Quote:
Originally Posted by tedzan
Hi Andrew
That is a great question.
The impending ATC divestiture in 1911 may be a factor in why there were only 208 subjects printed instead of what some T205 backs claim.... "BASE BALL SERIES 400 DESIGNS".
A subject matter which you have talked about in the past.
Speaking about that claim....what is your thinking as to why that claim is on some T205's, while others have.... "BASE BALL SERIES ASSORTED DESIGNS" ....?
TED Z
T206 Reference
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I have long thought it was a multi series issue that continued into the bird and military series but then I ask why would half be baseball?
The disappearance of several factories that printed cards at the time makes me think that the T205’s are actually an unfinished set(not the first guy to think this). Another possible tie is very strong based on the amount of Hindu to Drums confirmed. I think Hindus were stopped during printing due to court issues surrounding the ATC issue. I have often wondered if the way they were distributed was a very simple process of all the fronts being printed and then these went to this factory and those went to that factory. That’s where the backs are applied and why some say 400 and some say Assorted. I base that on the master list showing certain cards only available at certain factories. Also if you remove all the type set on the back the entire boarder, company and factory name is etched. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a copper plate inscribed with the boarder, company name, and factory #. Something that can easily be created and used multiple times. Very possible to use the plate again for other companies at the factory because copper is very soft and can possibly be flattened and then reetched/stamped with another company. All of these items are exactly the same on every card. I think the only consistent items found on every card! From there some young apprentice set all the type and it was verified by the printer and then printing started. For some reason I only think the sheets were a block of 18. Anyway even with all that type set to insert errors were probably extremely common and we see that all through the set as we go both front and back. Some got fixed and some didn’t. I would bet the handful of T205 Scrap we see now is just a drop in the bucket of what was run. Most of that probably found its way into a fire box of some sort.