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Posted By: davidcycleback

The T206s were one one sheet of cardboard. However, the front side had a pre-printing white coating, so the fronts (where there is no printed ink) appear whiter. With the genuine and unaltered T206s, the front borders are a a bit whiter and smoother than the back. This is not an unusual quality, as Topps and Bowman card fronts also had a white front coating to the cardboard. A 1951 Bowman has white boarders and a dark cardboard back. The purpose of the front coating was to have sharper and brighter front graphics. The printers didn't use white ink, and needed a bright white background for bright white whites. White on a T206 or 1975 Topps is where there is no ink.

As noted by Matt, the printing on this items resembles a rubber stamping.