Posted By:
Ted Zanidakis1st....regarding Abstein, his T206 card in the 350-only Series; and, it is my understanding that this series
was on the "drawingboard" prior to Abstein being traded to St. Louis.
Scot Reader targets the issue date of the 350-only cards to have started in the Spring of 1910. Scot also
suggests, that the T206 guys tried to capitalize on the success of Pittsburgh in 1909 by printing many of
the Pirates players in this series.
2nd....While Abstein's cards are quite available (mostly found with Piedmont 350 backs), his card does not
exist with Sovereign, EPDG, or Polar Bear backs. However, as you noted, he can be found with some of the
tougher backs like Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, and Cycle 350....but, of course, not too often.
It's my opinion that the Sovereign's were always printed later than the Piedmont's and the Sweet Cap's in
the 150 and 350 Series.....and, early in the 460 Series.
The Polar Bear's were issued in the later part of 1910. You might be correct....that Polar Bear's received just
one production run. But, they must of printed a lot of them, as most of the Cobb's (Red and Bat-off versions)
that I have seen....have Polar Bear backs.
Actually, I've been studying this paradoxical "back phenomena"; but, I have to do quite a bit more research.
T-Rex TED