A case for the timeline of the T213-1 (COUPON) set

[tedzan]

This story 1st starts by recalling the timeline for the initial press run of the T206 POLAR BEAR cards. Neither New York cards of Demmitt and O'Hara
were printed with the POLAR BEAR back, as they were traded to their respective St. Louis teams prior to the POLAR BEAR press runs. Demmitt and
O'Hara played in only 10 games at the start of the 1910 season with their respective St. Louis teams. In mid-May 1910, both Demmitt and O'Hara
were assigned to Montreal and Toronto (Eastern League), respectively. But quite interestingly, their St. Louis variations were printed in the initial
POLAR BEAR press run of the 350-ONLY series cards in the Summer of 1910. However, their St Louis cards were not printed with any other backs.





Given the 1st press run of the POLAR BEAR cards in the Summer 1910, we can now dial the clock back and determine quite closely a date for when
the T213-1 COUPON cards were printed.

The story continues....the T213-1 COUPON set comprises of subjects that are in three different series of the T206 set..........

1....Twenty subjects from the 150/350 Southern League (SL) series of 48 cards (selected players in the Southern Association). The list of these SL
players will follow in another post.

2....The choice of the 48 - Major League subjects is uncertain. They were most likely on a 48-card sheet that included the 6 super-prints. These six
cards are very unique T206's, as they were initially printed (Spring 1910) in the 350-ONLY series with most of the backs in this series. Subsequently,
American Lithographic printed these 6 cards with virtually all the backs associated with the 460-ONLY series. Each of these 6 super-prints are found
with at least 20 different backs, including the POLAR BEAR back.

Chance (yellow portrait)
Chase (blue portrait)
Chase (dark cap)
Cobb (red portrait)
Evers (batting-yellow sky)
Mathewson (dark cap)

3....Of the other 42 Major Leaguers from the 350-ONLY series, 39 of them are POLAR BEAR "no-prints". The significance of this is important, in that it
sets a window of time for the printing of the T213-1 cards. Consider this.....with the initial press run of the POLAR BEAR cards in the Summer of 1910,
it is then my contention that these 39 subjects fell short of the POLAR BEAR press run....hence "no-prints".

The 39 cards in the T213-1 COUPON set that are POLAR BEAR "no-prints".......

Becker **
Bender
Byrne **
Campbell **
Charles **
Cree
Donovan (throwing)
Doolan (fielding)
Dubuc **
Dunn (Brooklyn) **
Fletcher
Hartsel
Hoffman (St Louis)
Howell (portrait)
Huggins (portrait) **
Huggins (hands at mouth) **
Hunter
Killian (portrait)
Knabe
Lennox
Marquard (portrait)
Marshall **
McBride
McElveen
McIntyre (Detroit)
Mitchell (Cincinnati)
Mowery **
Myers (bat)
Myers (fielding
O'Hara (NY)
Paskert
Rhoades (hands/chest) **
Rossman **
Schmidt (portrait)
Starr **
Street (portrait)
Summers
Sweeney (Boston)
Thomas
Wilson

Note ** ....ballplayers that retired, were traded, or reassigned (to Minor Leagues) prior to the Summer of 1910 (details will follow in a subsequent
post).

Three of the 350-ONLY series Major Leaguers (Engle, LaPorte, & Willett) were extendeded into the initial POLAR BEAR press run.

CONCLUSION

Furthermore, American Litho. ledger records inform us that the T206's with the AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 (frame) and CYCLE 350 backs were printed
in June 1910. So, one might ask....what does this additional information have to do with anything ?
OK....we have learned that the similarity of T206 back designs is indicative of concurrent timelines. Note the similarity of these five designs.

.............. A ............................ B .......................... T213-1 ........................ C ............................. D



T206's with the A-B-C-D backs [AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 (frame), BROAD LEAF 350, CYCLE 350 and DRUM] were issued in early Summer of 1910.
By comparing the T206 surveys of its A-B-C-D brands, you will find a very close match of their subjects across all four brands. Furthermore, by
comparing the A-B-C-D subjects with the COUPON checklist, you will find a very close match. All these comparisons certainly reinforce the argu-
ment for a concurrent printing timeline for all 5 of these tobacco backs.

Considering these factors, it is fair to conclude that the 48 Major League cards of the T213-1 set were printed simultaneously with the A-B-C-D
cards in June 1910. And most likely, in a separate press run, the 20 - SL cards were also printed in this same 1910 timeframe.

Now, please do not misunderstand. The purpose of this post is strictly meant to inform. It is NOT meant to form any argument for....or against....
this COUPON set as part of the T206 set.


I would like to credit Brian Weisner, who alluded to a linkage between the POLAR BEAR "no-prints" and the COUPON-1 cards in 2007.


TED Z