Latest Pickups

[G1911]

Wish I had another N174 pickup to continue the OJ streak. Had Billy Allen in my set already, but it was $12.88 and I was interested in the "3". In hand, it clearly is a print defect and not later damage. It's difficult to add interesting print variants or other related cards to a set this tough, so I am happy to have a card to slot in as an extra to my set.

Allen is one of the no-names in the T225-2 set. He was left out of the other sets from the same printers, I suspect there may have been some drama after T225-1 and the lithographers subsequently started doing boxers for the much larger ATC. Allen was an alright fighter though, he beat KO Brown twice, Grover Hayes once, who had a very good record but is only in T226. Fought a no decision match with Attell, lost to Pal Moore, Leach Cross and Patsy Kline.

Still looking for Ty Cobb and Kid Beebe to finish my set.

[G1911]

Less than $3 per card, the British issues are so wonderfully cheap. Starter set of 29 of the Wills back cards, and I already had Joe Gans, Jack Johnson and James Jeffries so that leaves only 4 cards to complete the Wills issue: Tommy Burns, Young Cohen, Battling Jim Johnson and Sam Langford.

[Exhibitman]

Cobb is a tough one. Besides the name confusion befuddling some baseball collectors and putting a bit of demand on the card, the fighter (Sammy Kolb) is Jewish and has no other cards I know of, so the card is in demand from collectors of Jewish boxers.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Cobb is a tough one. Besides the name confusion befuddling some baseball collectors and putting a bit of demand on the card, the fighter (Sammy Kolb) is Jewish and has no other cards I know of, so the card is in demand from collectors of Jewish boxers.

I do not look forward to paying $250 for a non short-printed scrub . But a complete set needs them all, so I'm going to sucker up on this one

[G1911]

The non-ordering info backs are pretty tough on subjects 51-76. Have not put much work in on them but I thought $104 was fair to add another. The fronts are so gorgeous it is difficult to get too excited about the backs, personally.

Kaufman makes for 96 to go on T225-1. This is the easiest set I have left to cross off needs from but the 10 backs and the details effectively restrict pick-ups to eBay because the minutia makes cherry-picking out of dealer or collection stashes without a pic of every cards front and back difficult.

I pick up the Donovan yellow skies variations whenever I see them for $10 or so.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by G1911

I do not look forward to paying $250 for a non short-printed scrub . But a complete set needs them all, so I'm going to sucker up on this one

Don’t do it yet. I think I have one and we can make a deal. Let me check when I get back to the office next week.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Don’t do it yet. I think I have one and we can make a deal. Let me check when I get back to the office next week.

Thank you Adam, I would very much appreciate it and the chance to buy one and hopefully put this fun little set to bed soon.

[G1911]

Arrived yesterday, think this is my favorite pickup of the year now.

Not sure I've seen a crappier copy of this card, but beggars cannot be choosers as I don't get my pick of Sullivan's when they are very tough. The crease is heavy and threatens to cut the card in two if handled much more without solid protection. Unfortunately I will have to keep this one sleeved with a cardboard backing. I thought I had a good chance at winning but thought it would go around $1K instead of $700, so that was nice. I was putting together all my notes on the 'random' boxing N cards, this one, the N660 Corbett, etc. so it is fun to add while I have my notes fresh in mind. Would love to find the Kilrain now to pair with it.

This one is the Echo front with the purple partial diamond stamp. These stamps are usually said to be original, but I think the evidence actually strongly suggests that these purple stamps were not done before they were issued.

Sullivan is the money card as there is only a Kilrain and some actresses to complete the 24 card set, but I am pretty sure a complete set is actually impossible and that card 20 is a prize winner that we will never find a copy of. I assume the cards is from 1889.