T206 Qs

[Mike Eisenbath]

3 questions that likely have been discussed elsewhere but I don't know how to search...

If one were able to assemble a collection of every card in the set, with every error and back variation, how many cards would there be?

What are the 10 rarest (not most valuable or desirable, but rather RAREST based on available pop numbers and educated knowledge)?

If I were to pursue a collection of truly common cards from the set (with most common backs), what would be the reasonable goal? (I'm looking for a ballpark number, not detailed list.)

Thank you!
Mike


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[2dueces]

1. Over 5000
2. That list is out there
3. 500

[t206fanatic]

1 Around 5500

2 Doyle Error, Wagner, Plank, Magie Error, O'Hara Stl, Demmitt Stl, and then probably 4 random Southern Leaguers

3 I think a reasonable goal would be to accumulate them slowly, and have fun!

[Mike Eisenbath]

I'm having great fun! Just curious what cards might be toughest to find. For instance, I've heard the Brooklyn Dahlen, the Washington Elberfeld portrait ... maybe some others. Are some Southern Leaguers notably scarce?

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[Cmvorce]

Brooklyn Dahlen and Washington Elberfeld are harder than your average card but are pretty readily available at all times. demmitt and O’Hara are significantly harder to find (and much more expensive).

[Casey2296]

Hi Mike,
The search function here is not optimal. Best way is to Google the subject then add net54 to the subject line, for example "Rareback T206 net54", etc. lots of archived threads will pop up. Good luck on your hunt!

[Ronnie73]

One of your questions is answered in my signature. I update that number (5258) whenever a new discovery card is found. It is believed that there are more cards that were printed with different back combinations, but I only count confirmed cards that actually exist. That number does not include missing color cards, scrap cards such as the No Prints and the Old Mill SL Brown Backs, Old Mill Blue Backs, most print errors, (Magie and Doyle NY Nat'l. are exceptions.) and any double name or partial double name cards.

[bbcard1]

The rarest might be high grade rare T206s that have not been altered.

[Pat R]

Originally Posted by Ronnie73

One of your questions is answered in my signature. I update that number (5258) whenever a new discovery card is found. It is believed that there are more cards that were printed with different back combinations, but I only count confirmed cards that actually exist. That number does not include missing color cards, scrap cards such as the No Prints and the Old Mill SL Brown Backs, Old Mill Blue Backs, most print errors, (Magie and Doyle NY Nat'l. are exceptions.) and any double name or partial double name cards.

We need to get together and compare notes one day Ron, I have the mater list of confirmed cards at 5281 I do include the Brown Old Mill SL (14 confirmed) but not other scrap, no prints, Blue Old Mill etc...

[wnp22]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

Hi Mike,
The search function here is not optimal. Best way is to Google the subject then add net54 to the subject line, for example "Rareback T206 net54", etc. lots of archived threads will pop up. Good luck on your hunt!

Small quality of life tip to go along with this: If you do "site:net54baseball.com" (minus the quotation marks) and then your search term, you will get results only from this site. IMO the best way to search forums since a lot of the baked in search functions can kinda be a pain

[steve B]

Some answers added in red.

Originally Posted by Mike Eisenbath

3 questions that likely have been discussed elsewhere but I don't know how to search...

If one were able to assemble a collection of every card in the set, with every error and back variation, how many cards would there be?
Going with cataloged errors and variations, yes 5000-5500, some still aren't known but those are pretty close numbers.
If you get crazy and figure that each position on the sheet is different enough to identify.... make that X 8-10 at least. Which brings us directly to the next question...

What are the 10 rarest (not most valuable or desirable, but rather RAREST based on available pop numbers and educated knowledge)?

I don't have the numbers or list in front of me, but if you count back/front combinations, there are more than 10 less common than the Wagner... One group is pretty well known, another isn't. Many of the tough backs if not all have very few known copies of any given card.

If I were to pursue a collection of truly common cards from the set (with most common backs), what would be the reasonable goal? (I'm looking for a ballpark number, not detailed list.)

Depending on budget, a short set just looking at fronts is what most people go for. So 520, the 524 less The very tough Doyle, Wagner, Plank, and Magie.
On a less substantial budget and just going for commons, a set is easy enough with some effort. I don't know the number.
I've collected slowly and with a variable level of focus for a long time and I'm at around half the set, some better backs since they were mostly ignored years ago, and a few Hof ers.

There are lots of ways to collect them, team sets, just backs, the southern leaguers, the minor leaguers, portraits, the 6 horizontals, pretty much any way you can think of.
What would you enjoy the most?

Thank you!
Mike


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[Mike Eisenbath]

All fantastic and appreciated thoughts. At first, I thought I would try to collect 520, not being particular about backs (although I do like some more than others). But some HofFers are sooo pricey, even in low grades, I thoughts I would work on commons and pick up a big-dollar card when price and my wallet reached a happy intersection.

But I've noticed some cards rarely appear, either on eBay or at local shows. I ran into a bunch of Old Mill cards last week at a shop (shocking) and paid the OM premium on several simply because I didn't know when I might see them again.

My goal for 2023 was reaching 300 for my Monster number, with specific cards in mind. I'll be hunt The National....I'm at 265. A lot of fun, but always learning new things adds to the challenge.

Plus ... I've picked up those peripheral affinities such as Batter Ups, T205s and finishing my W512 baseball set!

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[2dueces]

My question is why is Dahlen so rare/scarce/expensive? I picked up mine in a $1 common box and it graded an SGC 40. I was shocked just now when I looked at eBay realized prices

[Ronnie73]

Originally Posted by 2dueces

My question is why is Dahlen so rare/scarce/expensive? I picked up mine in a $1 common box and it graded an SGC 40. I was shocked just now when I looked at eBay realized prices

He is one of the favorites to most likely be put in the Hall Of Fame. But everyone has been saying this for over 10 years, and many started changing the prices to HOF levels, before it even happens. So it's for sure an over priced card for that reason, but prices tend to stay strong because his card is one of the Elite 11 subjects. Even though it should only matter on the Piedmont 350 backs only, some will bump up the EPDG prices for these 11 cards, and other collectors bump the price up, regardless of the card back.

[2dueces]

Originally Posted by Ronnie73

He is one of the favorites to most likely be put in the Hall Of Fame. But everyone has been saying this for over 10 years, and many started changing the prices to HOF levels, before it even happens. So it's for sure an over priced card for that reason, but prices tend to stay strong because his card is one of the Elite 11 subjects. Even though it should only matter on the Piedmont 350 backs only, some will bump up the EPDG prices for these 11 cards, and other collectors bump the price up, regardless of the card back.

Ahhh. Makes sense. Thanks for the explanation. So does he make the hall is the question. Not a bad purchase for a $1. Last one in my grade was over $700. 😳

[Kidnapped18]

Current PSA pop reports have 40 cards with 300 or less graded examples including Doyle, Wagner, Plank, Magie, O'Hara-STL and Demmit-STL.
The rest are 33 Southern Leaguers with Cranston having the fewest graded at 229 and a Minor Leaguer Hunky Shaw-Providence at 284.

The remaining 15 Southern Leaguers have between 302 (Revelle) and 354 (Foley White-Houston) examples

[tibor1]

Which one of the Dahlens is the rare one? I have Dahlen, Boston Nat'l.
Piedmont 350. Is this the rare one. Mine is PSA 3. Centering 40/60
left to right. 45/55 top to bottom. How much is this card worth?

[2dueces]

A Dahlen Brooklyn Piedmont 350 PSA 3 sold for $798 in May.
A Dahlen Boston in PSA 3 sold for $240 this month

[Ronnie73]

Originally Posted by tibor1

Which one of the Dahlens is the rare one? I have Dahlen, Boston Nat'l.
Piedmont 350. Is this the rare one. Mine is PSA 3. Centering 40/60
left to right. 45/55 top to bottom. How much is this card worth?

Originally Posted by 2dueces

A Dahlen Brooklyn Piedmont 350 PSA 3 sold for $798 in May.
A Dahlen Boston in PSA 3 sold for $240 this month

A Dahlen Boston with a "Red B" with a Piedmont 350 back is an Elite 11 card. That makes it more rare and valuable than the Boston Piedmont 150 back that was probably what sold for the $240. I'd say a Piedmont 350 PSA 3 is more in the $1000+ range.

[tibor1]

@Ronnie73 Thank you for all of the information. All of these varieties
really confuse me.

[Shankweather]

I've searched for this answer, with no luck. If Lundgren Chicago is one of the rarest cards in the set, why are there more of those in both PSA and SGC pops than the Kansas City version? Is it just because it's a popular card, therefore people send it in to be graded more often?

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Shankweather

I've searched for this answer, with no luck. If Lundgren Chicago is one of the rarest cards in the set, why are there more of those in both PSA and SGC pops than the Kansas City version? Is it just because it's a popular card, therefore people send it in to be graded more often?

That's the most likely explanation.

I haven't looked in a while, but Magie had more graded examples than Magee...
And when I was looking up a group of cards, the HOF ers were about double the population of the commons.