What's the toughest set or subset you've finished?

[caramelcard]

Which set or series or subset was the hardest for you to complete? How long did it take you and why was it so difficult? Also, which sets have you given up on and why?

For me I still haven't finished most of the sets that I'm working on and don't mind chipping away at them slowly. Over the years, there have been several that I've given up on too like E97, E104-1, E103, and an E98 master set, but maybe some day I'll fire them up again.

Anyways, I know there are several reasons why folks give up on sets. (cost, difficulty, or just the large number of cards in the set)

Let's hear some set stories.

Rob

[Bicem]

w601 Sporting Life postcards is the toughest set that I have completed, although it didn't take nearly as long as I had expected thanks to a couple of board members (esp. Steve Murray).

I have started and given up on cracker jacks, T3's and Fan Craze... I basically lost interest in these since they were so abundant and widely collected.

Here's a link to the w601's

[cozmokramer]

Old Judges are going to kill me... I complete a small subset (browns champs is where it all started), then decide to build a bigger subset.

With the Old Judges its never ending now that I'm at 1000+ cards and over 600 poses.

[3-2-count]

Completed the E90-1 set about a year ago, but recently sold it to fund other projects. Not only was it tough, but damn'd expensive to boot. If I were to re-visit the set today to give it another run it could be assembled for far less than what it cost me a couple years ago. Same can be said for many other sets as well though.

[Jacklitsch]

Looks like Jeff beat me to my one and only abandonment.

I had the W601 PC set at 15/16 but the Detroit eluded me for over ten years. When Jeff picked up the Detroit and expressed an interest in completing the set I thought it was time to turn the set over to a new generation.

My last subset completion was the 1911-1938 Zeenut type set run.

I'm at 11/12 on the 1906 Ullman PC set and don't ever plan on abandoning it though the liklihood of completion is remote. Same with the 1911 Zeenut set. I'm at 118/122. Three of the four are possible, the last card is not.

[Leon]

I completed the E94 back overprint set of all that are currently known, 1 being uniquely known. It is often maligned but is (almost) impossible to complete....what, with all the fake ones flying all over the place and all.....

[milkit1]

T202 cubs subset with weird Johnny Evers color variation

[t213]

In terms of a near miss, I had 10 of 11 E104-2s at one point - missing only Wagner. That was daunting enough for me to break up my group.

I completed T209 color, a T210 series (series 2), a 1931 Zeenut set and am within 9 of a T213-2 set (179/188). I have also completed and broken up a half dozen caramel sets (E90-2, E91-C, E92 Dockman, E93, E95, E96); and been more than halfway complete on E90-1, E90-3, E91-B, E92 Croft Cocoa, E94, E97, E100, E104-1, E104-2, E106 before breaking them up.

Andy

[caramelcard]

Andy,

That's quite an impressive list.

With the T213-2s that you still need have you been able to document that all of those cards exist?

Rob

[t213]

Rob,

I know that 6 of the T213-2s exist. I haven't been able to document the other 3.

Andy

[paul]

I don't know if this counts -- but one card of every hall of famer. I started in about 1975, finished about two or three years ago with Bid McPhee, and then finished again with Barney Dreyfuss. I still need Pete Hill, but who's counting?

[tedzan]

As many of you know, in the past 4 years I've put together an all-PIEDMONT set (519 cards)....an all-SOVEREIGN (407 cards)
complete set....and, an all-SWEET CAPORAL (factory 30) set of 467 cards (missing only Plank and Wagner).

But, in the meantime I still have not completed my sub-set of American Beauty 460 (factory 42 NC) cards. Talk about "TOUGH".
I have 61 of a possible 103 cards. I have a pretty good idea that approx. 40 of these candidates are NO-PRINTS. So, I'm near
complete....but, I'm still searching.

Therefore, I would rate this T206 back sub-set almost as tough as a DRUM, LENOX, Red HINDU, or UZIT.





TED Z

[David R]

Ted,

will you post the confirmed AB 460 list?

Thanks

David R

[tedzan]

I don't want to side-track this thread. So, I will start a thread on the AB 460 cards by tomorrow, or Tuesday.

Gotta get back to the Angels-Yankees game.

Thanks for asking.

TED Z

[timn1]

My guess is three or four other complete sets in existence--

[JasonL]

But, on the other hand, there is always renewed hope with every new collection idea!

[dstudeba]

Tim -

Congrats, those are tough!

D380-2 Clement Bros. Rochester Subset.

[frohme]

Great question, Rob.

My only contribution is yet another T207 obsession. Yes, its about all I focus on (that and Pirates) - in this case, the Anonymous Factory 3 Recruit subset. Not sure exactly how many there are out there - Tim Newcomb hypothesized 50 in the VCBC article. At least 40 or so are now confirmed - I'm at 25/40+?

The couple Pirates I have are below.



--
Mike

[uffda51]

Short answer - tough sets completed: N526, E103, Tip Top Pirates, D304, T209 (color), R300, 8 Black Sox.

Gave up on D359. Need one card to complete the baseball subjects in N566.

Working on Brown's Champions.

(nice group, Leon!)

[Epps]

Your Black Sox cards are amazing. You have a spectacular collection.

[ethicsprof]

T206

worth every year spent.

best,
barry

[ChiefBenderForever]

The only set I ever completed was the 1934 Goudey and I sold it off ( kept one Gehrig #61 ) so I could focus on and buy Chief Bender cards. I had no idea there was so many different issues it has been a lot of fun.

[tbob]

Toughest sets which are completed include the T207 and M116 Sporting Life.
Toughest set to complete (close but don't know if I'll ever get the last 7 cards) is the 1911 Zeenut set.

[T206Collector]

...Plank and Magie (and Wagner and Doyle). Then I flopped most of them for a Plank and Magie. Now I have about 100 total.

[caramelcard]

Bob,

1911 Zeenut set is harder than E94 set of 180?

[martin neal]

Finished the T206 set last January minus the big 4 and the little two. Came close on the t205. Working on the t210 set but at a much slower pace.

[jeffmohler]

Well, I managed to finish up the 1907 Dietsche Tigers postcard set. I guess you can tell from that, that I have only been collecting about 5 years To make it tougher, I have been upgrading the set to EX or higher.

[Orioles1954]

The 1933 Tattoo Orbit set. I have since sold due to financial crisis but kept a couple of my favorites.

[drdduet]

T206 minus the big 4, T205, and T202.

[brianp-beme]

Of the complete sets I own (I'm not a strong finisher...I usually resist paying large amounts for high demand or near impossible cards) it would probably be the 1932 Zeenuts, which I just recently completed (Good luck Andy on your set). Of the tough sets that nobody gives a damn about it would be W9316 ugly as sin set. Of the near misses on tough sets I figure I have a chance to complete it would probably be the 1909 Obaks (have 73 of 75). Have plenty of other sets that I have worked on that I know I most likely will never complete--see above note (E98, E220, 1919 and 1925 Zeenut).

Brian

[caramelcard]

Thanks for sharing everyone. It's interesting to see what folks are collecting and what they've finished.

It might be almost time to post a thread of "Who has a T206 set" again. We did it a while back and there was only a few people, but I have a feeling more and more of us here have finished the set (at least minus the big six) since that thread.


Brian:

Which 2 1909 Obaks do you need?

Rob

[tbob]

Originally Posted by caramelcard

Bob,

1911 Zeenut set is harder than E94 set of 180?

Rob- I'd have to say yes because if I were independently wealthy I'd probably be able to pry those last few Cobbs and Wagners away from owners but there doesn't seem to be any chance of prying away those last 7 Zeenuts even with a wheelbarrow full of money

[Anthony S.]

Originally Posted by tbob

Rob- I'd have to say yes because if I were independently wealthy I'd probably be able to pry those last few Cobbs and Wagners away from owners but there doesn't seem to be any chance of prying away those last 7 Zeenuts even with a wheelbarrow full of money

Were you involved in that Seaton melee on Ebay about a half an hour ago? Wow.

[tbob]

Originally Posted by Anthony S.

Were you involved in that Seaton melee on Ebay about a half an hour ago? Wow.

No, luckily I have the Seaton but it is one tough momma. I am hoping that my friend Peter T. was the winner and not the runner-up. The runner-up put in a cushion of $300 over the high bid but got sniped. Wow.

[FrankWakefield]

I gave up on Seaton at $50... hope that one went to a good home.

[Leon]

I was watching that Seaton.....The one I have is decent and went unnoticed on fleebay for under $20....several years ago....My Halla came from Trucker Boy for either $30 or $60, I forget....either one of those was a pretty good deal...I am sure others have gotten them when the getting was good too...

[brianp-beme]

In reply to Rob, I need the Fitzgerald and Shinn to finish the 1909 Obak set.

Brian