T206 DRUM's....and their "A-B-C-D connection"

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

I'm reprising the theme of this thread for those of you who clicked onto the "bottom of page" link and have not read it.

Also, I have updated the list of T206's that conform to the T206 back Rule that I refer to as the "A-B-C-D connection".

The "A-B-C-D connection" is illustrated here with the four tougher T206 backs designed for the 350 Series that have identical
stylized FRAME and lettering. It is probably safe to conclude that the same artist at American Lithographic Co. (ALC) designed
these four backs. The design is exactly the same....just the name of the T-brand differs.
These tougher T206 cards were very likely inserted in their respective cigarette packs at the end of the 350 Series run. Scot
Reader's "Inside T206" book identifies the release of American Beauty 350 cards in the Summer of 1910 (quite later than the
availability of the Piedmont, Sweet Caporal, and Sovereign 350 cards). The Cycle, Broad Leaf, and Drum cards, I would theor-
ize, were available simultaneously with the American Beauty's, or in the Fall of 1910.
Therefore, due to this late date, the T206's in particular with Broad Leaf, and Drum backs were very Short-Printed.....as ALC
was more involved in producing their last (460) Series of cards to be released at the end of 1910 and early 1911.

However, there appears to be an emerging pattern, that all 4 of these backs were printed on certain Subjects. For example:
Dineen is found with AB 350, BL 350, Cy 350, and DRUM. If this observation is valid, then it can prove to be very valuable in
predicting the availaility of a DRUM (or a Broad Leaf) back. Incidently, this "rule" is only applicable to Subjects (approx. 200
cards) in the 350-only Series and the six Super-Prints.




Here is a list of the 350-only cards that conform to the "A-B-C-D connection"....they cover all four bases.
As time goes by more T206's will show up with all four backs.....current total = 48

Abstein
Arellanes
Barbeau
Batch
Becker
Burke
Casey
Clark
Congalton
Davidson
Delehanty (Louisville)
Dineen
Donovan (throw)
Downs
Engle
Freeman
Hinchman (Toledo)
Jackson
Ed Killian (portrait)
Knabe
Krause (pitch)
Kroh
Lennox
Livingstone
Maddox
Maloney
McAleese
Milan
Mitchell (Toronto)
Moran (Chicago)
Moran (Providence)
Nattress
Phillippe
Purtell
Randall
Raymond
Rhodes
Rudolph
Schrim
Scott
Slagle
Speaker
Starr
Strang
Titus
Unglaub

Here are two of the six Super-Prints (Am Bty 350 with Frame) that conform to the "A-B-C-D connection".......

Chance (yellow portrait)
Evers (bat-yellow sky)


And, I am still looking for a Blue portrait Chase with a DRUM back to complete my "A-B-C-D connection" of this,
my favorite, T206 card.


TED Z