nice sets for tough economic times

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Posted By: Stephen Mitchell

I recommend the POST-war issues (of pre-war players) produced by various companies (The Sporting News, Marketcom, World Wide Sports and Megacards) under the banner "The Conlon Collection". Featuring the magnificent photography of Charles Martin Conlon the pictures date from turn of the 20th century to 1942 and (except for the early 1990's Conlons) were produced in quantities of the thousands - several at just 12,000 - which is very small for a modern, national issue.

The backs were well written, too, and worthy matches for Conlon's photos. The best, in my view, being those by TSN historian Paul MacFarlane; but all of them are excellent.

T205 and T206 cards are highly prized by collectors today but there was a time (not so long ago) when they were relatively plentiful and financially reachable by nearly any adult and many teenagers. Consider that those classic cards could be obtained in team sets at auction (through the hobby's only regular auction house of the era - Card Collectors Bulletin) for 10 to 15 cents per card in the mid 1960's. Accordingly, the Conlons may be nicely positioned to move much higher in another half century. And if they don't they are still very affordable, enjoyable and educational.