T206 Action versus Portrait cards and the T205 set

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Adrian, you said this as well it can be said. The T205 Matty has grown on me over the years, but if the registration isn't dead-perfect, he looks perfectly-dead.

Actually most of the T205 subjects are in fact dead. I admire the realism and the gold coffins. The set was simply issued prematurely.

[Zone91]

frankbmd

Hahahaha!!!

[mintacular]

Maybe you didn't notice but the T205s have a rich gold border and have nice bio/stats backs whereas the T206s have dull beige/white border and plain ad only backs, plus the T205 minor leaguer sub-set add another dimension to this set. So while some might appreciate "action" (and that's a stretch) of T206s there are at least 2 other reasons why T205s are attractive, plus they are more affordable. There are many "E" card sets that are barely distinguishable from T206s where as T205s are one of a kind with their gold border

[Jlighter]

I really dig the portraits.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

Actually most of the T205 subjects are in fact dead. I admire the realism and the gold coffins. The set was simply issued prematurely.

SWEET!!!! well, sickly-sweet.

[T206Collector]

This collection of T205 criticisms is wonderful. I wholeheartedly agree that T205s:

- are the weirdest looking cards
- remind me of looking into a funeral home
- creep me out
- are unattractive to me
- give me a sick feeling in my stomach
- have no positive in their images
- have never caught my eye
- are like a bad video game drawing
- show chip and wear
- I am less enthused by
- look funny with the floating heads
- don't look so good

With respect to T206s, I do not think you can just divide them between so-called action poses and the portraits. Some action poses are really breathtaking, like the aforementioned Leifield:



And I've always loved the Howard:



But my favorite T206 has long been the Matty portrait:



Even though it is only a portrait, the color is so vibrant and rich, without being as over-loaded with flair like its T205 cousin.

Still, I will concede that this T205 Blackburne is one of my favorite signed pre-war cards in my collection:

[Runscott]

Since you posted the Blackburne, I'm surprised you didn't add 'too many weird no-neck cards' in the set.

[Ease]

Gorgeous image on that Blackburne, almost looks 3D.

[frankbmd]

Blackburne

With bat-tin down collars.

Still hate that format,

but still love the mud.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Ease

Gorgeous image on that Blackburne, almost looks 3D.

My favorite '3D' effect T205 is Tinker when the card has perfect registration. Hard to beat.

[auggiedoggy]

best looking front IMHO is ...

[brob28]

Adrian, I'm a bit of a mixed bag on this subject.

I'm putting together a T206 HOF set with an emphasis on the portraits. However, I am not getting portraits of Huggins, Matthewson and Lajoe simply because I don't care for the way they look in those. Matthewson (dark cap), Lajoe (w/ bat) and Huggins (2 hands) I find much nicer and in the case of Huggins the two hands version seems to be how he is mostly represented in the sport/hobby.

As for 205's I like the American Leauge and Minor League subsets, but don't care for the National league cards. The one exception would be the Matty. I wish that was the portrait in the 206 set!

[T205 GB]

I was more tounge in check with my bashing comment. The rest is true though. I love all cards but only collect one set that appeals to me. I will say a high grade 205 looks better than most 206's regardless of grade.

[deadballfreaK]

I'm going to be contrary. Love T205s, especially the AL with diamonds, gloves, and bats. The NL not so much. What was American Tobacco supposed to do- issue another T206? This was a wild new design with bios on the back. Neat. They really dropped the ball on T207s which I collect also. As far as T206 I think the portraits are superb. Most of the action poses are good, but there are a few dogs in there.