T206 set question/survey

[E93]

I suppose the answer depends on how you define "complete" for T206. Most consider themselves done without the big 4 (Wagner, Plank, Doyle, and Magie). Some do not consider the Doyle and Magie error cards necessary for a basic set, just like modern set collectors don't consider a '79 Topps Bump Will error necessary for a complete basic set. Others give themselves a little more breathing room and also don't pursue the O'Hara and Demmit. I think that is a little strange since they are not THAT hard or expensive to someone who has already bought 70 T206 HOFs.

My guess is that there are probably more than 50 (maybe even 100) T206 sets or near sets with 500+ different fronts.

[cfc1909]

Jim is right about what some collectors consider complete. That being said, there are very few complete sets where all cards on the checklist are in hand. Probably no more than 5, being there are only 7 known Doyle's. I think there are 7 known Doyle's.

There are probably closer to 100 collectors that are above 500 different cards and some collectors, but again very few, that have several (2 or more) that are above 500 cards.

There are several collectors that have 3000 plus t206s in their collections.

This is my collecting experience since about 1990. There is much more that I don't know-this has been going on for 100 years. There was a large amout of collecting going on the 60s and 70s and there was an explosion in the hobby in the 80s. I missed 95% of that.

[T206Collector]

...once upon a time. My sense of it is that there are WAYYYY more than 100 collectors with 500-520 T206 cards in their collection. I'd say closer to 500 people have that many. Perhaps even more.

Seriously, there are so many T206 cards out there -- I mean, just check ebay and compare the number of listings with any other baseball card set in history. Most of them are just so common.

I think a lot of people get into T206, as I did, because the cards are 100 years old and they are also somewhat plentiful and affordable.

I still really love T206, but having immersed myself in autographed pre-war cards, it's hard to spend any real money on an unautographed Larry Doyle card when none will ever surpass this one:

From Autographed T206

[teetwoohsix]

T206Collector-I am always in awe of the T206 cards you display/acquire-truly amazing!!!!Much Respect,Clayton

[tedzan]

I personally know of 28 - T206 collectors that have sets consisting of 500 to 524 cards. I would guess that my anecdotal knowledge
probably represents less than 5% of the worldwide population of "near complete" T206 sets. Therefore, by simple extrapolation, I say
that there are no less than 500 sets.....and, as many as 1000 sets.

Scot Reader's "Inside T206" estimates (based on very good analysis) that approx. 1.6 Million T206's are currently in circulation. I tend
to agree with Scot's analysis. Therefore, my projection of about 1000 sets is not too far-fetched. For it reflects approx. 1/3 rd of the
T206 population is in set collector's hands.


TED Z

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by teetwoohsix

T206Collector-I am always in awe of the T206 cards you display/acquire-truly amazing!!!!Much Respect,Clayton

Thank you for the kind words. I appreciate it.

Here's another one of my latest favs -- hard to collect a regular un-signed Snodgrass after you get this one with so much personality!

From Autographed T206

[toppcat]

I think a "set" of T206 can be anything from 518 cards and up for purposes of this discussion, or really almost any discussion about these cards. If you have an estimated 1000 sets in collections, which seems about right, then based upon the population estimates of the big 6, not all of those sets can have all of those half dozen scarcities and rarities and good luck with finding a Doyle, no matter how much cash you have to spend.

I plan to accumulate a set of 518 and maybe 520, depending how I feel about O'Hara and Demmitt down the road. To me T206 is something I'm putting together between now and retirement (say 10 years or so) and frankly those two will depend upon our family's financial position at that stage in life and whether or not I consider the cards an asset to fund retirement or merely collectibles I wish to keep.

I will consider mine complete at 518 and anything after that is "icing on the cake".

[drdduet]

I have one complete set (minus the big 4) and about 1000 different T206's (front/back combos).