Lew is the expert, but he is wrong on one count (T205's)

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Posted By: TBob

I constantly see people saying that Shean Cubs is the toughest and rarest card in the T205 set because it only comes with a Hasaan back. Generally this is based on Lew's research and the fact that collectors take his word as gospel, since his card knowledge is legendary, but having owned a T205 Shean Cubs with a Polar Bear back and having seen another (the only 2 I have ever seen, though), the rarity tag on the card is undeserved. I personally found Graham much tougher than Shean...

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Posted By: dan mckee

It is sad that I own Lew's books and never reference them. I bug the old man for info that he got from reading them, just laziness I might add on my part. Anyway, I always found and thought that the 2 (Shean, Graham) CUBS were about the same in rariety. I have only compiled 1 T205 set though so I am not sure that I have a good gauge.

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Posted By: jay behrens

When I put my set together, I know that Graham was the last of the tough cards I needed. I ran across a couple of Joss cards before I found my first Graham.

Jay

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Posted By: J Levine

I have done a whole lot of research on T-205s, backs, and rarity.

The Joss is rare but not as rare as the Shean or Graham Cubs. Second, I own a Shean with a Polar Bear back.

Some of the commons are very difficult. The Wagner and Raymond were tough cards. Harder than the some of the cards that are supposed to be very difficult (i.e. the Breshnahan mouth open).

It drives me absolutely crazy when I see the Hoblitzell with Cin. after the stats listed as rare. I honestly see this card at least once a week on ebay. I really feel that it is the most common of all four variations. I think that the Hoblitzell no Cin. is tough. I rarely see that one for sale.

I think the Moran stray line is finally earning some credit as being rare. I bought nearly 25 Morans before I found one with the stray line. It only occurs on one back as well.

Speaking of backs...I still think that Polar Bear should carry no premium in T-205. The Sweet Cap. with black ink is rare than the Polar Bear. I have been keeping track of ebay sales and major aucitons in regards to back population for the last five years.

Again, anyone with a Drum back in poor condition for sale?

joshua

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Posted By: Bill Cornell

Joshua's post got me to go back and find a previous one where he theorized about the T205 printing process. Interesting read:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/message?forumid=153652&messageid=1062951189

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Posted By: J Levine

I now know I made an error about the printing process...I am still piecing together a complete sheet for the T-205 set but still need some help identifying cards that only appear on certain ad. backs...

I know some cards were pulled but I do feel that the scarcities exist because there were at least three distinct printings of T-205s. Any help would be appreciated.

I also am now convinced that the Wilhem variation is due to a lost piece of type and not a correction as the two Wilhelms are only found with two different ad backs.

I would love a listing of T-205 cards with which ad backs they appear (like the Obak list I have seen or the T-206 list I have seen).

-Joshua

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Posted By: jay behrens

I have to agree on the Hobby Cin card. I saw far more of those than any of his other cards. The Hal Chase variant, along with the Wallace and Bresnahan variants, were a bugger for me.

Jay

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Posted By: tbob

The Eddie Grant in EX or better is very, very tough, as is the Rowan.

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Posted By: J Levine

My set is p-ex (but all the backs are readable and no paper loss on any of them front or back). I found that the Grant was tough...one of the last ten. I picked up three Rowans in 3 months years ago and have only seen 2 or 3 on ebay in the last five years. That one is tough as well. The Duffy is seen often but I dont understand the prices on that one. It is not all that rare...same with Ford white cap. Seen a bunch of these but always seem to be outbid on either of these for riduculous prices. Even poor ones go for 25-30 % of book. I think the Walter Johnson is tougher than the Duffy any day but you can still find it for 5-10% of book in poor-fair condition.

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Posted By: Jimmy Scott Elkins

Hindu T205's being rarer than T205 Drum backs. I would gladly trade anyone even a T205 Hindu in comparable shape for a T205 Drum! As far as backs go, not counting overprints or color variations, T205 Drums are rarer than all in the Big three sets, except for T207 Red Cross and T206 Ty Cobb backs.

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Posted By: BcD

I left you a phone message bro.

Also,the T206 UZIT is rarer than the T-206 Cobb/Cobb I think. I have known of only three! How about you?

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Posted By: jay behrens

I doubt Uzit backs are rarer than the CObb back. I've owned all the t206 backs at one time or another, except the Cobb back. Then again, since I was gone 10 years, they may have turned up a bunch more Cobb backs with no new Uzits.

Jay

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Posted By: Jimmy Scott Elkins

I have personally owned 9 different Uzits over the years and have seen quite a few more! The ONLY way that Uzits are rarer than Cobb/Cobb backs is for a particular front pose - not the back being rarer! BTW, getting ready to leave - e-mail me, as I am not around the phone usually!