T206 Mathewson dark or white cap?

[mferronibc]

I’m sorry if this has been asked before but doesn’t look like recently at least. I have been interested in a while now in buying a low to mid range T206 Mathewson. Part of the reason I haven’t pulled the trigger is I keep flip flopping over which I like better the dark or white cap. I was always a bigger fan of the dark, seemed somehow sleeker to me, but lately the white is really growing on me. My question is - it seems at least lately they go for about the same price for any given back/grade. For example a Sweet Cap in PSA 5 for each recently sold - $2,700 for dark and $2,800 for white. What I can’t figure out is if you look at PSA pop reports the white cap seems to be across the board 1/2 the population of the dark. Wouldn’t you think this should give the white cap a larger price premium than $100 (4%)? Does this represent better long term value because white is more scarce or does it simply mean the demand is usually greater for the dark cap because more people like the look of it?

[irishdenny]

Everything that You mention'd is Correct! It jus depends on when You decide to Look! Meaning, Matty is Very Popular in many ways... Timing for These Cards Really is the Key... i didn't Flip Flop Long before i decided to get Both...

Again... money wise... Timing is important!!! His Cards Have been Undervalued at times and thats the time to buy! Be Patient and You will be Rewarded!!!

[Yoda]

I am uncertain about this, but I believe the Matty dark cap was double printed like the Chance portrait yellow and Cobb portrait red, which would definitely skew the population report. I'm certain one of our T206 gurus could tell us.

[Usc1]

I’m sorry if this has been asked before but doesn’t look like recently at least. I have been interested in a while now in buying a low to mid range T206 Mathewson. Part of the reason I haven’t pulled the trigger is I keep flip flopping over which I like better the dark or white cap. I was always a bigger fan of the dark, seemed somehow sleeker to me, but lately the white is really growing on me. My question is - it seems at least lately they go for about the same price for any given back/grade. For example a Sweet Cap in PSA 5 for each recently sold - $2,700 for dark and $2,800 for white. What I can’t figure out is if you look at PSA pop reports the white cap seems to be across the board 1/2 the population of the dark. Wouldn’t you think this should give the white cap a larger price premium than $100 (4%)? Does this represent better long term value because white is more scarce or does it simply mean the demand is usually greater for the dark cap because more people like the look of it?


I think the pop report is valid from some cards and not others. I always thought the same that a lower pop card would always command a higher price but definitely not always true. For example, the Cobb with the lowest pop is the green then the bat on but the red always commands a higher price. granted it is is a portrait but you get what i mean. The bat on is half the pop of the red.

[MVSNYC]

All correct. Matty Dark Cap, like the Red Port Cobb (and several others) are considered super prints (double-printed). So there are more of those, BUT, as mentioned above, they are iconic, uber-popular, and very desirable, hence, a premium over their other poses.

[brianp-beme]

Here is a nice article by Anson on his site that was posted about this subject last year:

https://prewarcards.com/2019/08/12/t206-mathewson-dark-cap-vs-white-cap-pick-your-poison/

I totally agree with him concerning the artwork depictions...both are cool cards, but the artwork on the black cap version is more refined when it comes to Matty's face. The black cap depiction captures the look of an intense competitor, while the face on the white cap version has always appeared to me as if it were airbrushed into vacant complacency.

I think the bulk of collectors prefer the look of the black cap version, and even though the white is much less common, both in the future might maintain similar values.

Even my low condition black cap is just so mesmerizing to look at (at least in my eyes)...

Brian

[brianp-beme]

And a nice (not mine) condition white cap version for comparison.

Brian

[DeanH3]

I have always preferred the dark cap. The refined artwork is a great way to phrase it. Plus, I think the NY logo on the sleeve adds a lot as well. Both great cards and come down to your personal preference.

[Throttlesteer]

I have always preferred the dark cap. The refined artwork is a great way to phrase it. Plus, I think the NY logo on the sleeve adds a lot as well. Both great cards and come down to your personal preference.

Agreed. This is the quintessential Matty card in my opinion. Double-printed or not, it's my choice. A nice, bold copy is one of the most beautiful cards out there...period.

[sreader3]

White Cap is 250/524 in terms of scarcity while Dark Cap is 522/524. As others have alluded to, the scarcity difference is due to White Cap being in the tougher 150/350 subject group whereas Dark Cap is one of the six superprints that received enhanced printing. The price disparity between the two in PSA 5, on average, is more than the $100 you state in your original post. It's more like $500 (with White Cap commanding the higher price, as you might expect). I would say that if you are in the market for a PSA 5 and like the artwork of both equally well (or nearly so), go with White Cap if you can find a nice copy for less than a $500 premium over Dark Cap.

Approaching it a different way, I started pursuing the 520 set in PSA 5 in 2003 in a price-conscious manner and got to 440 before abandoning the project after a dozen years for a more modest HOF subset minus Wags and Plank. I picked-up Dark Cap quite early in the process (in 2006) but never found a copy of White Cap that fit my budget, even though I was willing to pay a decent premium over Dark Cap.

[Mozzie22]

As someone that has neither I definitely prefer the dark cap. Actually looks like him.

[drcy]

dark cap looks better to me

[tedzan]

Personally, I prefer the White Cap version. It is in the 150/350 Series and was printed with 11 different Tobacco backs.

https://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan77/images/websize/MattyWCxSovereign150x25.jpg . https://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan77/images/websize/MattyWCxSovereign150x25b.jpg

https://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan77/images/MathewsonWCxFactory30.jpg . https://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan77/images/MathewsonWCxFactory30b.jpg



However, the Dark Cap version is in the 350/460 Series and was printed with at least 20 different backs.
Several of these backs are really difficult to find, and it's this challenge which I enjoy. For example........

https://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan77/images/amattyab350xx25.jpg . https://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan77/images/bmattyab350xx25.jpg

https://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan77/images/websize/1910couponmatty75x.jpg . https://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan77/images/websize/1910couponmatty75xb.jpg



https://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan77/images/MattySovereign350x25.jpg . https://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan77/images/MattySovereign350x25b.jpg


http://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan77/images/asov460chancematty25x.jpg
http://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan77/images/websize/bsov460chancematty25xy.jpg


Or you can always settle for a PIEDMONT Matty.

https://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan77/images/websize/MattyPIEDMONT460x50.jpg . https://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan77/images/websize/PIEDMONT460%20x50b.jpg


TED Z

T206 Reference ( http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=237816)
.

[Tyruscobb]

My personal preference is the dark cap version. Both offer value if the purchase price is right. Buy whichever one speaks more to you.

[TheBig6]

Not a t206 but a white cap with NY on the sleeve
https://photos.imageevent.com/ruckers/t201t202/websize/mattysilk.jpg

[ullmandds]

I have a white cap...1st t206 I ever procured as a kid! This is taken from similar image.

[Phillies*phan]

Black cap for sure. The white doesn’t look finished.


Piece of Tim Carrol artwork

[MR RAREBACK]

I like the white cap better, I collect both:)

[Leon]

I have always preferred the dark cap. The refined artwork is a great way to phrase it. Plus, I think the NY logo on the sleeve adds a lot as well. Both great cards and come down to your personal preference.

Chocolate and vanilla. I have always like the white cap the most.

[robw1959]

Chocolate and vanilla. I have always like the white cap the most.

Me too! The White Cap version is a much larger image of Matty as well. I've always thought it's just far more visually appealing than the Black Cap version all the way around, regardless of scarcity factors. In the White Cap version, Christy looks calm and confident.

[pete zouras]

had to choose the one on the left, didn't give 2nd thought to the pinhole on the left (or one on the right border, too). Much nicer colors than the dark cap.

[pherbener]

I prefer the White Cap version, but anything Matty will do!

[bounce]

Dark cap was basically a double print which is why the pops are so different.

Dark cap is a more popular card in general, I like it way more than the light cap and I've owned several of both over the years.

This is classic supply and demand. Demand for dark cap is higher, supply for white cap is lower.

Go with the card that you like the best and speaks to your eye the most. Can't go wrong with that.

[Seven]

I'm more partial to the dark cap because like a few other posters have pointed out, I feel like Mattys' face is more detailed. You honestly can't go wrong with either though.

[ullmandds]

I've has this since 1982ish.

[irishdenny]

Matty... Leslie's 1901. 1902. 1903.

Kinda BiG!

Even fir "BiG SiX" HiS OwnSelf!!!

[sreader3]

Great photos Denny. Thanks for sharing.

Matty... Leslie's 1901. 1902. 1903.

Kinda BiG!

Even fir "BiG SiX" HiS OwnSelf!!!

[irishdenny]

*All me pleasure Mr. Scotty Reader... :)

I bought these 3 Leslie's for 25 bucks off of ebay
Back when it was the Good Ole' Days...

Threads such as these make me Remember
that I bought these Cool Things of Matty...

Here's my 2 White Caps ~