How difficult is this set? There are some expensive ones on Ebay. I have been considering starting a set because I have 25 or so. Are there any tougher cards in this set than others? Thanks for your help

Chris, not difficult to construct a 'near-set' in VGX condition or so.

But #9, #34 and #59 are extraordinarily difficult.  Unless you hunt these tirelessly and are ready to really open the wallet, they will be the big hurdle to completing the set.  Furthermore, the manufacturer used a rather odd paperstock which, much more than any other 1930s set that I can think of, is subject to age toning.  Therefore, hard to assemble a set in crisp, minty-looking card condition.

Having said all of the above, I'd encourage you to take a shot.  Best artwork, arguably, for any 1930s R-card set.  Terrific wrapper, too, which comes along every so often . . .

How do 3 cards in a 72 card set become scarce? Aren't there 24 cards to a sheet? Did they intentionally double-print 3 others for most of the run?

Didn't Ron Wilson do a Wrapper article on this where he pieced a sheet back together from a bunch of cut up cards showing 9,34, and 59 as the last three cards on the bottom right corner of the sheet?

I can't remember the Ron Wilson article (though that certainly doesn't mean there wasn't one) but I think Chris Watson did one on this. I think in that article he had a theory for why the tough ones are separated by 25 cards but again (sorry, too much cabernet over the years has marinated the synapses) I can't remember what the theory was. Chris, are you out there?

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http://tinyurl.com/62lt8v

http://tinyurl.com/6pqhl2