nice topic
There is a lot to unpack from your post. It seems you are most interested in the 1917 issues from Collins-McCarthy, Boston Store, Weil Baking and Standard Biscuit (along with blank backs and a somewhat scarce Merchant’s Bakery). These are the least available of the 3 groups you mentioned, but putting together an amalgamated set would be neither easy nor impossible. Actually, James is close to putting together a Boston Store set, and since Collins-McCarthy and Boston Store are found in roughly the same numbers, the former is probably doable as a stand alone set also. A near or entire blank-backed set was sold through Mile-High a few years ago (McCoid collection--also included m101 blank backs). As for scarcity, there is a large drop-off from Collins-McCarthy and Boston Store to the others. I doubt that each card has been confirmed for Weil or Standard Biscuit, but hey, the same was true for the blank-backs until the discovery and then sale of one man’s collection in that Mile High auction.
Personally I would have no problems with trying to put together a set with all backs represented, which would be challenging enough, and I believe there are m101 and e135 collectors who approach it this way–perhaps the E121s also. Yes there are Louisiana collectors who only focus on the Weil and Holsum cards, so you will face competition on the buying end but then again greater interest on the selling end.
These e135-like cards are more thinly traded, but you should not lose much if any money on cards you buy and then later sell, and you could see a nice return. So no your Snodgrass will not sit on the shelf with no interest, unless you place a museum-like price on it, but as noted and true of nearly all sets, the commons would be the most difficult to unload. As for m101 backs, I could talk about those all day and more, but suffice it to say, the scarcest of those backs do very well in the market. I am less familiar with the market for the other e121-like backs, although I follow the Holsum and Standard Biscuit sales somewhat. I doubt there is any chance the scarcer backs of those e121 cards are being chased by collectors for individual sets (same for m101), but like the others and along with type collectors, an example of each back is usually of decent interest that holds its value.
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