Looking for fellow 1962 Jell-O collectors

[Promethius88]

Originally Posted by brian1961

Wishing you the very, very best, Tim, in your pursuit of a genuine post-war beast of a set.

Take your time, and while it's good to be choosy, please know that it will be very troublesome to find full border all around the card. That was a major point I focused on in my chapter on those gorgeous 1962 JELL-Os. I've really grown fond of them over the years, without actually collecting them. It was a major confirmation to me in 2015-16 when the late Bob Lemke dug out an article from a spring 1962 issue of THE SPORTING NEWS on what was going on with General Foods' baseball card promotions. He posted the article in his blog. One little sentence was the large gold nugget to me----that recently General Foods had begun test-marketing their 1962 baseball card set on the backs of their JELL-O boxes in the Chicagoland area.

Previously, the Beckett 3 BB card guide (1981) said most collectors considered the '62 issue a test issue. When I interviewed the late Larry Fritsch for my book on September 18, 2003, he confirmed to me the 1962 JELL-Os were a test issue. Then, finally, dear Bob Lemke also nailed it with his find from that SPORTING NEWS article! The 1963 release was indeed nationwide; not so 1962!

Lest I forget, welcome to the Net54baseball family!

Have a swell weekend, my fellow collecting warrior! ---Brian Powell

I've read Bob Lemke's article and I had read you were coming out with a book. I need to get that! Lol, I have no grand idea that I will EVER find a complete set with full borders but I have been lucky to run across several. I have decided that I'm having all of them slabbed by PSA, even if they only come back as Authentic. I think in my first submission of 30+ cards I got back 12 with numerical grades which shocked me. I have about 30 there now waiting to be graded and will be happy with any that come back with numerical grades and about 45 that I'm getting ready to send with my next bulk sub. I'm hoping to have about 10-15 in that one.

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by Promethius88

I've read Bob Lemke's article and I had read you were coming out with a book. I need to get that! Lol, I have no grand idea that I will EVER find a complete set with full borders but I have been lucky to run across several. I have decided that I'm having all of them slabbed by PSA, even if they only come back as Authentic. I think in my first submission of 30+ cards I got back 12 with numerical grades which shocked me. I have about 30 there now waiting to be graded and will be happy with any that come back with numerical grades and about 45 that I'm getting ready to send with my next bulk sub. I'm hoping to have about 10-15 in that one.

Sounds as if you're off to a terrific start, Tim. Nice going, bro. May I kindly stress to key on striving for a good player photo, even if a border or two was removed "in the distant past."

If you are serious about my book, bro, I'll direct you to the press release:

Google search the title, Never Cheaper By the Dozen. As you will see, the 480-page book is an E-book on a CD. You read it on your computer by inserting the disk into the disk drive of your computer and finding it on your "My computer" icon. I sell it from my home for $30 postpaid. The purchasing details, along with my mailing address, are at the end of the press release.

Or, you can choose a cheaper route. Amazon now offers a digital download for only $9.99.

Personally, I love the disk, but I recognize many here use their devices to read their Kindle books, so I'm now with "cutting edge technology".

I think you will enjoy the book, bro. One thing our hobby never did was produce many books about specific genres of cards, et al. Baseball / sports history of all kinds and biographies---oh yeah. Price guides have been around every year since 1979. But books about specific sets---forget it. My guess is that it was too much work to be worthwhile. I sure haven't sold as many copies as I thought collectors would have wanted, but sometimes guys just want all their info handed to them for free, or spoon fed, or something sarcastic along that line. Look, with as much interest as you have, wouldn't you want to devour anything you could get your hands on about this difficult set you wish to collect? I know I sure as anything would.

One of the problems I encountered in researching my book was finding veteran and current collectors willing to divulge what they knew. Many just wanted to keep that precious information to themselves. It might "hurt them" if others found out the juicy secrets and uncommon info they knew about a given set I was covering. That's human nature, and to be honest, that is precisely how I was when I voraciously collected the regional / food. I did not wish to create more competition for these beautiful, tough-to-get items. Since I've retired from collecting these expensive scarcities, I've willing to sing as a bird about them and why they are special. By the grace of God, I was able to find some significant people in the hobby, as well as some serious collectors of individual sets who knew them extremely well, that were willing to grant me lengthy interviews. Wow, did I ever uncover some fascinating information and enthralling sea stories.

As for the '62 JELL-O, the cat's now out of the bag, so to speak. In your case, a bunch of collectors are working on the '62 JELL-O, for they also know how tough they are, particularly a complete box.

Well, 'nuf said. Take care. Got to go.

One final thing. My editor and I declined the paper print on demand route for my book production---way too expensive!

----Brian Powell

[Promethius88]

Originally Posted by brian1961

Sounds as if you're off to a terrific start, Tim. Nice going, bro. May I kindly stress to key on striving for a good player photo, even if a border or two was removed "in the distant past."

If you are serious about my book, bro, I'll direct you to the press release:

Google search the title, Never Cheaper By the Dozen. As you will see, the 480-page book is an E-book on a CD. You read it on your computer by inserting the disk into the disk drive of your computer and finding it on your "My computer" icon. I sell it from my home for $30 postpaid. The purchasing details, along with my mailing address, are at the end of the press release.

Or, you can choose a cheaper route. Amazon now offers a digital download for only $9.99.

Personally, I love the disk, but I recognize many here use their devices to read their Kindle books, so I'm now with "cutting edge technology".

I think you will enjoy the book, bro. One thing our hobby never did was produce many books about specific genres of cards, et al. Baseball / sports history of all kinds and biographies---oh yeah. Price guides have been around every year since 1979. But books about specific sets---forget it. My guess is that it was too much work to be worthwhile. I sure haven't sold as many copies as I thought collectors would have wanted, but sometimes guys just want all their info handed to them for free, or spoon fed, or something sarcastic along that line. Look, with as much interest as you have, wouldn't you want to devour anything you could get your hands on about this difficult set you wish to collect? I know I sure as anything would.

One of the problems that I encountered in researching my book was finding veterans collectors and current collectors who were willing to divulge what they knew. Many just wanted to keep that precious information to themselves. It might "hurt them" if others found out the juicy secrets and uncommon info they knew about a given set I was covering. That's human nature, and to be honest, that is precisely how I was when I voraciously collected the regional / food. I did not wish to create more competition for these beautiful, tough-to-get items. However, the cat's out of the bag, now, so to speak. In your case, a bunch of collectors are working on the '62 JELL-O, for they also know how tough they are, particularly a complete box.

Well, 'nuf said. Take care. Got to go.

One final thing. My editor and I declined the paper print on demand route for my book production---way too expensive!

----Brian Powell

Lol, I was going to ask about a paper print as I'm pretty old. I think the cd would be my best option It's funny how you describe the other collectors of this set, I have found that they guard their information like it's gold in Fort Knox. Fortunately, even though the complete boxes are pretty cool, I have no interest in them....can't explain why.

[brian1961]

Tim, that's perfectly fine you don't care for the 1962 JELL-O boxes. Really, that's a blessing when you're focusing on just collecting the set in the first place. As I think about it, though, the focus of my chapter on the '62 JELL-O concentrates on the mega rarity of the perhaps unique unfolded box I am extremely privileged to own. Sure, I talk about the promotion and the cards to some degree, and provide my one childhood memory of them, but what you might very well be hoping for won't be included.

Now, having said that, advanced collector Dan Mabey is researching the '62 JELL-Os for a book, and another advanced collector, as well as Post and Jell-O specialist, Ken Marks, is feverishly working on pairing up each player with what different flavor boxes he appeared on. He has a small cadre of kindred spirits working with him---all dyed in the wool collectors who relish those '62 JELL-0s like you. Perhaps you can reach out to him for counsel and advice on pursuing the set.

So, if I have scotched a potential book sale, I don't care, because I would much rather you become a happy customer, and glad you purchased my book, rather than buy it, become disappointed, and get sore over the money you spent for it.

I better head to bed. Take care, bud. ---- Brian Powell

[skil55voy]

I have been working with Ken Marks on compiling a box list for the 62 Jello's. I have combined the Pudding and Gelatin lists into one list by player. We still have a few holes. For viewing I have posted some pictures of some 62 Jello cards. Three of the most difficult ones: Richardson, Stafford and Simmons. A box with Aparicio and a full bordered Groat.

[Promethius88]

Originally Posted by skil55voy

I have been working with Ken Marks on compiling a box list for the 62 Jello's. I have combined the Pudding and Gelatin lists into one list by player. We still have a few holes. For viewing I have posted some pictures of some 62 Jello cards. Three of the most difficult ones: Richardson, Stafford and Simmons. A box with Aparicio and a full bordered Groat.

I cannot even begin to describe the envy I have for the Richardson, Simmons and Stafford. Not that they are perfect but they are damn nice examples. I have seen the Simmons but never the Richardson or the Stafford. Thank you for sharing! You guys may drag me into wanting the boxes at some point and I have a great appreciation for them and their scarcity, just not their yet, lol.
Tim

[Kenmarks]

Agree. Very nice examples.