T206 Tobacco Cards: The Legend Lives On

The T206 tobacco baseball card set is one of the most valuable and sought-after collections in sports memorabilia. The set was produced by the American Tobacco Company between 1909 and 1911 and features over 500 different baseball players. The artwork on the cards is highly regarded by collectors and the set is famous for the rarity of one particular card – the Honus Wagner card.

History and Rarity of the T206 Honus Wagner Card

Honus Wagner was one of the greatest baseball players of his era and played shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The T206 Honus Wagner card is considered one of the most valuable cards in the world due to its rarity and historical significance. The reason for the card’s rarity is attributed to Wagner objecting to the use of his image in cigarette advertisements, leading to production of the card being halted after only a small number were printed. According to some estimates, fewer than 200 copies of the card are known to exist. The card’s rarity and historical significance have made it one of the most sought-after items in the world of sports memorabilia.

Recent Sales of the Honus Wagner Card

Recently, in September 2021, a rare T206 Honus Wagner baseball card was sold for a record-breaking $7.25 million. The sale surpasses the previous record of $3.12 million, which was set in 2016. The card was sold to an anonymous buyer by the sports memorabilia company Goldin Auctions.

This sale is a testament to the continued popularity and value of sports memorabilia, particularly rare and highly sought-after items such as the Wagner card. It also highlights the ongoing interest and passion for baseball and its rich history among fans and collectors alike.

The Artists Behind the T206 Cards

The T206 set featured artwork by a variety of artists, including Charles Edward “C.E.” Hires, who was known for inventing root beer, and George Burke, who went on to become a renowned photographer. The artists’ work on the T206 cards has become highly regarded by collectors and enthusiasts alike.

In addition to Hires and Burke, other artists who contributed to the T206 set include Louis Glackens, a cartoonist for the Philadelphia Press, and Carl Horner, a Boston-based photographer known for his portraits of baseball players. The artwork on the T206 cards has become a key part of their value, with collectors often paying a premium for cards with particularly striking or well-executed images.

Different Backs and Rarity

One of the most interesting aspects of the T206 set is the variety of different backs that were produced. The backs featured a variety of different advertisements for American Tobacco’s various brands, and some of the backs are much rarer than others.

The most common back is the “Piedmont” back, which features an advertisement for Piedmont cigarettes. The Piedmont back accounts for around 60% of all T206 cards. The “Sweet Caporal” back is the second most common, accounting for around 25% of all T206 cards.

However, there are also several backs that are much rarer than the Piedmont and Sweet Caporal backs. The “Polar Bear” back, for example, is extremely rare and accounts for less than 1% of all T206 cards. Other rare backs include the “Old Mill” back, the “Uzit” back, the “Lenox” back, and the “Broad Leaf” back.

The rarity of the different backs can have a big impact on the value of a T206 card. For example, a Honus Wagner card with a “Piedmont” back is worth around $3 million, while a Honus Wagner card with a “Polar Bear” back is worth around $10 million.

Other Notable Sales of T206 Cards

While the sale of the T206 Honus Wagner card for $7.25 million is undoubtedly the most notable recent sale of a T206 card, there have been other high-profile sales in recent years. In 2019, a set of T206 cards sold for over $1.2 million, while a rare Eddie Plank card sold for over $400,000. The ongoing interest in the T206 set and its cards shows no signs of slowing down, with collectors continuing to seek out rare and valuable pieces.

List of Hall of Fame Players in the T206 Set: