Over the past 9 months I have handled over 2,000 1933 Goudey R73 Indian Gum cards - both raw & graded. Based on the cards I've handled plus the Want Lists I have received, here is my subjective rating of scarcity. In each group I am rating them from the scarcest to the most "Common";

Nos. 1 to 24 - 3 Variations
1. S24
2. S96
3. S48

Nos. 25 to 48 - 5 Variations
1. S192L2 (Commonly called "MORE")
2. S48B - Blue Panel
3. S48 - Red Panel
4. S96
5. S192L1 ( Commonly called "MORE CARDS")

In this group none are particularly scarce & I guess if you analyzed the distrubution of another group of 2,000 cards you might come up with a different ranking.

The next 24, Nos. 49 to 72 are all S96, among the most common in this set.

Next come what I call "The Stand Alone Group of Four" - S192, S216, S264 & S312. (Note there are no S96's numbered higher than 72). Each of these series of cards is unique, meaning there is no second or third variation. Here the scarcest is S312 but not particularly so. These are driving me crazy as I try to figure out printing plates

And then you have the Big Two Skip No. Group:

1. This group consists of the 24 Low Number Series of 288. Each no. has an associated S24 (Low No. skips)

2. This group has three variations - S48, S288 & S312W meaning 3 from each no. for a Master Set. Here the S48 (High No. Skips) are much more available than the low number skips.

So my overall ranking of scarcity:

1. S288 low numbers
2. S288 high numbers
3. S24
4. S312W
5. S48 low number skips
6. S48 high number skips

And then all the rest.

I'm still studying this set, looking at which cards share a common front/diffent text on the back, any possible back variations and other areas. As/If I find anything I'll share the info.

So if anyone finds anything incorrect (I don't claim to know everthing - always willing to learn) or can add to the above, please post.

I could not agree more with your findings Jerry.

Hopefully other people also appreciate the data.

Thank you!!!

I agree, with one exception: I believe the series of 48 red panel 25-48 numbers are tougher than the series of 48 high number skips. This is subjective based on my two years of working on this set, which isn't very long. Also, I think a lot of people don't realize the vast scarcity differences in cards nos 1-48 - I can't count how many cards on eBay I've seen without scans of the backs.

Geoff - you might be right. Based on the Want Lists I have received (I'll have yours finished by tomorrow) everyone needs S288's & S24's then the 312W's

Where the next biggest want/need is in the Nos. 25 to 48 5 card variation group and those are all over the place. Virtually everyone has the S48 Skips & the 312's so I think the scarcity of that group is overated. BTW I do have some of the 48 Red Panels you need.

Yes, I couldn't agree more with your ratings of series 1-4. Maybe it's a bad idea to insist that cards I need are tougher than you think before we do a trade, but I am a servant of the truth!

This set is so much fun. Here is some more info. on cards numbered higher than 72.

1. Nos. 73 to 109 - Here you have what I call "FILL IN THE BLANKS" - S192, S216 & S264
2. Nos. 110 to 152 - Broke it down this way because herein are the S288 lo's plus each has an associated S48. Then fill in the blanks with S192, S216 & S264. Note the highest numbered S192 is Card No. 141.
3. Nos. 153 to 209 - The S288 hi. no. group each with an associated S48 & S312W. Then fill in the blanks with S216, S264 & S312 (Starts with card no. 171) . The highest numbered S216 is card no. 163.
4. Nos. 210 to 216 - Has the highest numbered S264 - No. 210. The rest are S312.

So to bulid a base set of 216 cards pick the easiest from Nos. 1 to 109. The rest of the way are the S48's, S192, S216, S264, & S312 (You don't need any S288 or S312W's for a base set). I think a big reason the S48 skip nos. & S312's carry a higher price is because you have to get them to complete a base set - higher demand/higher price. Or the much scarcer/higher priced S288's & S312W's, most will pick the less expensive S48 Skips & S312.

An interesting sideline is that there are no S48's between Nos. 49 & 109, exactly 60 cards which is evenly divisible by 12. Patterns like that I'm trying to group into 12 card printing plates

you didnt get enough credit or posts about this. what terrific information and the time and financial investment to obtain 2000 cards to sort this out. its really intriguing how goudey came up with so many series. i wonder if it can be broken down to what years certain series were issued, and if they were issued in multiple years.