REA Piedmont Cigarette Packs - Fall 2024

[Joe_G.]

I don't follow 20th century packs nearly as closely as the 19th century packs I collect, but this find has piqued my interest. I believe one key detail from this find is the fact that the carton was shipped out post-ATC break-up (late 1911) . . .

. . . due to presences of "W. Duke, Sons & Co. - Branch of Liggett & Myers Tobacco Co."



Some Context (Chronology)
On October 2nd, 1911 the ATC proposed a break-up of the ATC per Supreme Court mandate which would form American Tobacco, Liggett & Myer, and Lorillard. On November 8th, 1911 the courts approved the break-up that among many, many other things, would place the Piedmont brand under W Duke, Sons, & Co., a branch of the Liggett & Myers Co.

The question then becomes, how late do we believe T206 cards were packaged in Piedmont boxes?

On a side note, it is possible all these packs were produced before November 8th with application of the sticker that mentions "W Duke, Sons, & Co. - Branch of Liggett & Myers Tobacco Co." on or after November 8th, 1911. Since the packs themselves do not yet reference Liggett & Myers I think they were very close to the transition date (before, on, or just after Nov. 8th, 1911).

On yet another side note, the Philadelphia Athletics would clinch the World Series on October 26th, 1911, over the NY Giants.

These packs are fantastic regardless of whether they held a T206 and are likely about as close as one can get to a pack that did hold a card. I welcome other's thoughts.