General Forum

can someone help me fingure out numbers 276 and 277 of this set.

it says 277 is Chipper Jones but the 276 card I have is Chipper Jones.

Yes,  #276 is Chipper Jones, UER, uncorrected error.   There is no #277 Chipper Jones

As a complete set collector I can tell you that Chipper Jones was #276 BUT it was SUPPOSED TO BE #277. Thus in my 1997 Topps Binder it is #277. Also Mike Fetters is incorrectly numbered 61 when it was supposed to be 84. Thus this too is placed where it should have been. (#84)

To have a complete set though, you need the checklist that is #276.  The real #61 is Elster.  So in your complete set you will have 2 #276 and 2 # 61.

This is exactly how I do it (when it's known to be wrong, based on the companies' checklist). It happened to 2 cards in 1986 Topps, too, IIRC. But yes, the 1997 Topps set, will be configured when I sheet it:

page slot # - Card # - Name

61 - 61 - Kevin Elster

84 - 61 - Mike Fetters

276 - 276 - Checklist

277 - 276 - Chipper Jones

I've done the same thing with other sets that did that (the 2014 Topps Update series comes to mind - did that with 2 cards in that one too).

I'm still trying to repress memories of assembling a set of '91 Fleer Ultra.

Thanks for reopening the wound with this misnumbering thread (as though owning a set of '91 Fleer Ultra isn't painful enough)!

@vroomed.  To me that's the only way to do it. To other members.. Other sets like 1997 Bowman also have errors with numbering. If that isn't a weird coincidence. Both 1997, both Topps products. 

Ah, see, I avoid this problem completely (get it? See what I did there?) When I know I have a complete set, I sort them by teams and subsets and the like and put them in the binder with the subsets up front and teams following in alphabetical order by city. The numbers are arbitrary creations of the company that I use only to verify I've got em all. 

Yes, it's slightly harder to go directly to a card. I need to know the team. But this site makes that easy enough to figure out and I should learn all the teams anyway. 

The 1997 Chipper Jones is with Atlanta. The checklist is with the checklists. 

(While I'm still compiling a set, I keep them in numerical order because adding new cards is so much easier.)

V3

Totally agree with V3. The numbers are there for my tracking purposes, but in no way do I consider them the order that I must put my cards in. That deprives me of my most enjoyable part of the hobby, which is putting together a page of a player, preferably from different points in his career and in a variety of different uniforms. Different brands mixed together are a plus too. I'm organizing my boss's collection in my spare time too, and those are going in boxes alphabetically. I deal with numbers forty hours a week for him already. I want to see words and pictures when I enjoy this hobby.  Some would call my thoughts sacrilege, and that's ok. Our brains work different ways.

You guys are explaining exactly why I am NOT a set collector! Too much confusion with ERR's, UER's, VAR's, etc..

I collect my Cardinals cards (any year) and specific other players that I grew up watching in the 1980's and 1990's. I will try to hunt down all the versions of my Cardinals players and cards of certain STL players before or after they were in STL, but I'm not hunting for Errors and Variations of a CL or a player I totally don't care about to complete a set. That's just the way I collect. Anyone can collect in any way they want and I won't say anything bad about anyones' collection. I will only say Good Luck achieving your goal. I have goals of my own that others might find ridiculous or un-attainable. I just like to see people enjoy the hobby!!!