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davidcyclebackProofs are test prints, typically with different graphics than the final product and often on different stock.
It is known that the American Tobacco Company sent single cards to players trying to get their rights, as the letters with cards (single card not strip) have been auctioned. The story that they sent a card, or something, to Wagner to get his approval is not strange.
Jim is correct the at the original unprinted sheets of cardboard were front coated in white (this was done by the cardboard manufacturers not the printers). This was because the printers had no white ink, and white on a T206 is lack of ink. Almost no printer has white ink, not even your computer printer. That cards here are white in the picture and tan borders is unusual.
If it's theorized these cards were singles put together, it's also plausible that the strip was scored to show to Wagner what the individual cards would look like.
Beyond the theory that these are pieced together singles, I don't see anything that suggest to me that the cards are fake. They are different in ways than final cards, but proofs are often different.