Personal Pre-War Set and Collector Survey

[StraightRaceCards]

1. How long have you been collecting pre-war cards?

Since 2021. Really loved getting back into cards since my childhood days of collection junk wax.

2. What is the approximate largest number of pre-war cards/items you've
ever owned at any one time?

I had 40 T206 commons when I started out in pre-war, but just recently sold them off to pick up a T206 Matty White cap. Very happy about it.

3. Approximately how many pre-war cards/items do you currently still own?
I currently have 19 prewar cards, 10 T206 Hall of Famers, and the other 9 are vintage track cards, which I have really grown to love

4. What is/are the most significant card(s)/item(s) you currently own?
T206 Matty White Cap, T206 Matty Portrait, T206 Speaker

5. What complete sets or near complete sets (say 75% or more) do you
currently own? None, but currently working on T206 HOF'ers, E229 track, 1956 Topps, and the "Chariots of fire Run" of Eric Liddell, Harold Abrahams, Lord Burghley, E.A. Montague, and Henry Stallings.

Just one small Stallings card away from finishing the Chariots of Fire run!

[Cozumeleno]

Man, what a cool thread. I loved reading what folks collect, especially when it comes to sets.

1. How long have you been collecting pre-war cards?

Exclusively, around 2015

2. What is the approximate largest number of pre-war cards/items you've
ever owned at any one time?

40,000-50,000 cards, I'd guess, though more than half are UK issues that are worth less, including a good bit of non-sports stuff.

3. Approximately how many pre-war cards/items do you currently still own?

Same answer as No. 2

4. What is/are the most significant card(s)/item(s) you currently own?

I don't have crazy expensive individual cards and mostly build sets. Largest individual cards are the usual suspects - Cobb, Wagner, Anson, Matty, WaJo, Young, etc.

5. What complete sets or near complete sets (say 75% or more) do you currently own.

The main ones are below in my signature, but also larger European issues like Ogden Tabs (1,560 cards, about 85% complete), Stollwerck Albums (3,690 cards, somewhere beyond halfway), Felix Potin (1,775 cards/100% complete), and some other nonsense. Some complete baseball game sets, lots of smaller complete uncategorized sets.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by Cozumeleno

Man, what a cool thread. I loved reading what folks collect, especially when it comes to sets.

1. How long have you been collecting pre-war cards?

Exclusively, around 2015

2. What is the approximate largest number of pre-war cards/items you've
ever owned at any one time?

40,000-50,000 cards, I'd guess, though more than half are UK issues that are worth less, including a good bit of non-sports stuff.

3. Approximately how many pre-war cards/items do you currently still own?

Same answer as No. 2

4. What is/are the most significant card(s)/item(s) you currently own?

I don't have crazy expensive individual cards and mostly build sets. Largest individual cards are the usual suspects - Cobb, Wagner, Anson, Matty, WaJo, Young, etc.

5. What complete sets or near complete sets (say 75% or more) do you currently own.

The main ones are below in my signature, but also larger European issues like Ogden Tabs (1,560 cards, about 85% complete), Stollwerck Albums (3,690 cards, somewhere beyond halfway), Felix Potin (1,775 cards/100% complete), and some other nonsense. Some complete baseball game sets, lots of smaller complete uncategorized sets.

Damn Anson, that's impressive. Love your site btw.

[Leon]

Nice job on all of those sets.

I am not sure I answered questions in my response from a while back.

1. 29 yrs

2. probably around 1000 in my first collection, including ancillary items

3. Including rppc's, I probably have around 600? in my current collection.

4. I have the usual names on a few significant cards....maybe the e90-1 Young, in a 7 holder, is the most notable.

5. As a type collector I don't do sets so don't think I have any right now. My 1936 Home Run Candy collection of 16 is probably the closest I have. I don't think anyone knows the count in the entire set, unless I missed it.

Originally Posted by Cozumeleno

Man, what a cool thread. I loved reading what folks collect, especially when it comes to sets.

1. How long have you been collecting pre-war cards?

Exclusively, around 2015

2. What is the approximate largest number of pre-war cards/items you've
ever owned at any one time?

40,000-50,000 cards, I'd guess, though more than half are UK issues that are worth less, including a good bit of non-sports stuff.

3. Approximately how many pre-war cards/items do you currently still own?

Same answer as No. 2

4. What is/are the most significant card(s)/item(s) you currently own?

I don't have crazy expensive individual cards and mostly build sets. Largest individual cards are the usual suspects - Cobb, Wagner, Anson, Matty, WaJo, Young, etc.

5. What complete sets or near complete sets (say 75% or more) do you currently own.

The main ones are below in my signature, but also larger European issues like Ogden Tabs (1,560 cards, about 85% complete), Stollwerck Albums (3,690 cards, somewhere beyond halfway), Felix Potin (1,775 cards/100% complete), and some other nonsense. Some complete baseball game sets, lots of smaller complete uncategorized sets.

[Matt74]

Well, I'm new here, but I figured I'd bring this thread back to life........

Wow, Bob, I'd like to thank you for making me feel like an amateur at this. No hard feelings though!
I first started collecting pre-war when I first discovered that they existed, which was about 1987.... well in actuality, my dad was financing the operation back then...I think he was living vicariously through me, but either way, I had a big gap from about 1991 until last year.
I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 175-200 pre-war cards.
I'm not a set collector, but the closest thing I have to a complete set is a 1938 Churchman.s boxing set (I need 6 cards).
My most significant cards are a tough call...
Although not particularly rare, the glory hounds would be:
T206 Walter Johnson Portrait... It's a freakin' T206 Big Train
!934 Goudey Lou Gehrig... Triple Crown Year
1935 Goudey Babe Ruth... Final Playing days card...as a Brave
The tougher cards would be:
T206 Cy Young (glove showing) with a factory 42 back
1933 R308 Dizzy Dean & Connie Mack
1933 George C Miller R300 Mel Ott
1938 Dixie Lids Bob Feller with a Borden's back

Bob, I saw you have a Dixie Lids set and there used to be a thread that I can't find about back scarcity, it was old, and at the time, it had a count of only one known Borden's back. I was curious if you had any more info on this.
Anyway, I've rambled on long enough, thanks for reading.

[Jwkeen]

Let’s keep this thread going. Would love to see updates from those who have already responded.

1 I got my first pre war cards in the early 90s, a T206 common, 33 Goudey Frisch, 34 Goudey common, and 35 Goudey Klein/Cuyler.

2 The most I have had is around 1500 cards.

3 I currently have about that same 1500.

4 My all time favorite card is my 33 DeLong Gehrig.

5 I am primarily a set builder, a low grade collector too, and have completed the following, :
H804-1, T201, 1933 DeLong, 1933-36 Goudey, 1938 Goudey, 1934-36 Batter Up, 1934-36 Diamond Stars, 1941 Play Ball.
I am currently at 157/161 on 39 Play Ball, and on the non sport side at about 80% on the Horrors of War.
I am also doing 40 Play Ball, T205, 1941 Double Play, 1933 George C Miller, and N135.

[Alaskanmade]

1. How long have you been collecting pre-war cards?

4 Years

2. What is the approximate largest number of pre-war cards you've
ever owned at any one time?

90

3. Approximately how many pre-war cards do you currently still own?

80

4. What is the most significant card you own?

1933 Sport Kings Babe Ruth

5. What complete sets or near complete sets do you currently own?

1911 T205 HOF Set (100%)
1934 Goudey HOF Set (95%)
1888 N29 (66%)