T206 Walter Johnson Back

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Posted By: Matt

Walter Johnson's own T206 arrived today along with a nice letter of provenance from his grandson. While the value to me is entirely because it was his own card that he kept, the back of the card is intriguing as well.

WoJo pasted the card into his scrapbook before 1914 and it was torn out much more recently. On the back of the card, a newspaper article (seemingly from the other side of the scrapbook page) can be seen at the top and the majority of the back is covered by glued on paper (probably the scrapbook page). However, at the bottom of the card and up along the right edge, the clean back of the card can be seen with some thin glue residue.

As I've never owned a blank backed T206, I'm interested on some feedback whether or not the card could have originally been blank backed.

Here is a high res back scan; it sits in a PSA case:

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Posted By: Frank Wakefield

I think it needs cracking out of whatever it is in, then it needs a good soaking to see what the back is. I'll bet $5 it isn't blank backed.

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Posted By: Mark

Matt:

Congrats on winning this one. I found it one of the more intriguing items offered recently. I would not soak it, myself. In addition to potentially compromising the card, I would much prefer to leave it as-is.

The fact that this is just how it came from the Johnson family, should be preserved IMO. As you state, there is great value in owning WoJo's personal example (exactly as it is).

Sorry I can't help with the "Blank back" answer... but bet there are more knowledgeable card guys who can help you in a pinch (unless they're all currently in Chicago...)

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Posted By: paulstratton

Crack it and soak it? No way I would do either one of those.

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Posted By: Matt

Frank - I would never soak it; it's a piece of history. I do appreciate that we may not know for certain unless I do. Why are you leaning towards it not being a blank-back? Do you think Johnson skinned it before he pasted it into the scrapbook?

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Posted By: Frank Wakefield

I'd still crack and soak... I understand you won't.

The way to have collected it would have been still on Mr. Johnson's scrapbook page. Once it's off of that, seems that the thing to do is clean it up.

I'm just skeptical about blank backs. I am accepting of the idea that some are out there. I think it is more likely to have a typical back, and if it doesn't, to have been skinned a bit. Those 2 possibilities seem more likely to me than a custom printed blank back. That would be a lot of effort, especially when a branded back could be gleaned easily enough.

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Posted By: Bobby Binder

Maybe if you soak it you will see a Johnson Tobacco Brand back and have a one of a kind. I bet that would make the card worth a small fortune.

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

WoJo? Fish? Bennifer?

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Posted By: Jerry

Maybe it's a Blank Back Sample ATC sent him to show him what his card looked like.
That would be Sweet, as if it isn't already.

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Posted By: Matt

Mark, Jerry - thanks for the kind words.

Bobby - I'm pretty sure it's already one of a kind.