How do you know the PRs for Letter cards?

[Sharky94]

I was always led to assume that all cards with uniform letters were numbered so that the last number was the TOTAL number of all the cards. When companies make nameplates of a guy with a name like Smith (for example), they will be numbered 1/5, 2/5, 3/5, 4/5, 5/5 and there is a total of only 5 cards. When Panini made their Namesakes, they were numbered to /75, and everyone said there were only 75 TOTAL cards. I felt pretty stupid for looking for about two years for the #48 card of EACH letter in Tomas Hertl's name each time a new Namesakes card hit EBay, even after I had the #48 "E".

But with SPGU, their Draft Day cards are numbered /35, and it is definitely 35 of EACH letter. I understand if the print run is exactly the number of letters in the guy's last name, that's a pretty good clue. But how are we supposed to know the difference between, for instance, things like Namesakes and Draft Day PRs?

[creasecollector]

Are the Draft Day Marks /35 for each letter? I've never taken a good look at those once they hit the secondary market, so I could be wrong, but I've always assumed there were only 35 Letters produced. That's it.

Usually that's the way it's always gone I think. The stated print run on these Letter cards are what's out there. So with the Prime Namesakes /75, there's only 75 letters out there, which makes complete nameplates harder to come by, and collectors usually find one letter SP'd over another.

And SPGU By The Letter, Panini Genuine Letters are pretty self explanatory, due to the Game-Used aspect. 5 letters in a name? Then it's /5.

As for your end question, I guess it's all about scanning the secondary market and seeing what pops up. My assumption is always based on the stated print run to begin with. For example, If a letter set is /100, then I assume there are only 100 letters out there in total, unless I'm proven otherwise and I see with my own eyes that there are, in fact, 100 of each letter. Because usually (from what I've seen in years past), it's usually 100 total print run.

I hope this makes sense. Good question!

[fuzzai]

Are the Draft Day Marks /35 for each letter? I've never taken a good look at those once they hit the secondary market, so I could be wrong, but I've always assumed there were only 35 Letters produced. That's it.

Online Price Guide lists each letter /35 for Draft Day Marks, and the ODD time, the first letter, will actually be higher then 35, i noticed that in a few cases. why? maybe because the player had the same letter twice in the name, i didn't actually pay attention to that tho.

[scarrman]

SPGU Letter Marks are /35 for each letter. The "stars" are /10 for each letter. For example, I have Forsberg "R" cards. I have 2 of them, each is # 08/10. So each letter is /10, or /35. If a guy has 3 Rs in his name, then there would be /35 x 3, or /10 x 3.

[creasecollector]

Ah, I see. Thanks for the letter info for those. I've never need to pay a lot of attention / collect that set, so I never knew those were /35 or /10 for each letter.

[pwaldo]

Isn't it different with every set and brand? I guess now with only Upper Deck you can make the assumption going forward that the print runs with be a standard way but be careful if you are checking out letter cards from previous years and from different companies as it can get confusing.

[geschrocks33]

I know for a fact the Draft Day Marks are /35 for each letter of the name. Not sure how it was for Panini Namesakes, but I would assume the same thing. The only ones that I know of that are 1 of each letter are By the Letter cards, or Panini Genuine marks. But then those are numbered out of how many letters. Ie SMITH is /5, etc.

[creasecollector]

For the Panini Namesakes, it was a print run of /75 total. Not for each letter, just 75. Makes the nameplates very tough to complete.

[cygnusx1]

Draft Day Marks are /35 for each letter (or /10 for each for the star players, as mentioned)

Panini Namesakes are 75 total copies, so varying print runs for each letter (those print runs are not released). Same goes for other sets over the years, such as the SPGU Letter Marks, Team Marks, (50 copies total) etc. as well as the 08-09 and 09-10 UD Black Rookies (399 total IIRC)

[creasecollector]

Draft Day Marks are /35 for each letter (or /10 for each for the star players, as mentioned)

Panini Namesakes are 75 total copies, so varying print runs for each letter (those print runs are not released). Same goes for other sets over the years, such as the SPGU Letter Marks, Team Marks, (50 copies total) etc. as well as the 08-09 and 09-10 UD Black Rookies (399 total IIRC)

The 09-10 UD Black Lettermen's are actually /499, but yeah, the serial number represents the total amount of letters made, same with the other sets you mentioned there. Usually because of this production method you'll find one letter to be extremely SP'd. It makes collecting the nameplate fun but very difficult.