thought about it in that way before, but you are correct. This collection wouldn't exist without this board, and so it does belong to everyone here.

Just hope it's O.K. that it stays with me for a while longer.

[whitehse]

Originally Posted by StuckInOmaha

Hadn't really thought about it in that way before, but you are correct. This collection wouldn't exist without this board, and so it does belong to everyone here.

Just hope it's O.K. that it stays with me for a while longer.

LOL. I think it is only appropriate that it stays firmly in your grasp! But thanks for letting us watch the collection grow.

[Jeff_cvc]

Awesome, that is the only way to describe this thread and Ed's quest. With far to many negative stories in this crazy world, it is great to read about the Net54 community coming together to help Ed complete a collection. Anytime we do something without thought to our own gain that positive karma is felt and reverberated throughout our community and makes us all better people. I cringe every time I read a negative thread or watch the infighting. While sometimes it is necessary to share a negative experience to bring awareness to the greater good, it's stories like this one that continue to keep me motivated and excited about being part of the Net54 community. Today I am proud to call myself a Net54er.

With that said, I commend all of you that have contributed to helping Ed reassemble the Howe McCormick collection. My only selfish hope is that I can come across one of these cards and put my own metaphorical stamp on the reassembling of this very cool quest.

Thanks Ed for letting all of us be part of your collection and your humble appreciation of everyone who have helped out is a beautiful tribute to the attitude that I feel Net54 is ultimately all about.

Kudos to all of you,
Jeff