Poll on set completion

Griffins · December 17, 2006 12:45AM

Comments?

MeteoriteGuy · December 17, 2006 1:08AM

Voting still very early....but that's pretty across the board.

Mark

mealeworm · December 17, 2006 1:33AM

I dont think there is a clear answer. I have always started out with the basic in mind but sometimes things progressed into master and then packs and even display boxes from that year. I would answer once the basic is complete, but it is probably just whatever each person is into.

jaxxr · December 17, 2006 1:55AM

Good question,
Please see my rant about the highly weighted un-nmbered checklist for 57 FB, in the 1958 FB completetion post/thread by Dav.

"Numbered" variations were very likely intended to be part of a set. Probably both the correct and incorrect ones are needed to finish the set. Insert cards of prizes, contests, and the like, are not really part of the set, but are nice compliments to it. As are the wrappers, original artwork, full packs, boxes, un-cut sheets, un-opened cases, advertising boards, slabs of the chewing gum, salesmen's samples, printing dies, delivery trucks, and so on, which are related to the actual set.

Does anyone have a complete. or is trying to do one, set for ALL card variations of the great 1956 Topps Baseball set ?
There are several checklists, six Team cards found in 3 different variations, and the possiblity of getting 180 cards in BOTH gray and white back. There is also mention of "line color" variation on some cards, Ted Williams being the most discussed. The line which separates the player's name/team and position box, from the white border in the upper right front, may be found with various colors; yellow, blue, green, or none at all. Could be quite a big set with every variation, but quite impressive to say the least !

MorrellMan · December 17, 2006 2:00AM

I think I voted "A". If I didn't, I meant to.

This is a tough question when it comes to sets like Pepsi Cola Colt .45s - is the set complete without the Bateman card? Purely no, but, especially in the case of the tabbed set, since no tabbed Bateman has ever been seen, it should be complete without it.

I like to think of other pieces as companion pieces - is the '62 Topps baseball set complete without the blank backs?

Griffins · December 17, 2006 2:08AM

In the case of the line differences in '56 Topps, I would bet it's a printing registration issue, and not a true variation- that is, an error that was made and then subsequently corrected in future press runs.
I don't think there is a right answer to this, just as I don't think there is a right way to collect. It's just interesting to see how others go about it, but I doubt anyone would or should change their habits based on this.
Mark, if you really want those blank backs I have a friend that can turn any card into a gradeable blank back

I voted A and meant to vote C, so it probably evens out.

bigfische · December 17, 2006 7:04AM

If its got a number its in the set, if it doesnt, than it is just a bonus that makes your set a little better. So numbered checklists are in, but contest cards and wrappers are out in my opinion.

fsjeter · December 17, 2006 8:54AM

For me, it depends on whether we are referring to mid 90's and older sets or post mid '90's sets. The definition has changed for "base set" over the past 8-10 years or so. The advent of sp's and serial numbered rookies has changed the definition to include only non sp's in a complete set. Most price guides now price sets with and/or without the sp's. As a die hard set builder, I would still consider the sp's, variations, and serial numbered rookies to be part of the "complete set" price. My first inclination is "C" but without the contest cards.

Scott

Griffins · December 17, 2006 9:09AM

Good point. My intention was for sets issued before manufactured scarcities like parallels and 1/1 GU stuff, and was in response to Jim's thread about completing a set minus an unnumbered felt card. But I guess it could be for any set from any year.

lostdart58 · December 17, 2006 10:02AM

My three vintage sets are :

55 Bowman - considered it complete only when I had all variations (master set) (raw set plus wrapper)

59 Topps - considered it complete only when I had all variations ( master set) ( raw set plus wrapper)

72 Topps - this set I am completing PSA graded. There is no master set in the registry. Need one card to COMPLETE the basic set but will get all the variations too. ( have wrappers and packs for the set)