1910 T218 Boxing card question

[G1911]

The cards were issued in 3 series.


The 1 series is a mid 1910 issue, without the series 2 notation. The series title is "Champion Athletes and Prize Fighters". Cards exist with Mecca and Hassan backs, from factories 30 and 649.


Series 2 came out in late 1910, and bears the series 2 notation. In addition to the series 2 Mecca and Hassan backs, the cards were also printed with a Hassan, factory 30 back with no series notation, and Tolstoi (very rare). All second series cards having the Hassan 30 back from series 1 as well as the series 2 backs trips up a lot of collectors in check listing.


Series 3 exists only with Mecca backs, from 2 factories again, and was issued in 1911. The series caption begins "series of..." this time, and most of the card fronts now have a thin black frame around the image.


There are 153 cards in the basic set. They are one of the more common T card issues. Johnson is the key. Jeffries, Attell, Gans, Jeanette and Langford also carry consistent premiums. Aviators, Golfers and Billiards players are more popular than the boxers and track cards. Most won't sell for more than a few bucks in VG.


The T220 set has 50 boxers, and is a late 1910-early 1911 issue. James J. Corbett, Jack Dempsey, Joe Gans, Peter Jackson, John L. Sullivan (the key) carry consistent premiums. Mecca cards have 30 and 649 backs again. Tolstoi backs are scarce, but not as tough as T218 Tolstoi's. Silver border cards carry a 2-3x premium, and feature 25 of the fronts, all with Mecca 649 backs.