Is the 1914 Fatima T222 set impossible to complete?

[ls7plus]

I had to choose between a 1914 Fatima Walter Johnson, which is a short print, and the 1923 Lections Babe Ruth in a Mastronet auction several years ago, and went with the Ruth, being unable to afford both at one time. Have been looking for a Johnson ever since, without success. I have the Alexander from the set and was lucky to buy that one from Larry Fritsch in the late '90's. I would say the set can be completed, but will require a great deal of both patience and dilligence (read YEARS!) looking for the short prints. Also, as one board member has previously noted, competition for the Alexander is rather fierce when one comes up for auction. I personally believe the Johnson to be quite rare, as the PSA pop has been just four for some time now, as far as I know. The one I missed at auction was rather low grade, I think, yet went for about $4400, if memory serves correctly.

Hope this is of some help, and best wishes on your collecting endeavors!

Larry

[bcornell]

You can complete the T222 set, but it's a challenge. I have a full set (link) and I know of 2 others. It took me about 5 years, most of that time with little competition. Some cards (the ones Frank cited) you should grab when you see them, because they rarely appear.

Most of the cards in holders are SGC, not PSA. By the way, that complete set in PSA holders is the same one from the Copeland Collection (lot 213 in that auction).

Good luck.


Bill

[kcohen]

I personally know of one full set (2 now with Bill Cornell) and the last card this person got was the Henry. Extremely tough to find I believe.

[tbob]

Very hard to complete but not as impossible as some other sets like the 1911 Zeenuts. It seems it is always a matter of timing with these sets. I know it took me a long time to complete the 150 series set of 1910 Obaks because others were competing but now it seems like there isn't as much competition although the cards appear infrequently.
Timing, timing, timing.

[uffda51]

Very nice, Bill! And a nice web page to display them.

[Michael Peich]

It is a very difficult set to complete for all the reasons folks have stated, but it is also a satisfying set. I think I am the person Ken is referring to as needing only the Henry to complete my set. That card came to me as a result of a chance encounter with another collector (and NET54 Board member) standing next to me in Ken's booth a few years ago. So, yes, Henry is the stopper that keeps many people from completing the set. (By the way, I would add Lee Magee, another difficult, but not impossible card, to Frank's list of scarce 222s.)

I don't know that I would limit myself to not starting the set unless I had a Henry card in hand. I think it is a fun set to collect because of the quality of the photos. And now that prices for the cards have settled down a bit, the set can be put together with comparative ease. I am helping a friend of mine do that. Besides, what's the fun in collecting a set if you don't have to spend time looking for the elusive card or two or three that you need to complete it? Bob is finished with his Obak 150 subject backs, but I need six more cards to finish mine, and I enjoy the challenge of finding them.

Another issue regarding T222s is their fragility. Because they were printed on thin photographic stock, it is difficult to find them in Vg or above condition. So, if you are a condition freak, you could become frustrated. My Henry card is trimmed, and one of the most condition challenged cards in my set, but I was not going to pass up the chance to acquire him because I knew it would grade AUTH.

Finally, one of the most definitive sources of information on T222s is on Bill Cornell's website, http://.t207.com/t222.shtml . Bill has done exhaustive research to fill in the complete story on the issue, and all of it is presented in informative, readable prose.

Here's my Henry. So start the set--you'll enjoy yourself.

Cheers, Mike

[ls7plus]

I agree with Mike completely. With a really tough card, don't pass it up because its not in the best of condition--Grab it, as it might be years before you see it again. Great acquistion, Mike!

Larry

[FrankWakefield]

Michael P, that is one fine card.

My point wasn't to not start collecting these great cards unless you get Henry. Just don't get confident that you will complete them until you have Henry in hand. Once you have him, then I think it becomes possible.