I have been collecting the T218s for about 8 months and today was the first example of a boxer in Tolstoi ending. It was a Sam Langford and was in pretty bad shape. I through a bid out there but had no idea on what it was worth, so i fell just short.

Are the Tolstoi's usually this elusive, or was i just not looking hard enough?

they're really tough. I've seen 2 in about 500 cards, I think Adam's experience is about the same. Making it harder is oftentimes sellers don't realize they are scarce and don't list the back.

and knows that the card is a toughee. The winner (another poster here--David Hanvey of Boxing Card Digest) got a good deal, even in that grade. Langford is one of the "common" Tolstois (an oxymoron).

When I buy collections there maybe just one or two of them out of a few hundred cards - they can be tough but there is always few to buy out there.

Take care

Jimmy

does anybody have any thoughts on what are some of the (comparitively) harder to find singles are for these boxers? It seems to me that Unk Russell is probably the most common, and i have only seen a few Matty Baldwins. Any other thoughts on singles (in any back) from this set?

I've been constantly working on this set and upgrading it for about 4 years now, and I haven't seen any cards that were any tougher than any others. Some are a bit of condition rarities, but the prices just started really spiking up about 2 years ago and I think there is still a lot of cards buried in collections.

I have been searching for an Attel with this back for a while. I always ask the seller about the back if it is not listed. I have the Hassan and obviously the Mecca but haven't seen a Tolstoi Attel.

I would how they compare with the C52 Imperial Tobacco set as I have got a nice Attel from that set.

James G

Looking for 1915 Cracker Jacks and 1909-11 American Caramel E90-1.

There are certain cards that seem to come up w/Tolstoi backs; most of the cards in the set I haven't seen in Tolstoi back. The ones that come up, starting with most "common" and going to least are:

Johnson front: I've owned 3 and seen at least one or two more
Langford: ditto
Jeffries arms folded: My count is around three or four
Neil: ditto

Also known but I've only seen 1-2 at most:

Donohoe
Gans
Gardner
Goodman
Mellody
Mike Sullivan
Walsh

I've also seen some track and field guys:

H.P. Williams
Melvin W. Sheppard
J.L Hartranft

I'm not surprised you can't find Attell; I've never seen one.

As far as C52 goes, that too is a very scarce issue. I'd say I've seen at least 2x-3x more C52 than Tolstoi. I recently picked up a handfull of them.


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http://imageevent.com/butcher354435/cards/20thcenturyboxingcards/1910t218tolstoi

I just went through all of my T218's that i have been accumulating. I dont have any boxers but i have 9 different athletes. They are:

Melvin W Sheppard (Front Face variety)

Walter Bursch

W.J. Kramer

W.J. Keating

Frank Riley

Harry Sedley Jr

Harry Jensen

George J Obermeyer

James P Sullivan

Do all 153 cards exist with Tolstoi backs? any of these that i have especially rare....I have not paid much attention to the Tolstoi backs until recently so i guess i just got these in with Lots of cards i bought. any info would be great. Thx,
Zach

I recently picked up a T218 Jack Johnson (front facing) with a Tolstoi back that grades a PSA 3. Is this a desirable example and how scarce should I consider it? An approximate value?

James

Thought you guys might like looking at my tolstois i have. By the way i am buying any tolstois you may want to sell. email what you have and prices wanted.
Thanks,
Zach

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Adding to our checklist:

O'Keefe
Kaufman
Brown
Fighting Dick Nelson

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I have seen 23 different boxers in the T218 series with Tolstoi backs. How many different do you have catalogued?

I have my doubts as to whether every card will turn up, though...

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You can add a few more tolstoi backs i have recently Picked up:

Boxers:
Leach Cross

Harry Stone

Charley Griffin

Athletes:

H. E. Gissing

John Flanagan (waist up variety)

I am now up too 15 different tolstoi backed T218's. I do have doubles on Jack Goodman and would love to trade for another Boxing tolstoi backed card from this set if anyone has an extras. On a seperate note...has anyone ever seen any of the golfers or bowlers in a tolstoi back?

For whoever is tracking this, I have Sullivan (track) and Haywood (track) with a Tolstoi reverse.

Mike