T207....indeed a strange set....let' talk about it ?

[Vintagecatcher]

It took quite a few years before I finally grabbed my Johnny Kling T207 with a BIN on eBay earlier this year. For whatever reason, it not only is a tough card to find, but it is especially difficult to find in nice condition.

Patrick

[kmac32]

have a complete set of T207 Cubs minus Saier and Miller. Awesome cards and display very nicely. Classic set in my opinion.

Kmac

[Bridwell]

I've fallen in love with this set, also. Warts and all. Some of the poses are truly artistic. Some not so much.

I've been working on a set for a year and a half. Kudos to Bob and Mike for completing it. That's incredible! I've found that about half the set is pretty easy and the other half is pretty darn tough. Some cards only appear for sale maybe once in a year.

It's a strange set in that the following star players are not included:

Cobb
Wagner
Evers
Eddie Collins
Crawford
Joe Jackson
Grover Alexander
Plank
Baker
M. Brown
Walsh

There are 13 HOFers in the set, but some of those were early in their careers: Carey, Wheat, McKechnie, Hooper. It almost feels like this set was supposed to be the first part of a bigger set, a set that might have been planned to have as many players as T206. But, obviously, that didn't happen.

Ron

[Bridwell]

They look even more dark and mysterious in the SGC holders...

[Steve D]

T207 has long been one of my favorite sets. I've always had an attraction to the "Old West", and the T207s just look like they came out of the Old West, with the dark brown backgrounds and gray borders.

Here are scans of my cards from the set:








Steve

[Matt]

Mike - congrats! I know you were after that Donnelly for a VERY long time. What's next?

[Bridwell]

Another mystery of the T207 set is the Anonymous Backs. There are 2 different versions, with different factory numbers, but no brand listed. What cigarette brand would go to the trouble to list factory numbers but not identify themselves?

Ron R

[frohme]

Agreed on the "anonymous" backs, Ron

Beyond that, there are all sorts of card/printing mysteries:

• Why do some of the cards have silver/grey borders and others tan ... what are the distributions?
• Why are some (small?) number of cards printed on the back with brown ink rather than black ... again, what are the distributions?
• Why do some of the cards look really dull/drab (as if they are washed out) yet they are not obviously worn, bleached (maybe U/V?)
• What was the printing process really like, and how does it compare to the T206 (or C46) process?
• How common are the print freaks/errors?
• Just how many "swapped/wrong backs" are there?
• How many different Anon-3 Recruits are there, really?
• Why are some of the Recruit cards so difficult to find in any grade at/above VG/EX?

--
Mike

[William Todd]

Mike, Congratulations on completing the T207 set. I know that you really were committed to the task. I too enjoyed Tim and Bob's aritcle in VCBC and it helped me to complete the set, except for Lewis " No Emblem". I even got crazy and tried to complete the Broadleaf class in all three or four possible backs. Try the Recruit class cards in Factory 240 PA, Factory 606 MD, and then an Anonymous 3 for the rarer Recruits, and then the Napoleons. The set has as many twists, not quite, as T206. Certainly the rarity of some is extreme beyond belief. I recently had a friend of a client come to me with 275 T206's that her father had collected and was able to view them and handle them and it was quite an experience. If only they were T207's in original form!

[William Todd]

Mike, I just went through your whole set, it is quite an achievement. Thats a beautiful Lefty George and Barney Pelty, and your Donnelly is spectacular (pardon the Seinfeld reference).

[tedzan]

Great going Mike on completing this very tough set. Now, don't do what I did, by selling it. Enjoy it, as I am sure you are.

There are only a few regrets I have in this hobby, and selling my T207 set is one. After all, it took me longer to complete
it than my first T206 set.


Regards,

TED Z

[tedzan]

Hey guys, all these T207 cards on display, now this set is getting some respect here.

Keep showing them and telling us of your T207 stories.


From a US Air Force veteran, I wish you all a solemn Memorial Day.

TED Z

[49leaf]

Mike congrats on finishing the t207 set. I know that you really worked hard to finish it. If anyone has any questions on this set please feel free to ask. Patrick McHugh

[tbob]

Maybe the T207's inclusions and exclusions were based solely on economics. Perhaps it was a lot easier to sign up Lowdermilk and Lewis for a pittance than Cobb and Lajoie for big money.
I also think the set was put together in a haphazard fashion and the final series was to include some of the stars but who knows? Perhaps if the total set had come to fruition, we'd be showing PSA 5 Jacksons with a Cycle back or VGEX Lajoies with an Anonymous back and a G/VG Alexander with a Broadleaf back. The mysteries of this set run deep.