The white whale: finding the #1 card on your wantlist

[timn1]

A while back somebody started a thread about the #1 card on the wantlist. The card I named was the W711 Livengood. Most people wouldn't even give it a second look, but I have been looking for this card literally for more than 30 years, from the moment I started collecting prewar cards when my uncle gave me his boyhood W711 collection. In all these years I have never even seen one -- not in an auction, not in someone's else collection, nowhere!

Well, tonight I got a Livengood, the white whale of my wantlist, on ebay. Paid a pretty penny, but who cares?!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...:X:AAQ:US:1123

Let's hear some stories about those moments when you found and acquired THAT card -- the one at the very head of your wantlist.

Tim

[wrapperguy]

Tim, nice pick-up. I missed that on ebay. My father and I have not been collecting that set for 30 years, but after picking up about 20 in the last year, that is the only card we need for the 1939 set. We only need the Grissom for 1938 completion. My hope is that someone with another Livengood will put theirs up for auction!
I guess I have a couple "white whales" because they are sets my 90 year old father started back in his childhood. We need a R303-B Foxx in sepia to finish that set and two unnumbered Orbit Gum Pins, Earnshaw and Stephenson. Those would make both of us happy!

[Scott L.]

After 30 years that must have been quite a rush as the time was counting down. A hearty congratulations to you Tim.

[Leon]

As a type collector I guess it would be when I acquired my T231. It wasn't really too special as I just bought it privately.

As far as the white whale I am looking for, I think there will be one at sometime in the future since Egan cataloged several of them. It is a D355. I have seen one for sale and I didn't realize how tough it was and I let it get away.

Congrats on your pickup, Tim. I bet you got the tingling feeling!! It's an awesome feeling.

[timn1]

Actually the feeling I had as time was counting down was more like sick-dizzy-about-to-keel-over. Watching ebay auctions for cards I wanted used to be a rush; now it's more like a death-watch

[bcornell]

Originally Posted by timn1

Actually the feeling I had as time was counting down was more like sick-dizzy-about-to-keel-over. Watching ebay auctions for cards I wanted used to be a rush; now it's more like a death-watch

Tim -

Your collecting retirement was met with [insert platitude here]. Joining Mike P on the sidelines is an admirable achievement. I had no idea anyone spent 30 years searching for a W711 Livingood, but I'll offer my applause, too.

Actually, I realize you won't lose the itch. That's a lifetime thing.


Bill

[Matt]

Congrats Tim - your patience is admirable!

[rc4157]

Congratulations Tim, great pick-up. I have only been collecting this set for a little over a year or two and have been fortunate to pick up 21 of them so far. I hope you don't mind but I took the liberty of capturing the image of your Livingood since it is so difficult to find. I may never own one but at least I know what it looks like.

Congrats again,

Richard (RC)

[B O'Brien]

I hope to be able to reply to this posting with a story one day....

Always looking, that's what makes this fun!

Bob
AB 350 E. Collins, anyone?

[Kenny Cole]

Congrats, Tim. That's what its all about.

[thxforthebp]

With the help of a forum member I was able to get a D381 Brad Kocher. He only appeared on 2 cards and one exhibit but it is mislabled Earl Smith. Its not to fill in a gap for a set or anything like that. I had wanted this one because Kocher was born and lived in my home town, operating a funeral home after his short career. Unfortunaly I was born about 25 years too late to have the chance to have meet him but I am very happy to be able to loan the card to the new library in town if they follow though with plans to have a small section on the towns history.

If anyone has any other items such as a game bat or know the where abouts of one please let me know.

[cdn_collector]

Originally Posted by thxforthebp

With the help of a forum member I was able to get a D381 Brad Kocher

Do you mind posting a scan of this card, I am not familiar with this card.

Regards,

Richard.

[JamesGallo]

When you can take a big card off your list either because it is are or expensive. I just did this recently and it was a great feeling that's for sure.
Here's hoping we are all able to cross something big off our want lists soon.

Congrats

James G

[FUBAR]

for me, i love the way the E120 caramel cards look , and i have yet to see a Babe Ruth version, i know it is out there, i just haven't stumbled on it yet... so for me, thats probably the most financially obtainable card i will probably never get but hope to.

[Michael Peich]

Tim--Congrats on finding the Livengood since I know this card has vexed you for years. And as Bill Cornell alluded, my white whale was the T222 of John Henry which I finally found last year, thanks to the largesse of a board member. And although I didn't break out in a sweat as I followed an eBay bid, I did almost fall over when this board member mentioned to me, at the Valley Forge Show, that he had a Henry and would be willing to trade it. That set off a series of interesting emails and negotiations, and now Henry resides in my collection. (BTW, Henry is far more difficult than either Alexander or Johnson, and, like so many difficult cards, he was a marginal player who had an unremarkable eight year career mostly with Washington: .207 lifetime BA. Another difficult card, also of a minor player, is the T3 of Rhoades.)

The fact is, though, that I have a number of white whales, and these are my want lists. I only need three cards to complete my Grignon postcards, and seven to complete my Obaks 150 subjects backs. But, until I get to that one last card, these won't qualify as white whales.

Even Melville would be happy for you, Tim. And I hope you celebrated with one of your favorite martinis!

Cheers,
Mike

[timn1]

(Mike, you know I did -- does this mean I am going to have to start drinking yours too? I don't know if my liver can handle it...)

Thanks for all the good wishes, guys. I didn't want this thread to be all about congratulating me, so I was hoping (still hope) to hear more of your own stories about finding *that* card-- keep them coming!

Tim