T-205 Blank Back Questions

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Posted By: Jon Canfield

First of all, Happy Holidays to the Board. Locally, there is this small Thanksgiving-Eve show held every year. Usually the show is filled with cards from 1999 on, however tonight there was a man set up with nearly 200 T-206 and 205's. Every single card was in POOR POOR POOR condition, most having cut-outs from the Spalding guides glued to the back. However, looking through the pile, I came across a blank backed T-205 common and thought it interesting enough to buy. I was hoping to get some basic information on it since this is nothing along the lines of what I collect.

As you can see from the pictures, it does have some remains of the note book it was glued in. The back feels smooth and the stock of the card is very similar to my other T-205's. The only thing that surprised me is that I would have thought the borders would have been more handcut but they appear, to me, to be straight. Any idea where these came from? Are they note book covers or just scraps? What else can all you experts tell me about this? Is it even rare?

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Posted By: Robert A

Hmmm. I can't tell if that is blank-backed or if it might have been stuck to something, removed, and stuck to something and removed again with other paper remnants?

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Posted By: Jon Canfield

I thought about that at first but after feeling the back, it is very smooth, not like the back has been peeled off or something like that. Also, it is even - if the back was torn, wouldn't different thicknesses be present as opposed to a nice, even tear across the whole surface of the back?

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Posted By: Robert A

Hey Jon.
Search Blank Back T205.
It looks like there has been a few previous discussions.
Rob

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Posted By: Jon Canfield

Thanks!

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Posted By: Brian H (misunderestimated)

I have seen a few of these over the years and I have one myself (McConnell). I recently saw a Mathewson. Most have a clean but blank back. My best guess is that they were cut out of something although I'm sure they would "be worth" more if they were regarded as "proofs."

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Posted By: J Levine

Yes, they are rare. I bought my second one about 3 months ago. Usually they are smooth and feel much like the regular backs. There is an advertising poster but I have yet to see one that was complete and if I recall it only contained a few cards (I own a Moran blank from said poster and have seen a Matty). They are on thicker cardboard and slightly (very slightly) larger than regular T-205s. Blank backs are found about as often as Hindu (maybe a little more often). Blank backs are most likely printer scrap. They went through the normal printing and cutting process but missed the advertising before cutting. Probably test runs. Neither blank backs I own, nor several I have seen, seem to be hand cut. The T-205 D. Jones I recently picked up was centered nicely and measured true to both Jones I already own.

May I inquire as to what you spent to get your blank back. I would be interested in owning it as a Phillies collector.

-Joshua

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Posted By: canjond

Josh - I emailed you with a response to your question...

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Posted By: Ben

Like Brian, I used to own a McConnell blank back as well. Mine was about EX+ and had jumbo borders. Didn't appear handcut, but could have been. I think I payed around $50 for it nearly 2 years ago, but decided to sell it a while back when I gave up on T205's (finally realizing deep down that I'm really not cut out to be a set collector).