Brown Staining on backs of T205 Polar Bear cards
 

Okay, stupid question and I think I may know the answer. I have been collecting T205 Cubs with the different backs simce the first of the year and am up to 101 out of 151 possibilities. I have noticed that many of the T205 Polar bear cards have brown blotchy staining on their backs as opposed to other T205 backs being clean. I was wondering why this would be the case? Is it because Polar bear was a loose tobacco that the cards were put directly into the pouch with the tobacco? Are the other backs clean because they were stuck in packs with cigarettes that had tobacco inside of rolling papers? I have noticed this staining only on the Polar Bear brand.

Kmac

Ken,

You already nailed it. The flecks are the loose tobacco and associated stains from it.

Further research is Polar Bear were packs of chewing tobacco pouches. I havehandled and seen T206 polar bear cards and did not notice the same staining but the cards have dark blue print on their backs the may obscure the staining.