What are the toughest sets to find in top condition?

fisherboy7 wrote:Here's another nice high grade (for the set) E107 with the seldomly seen overprint back. Not mine, I pulled it off a google image search. I recall it being on ebay a few years ago. To say that you don't often see E107's in this kind of condition would be an understatement.

Especially one with a stamped back.

How much of a premium would you pay for a stamp back, Brian? Seems like they could be easily faked, no?

Tough to say how much of a premium I would place on the card. I would like to add one to my collection, so I can say that it would be something that I would place a little bit of a premium on (in order to get a single one). How much is tough to say. Not a lot, but maybe an extra hundred or so on a card with decent eye appeal. As far as the ability to fake them, I am sure that it could be done, but I suspect that it isn't really worth someone's time and effort since it wouldn't add that much. E107s are rare enough that there aren't a lot floating around for practice attempts. Old Puts and the like are on cards that are much more commonly found - such that you don't ruin as high end of a card if you mess up. Having said that, could someone try? Certainly. Have they? Probably. I am constantly surprised what people are willing to try to pull off.

fisherboy7 wrote:Seems like they could be easily faked, no?

I suppose so! I faked the one on my avatar!

I believe these to be INCREDIBLY undergraded too. However, I don't think there are nicer around...

Jon, I recall those Lections having a story behind them. If so, mind sharing? They look great!

Sure - a few years ago now, I came across an original collection of 6 of these Lections which I purchased. The 3 highest graded examples I purchased are the ones pictured above. However, I think the most valuable piece of information that came out of the find was the distribution of these cards. The gentleman who I purchased them from had a few "Elections" cards as well, which were identical in size to "Lections," however featured local political candidates in the Albany, NY area. The gentleman explained that when he attended the state fair with his father, his father was given the "Election" cards. The children were given "Lections." The cards were only handed out during the fair and that most likely explains the rarity.