T206 American Beauty Printing Process

[tedzan]

There is such variability in the cuts of the AB frame cards that it's very difficult to figure out exactly why American Litho. sliced them narrower than all the other T206 brands.

For example....my Davy Jones is approx. the same width as a normal T206. While my Matty is narrower.


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TED Z

[Ronnie73]

I believe they were cut to normal size but because the cigarette packs were more narrow than the other brands, they were then trimmed on the sides. Because the frame did not fit the needed smaller size, they removed it in the 1910 and 1911 printings.

There are some cards that seem to have missed the second trimming.

[tedzan]

Ron

Here is a circa 1910 AMERICAN BEAUTY (10-cigarette) pack; and, it is the same size as any PIEDMONT, SOVEREIGN, etc. packs.




TED Z

[Ronnie73]

Hi Ted, thats interesting. Is it possible that cigarette packs were smaller in 1909 and they increased the pack size in 1910 and 1911 but never told the printers of the change? If not, then why the narrower cards. I guess we still don't know for sure if the cards were cut by the printers or the packers. Most likely the printers or there would probably be many uncut sheets.

[tedzan]

The first printing of the T206 American Beauty 350 (Frame) cards was during the Summer of 1910.

Also, my understanding of American Beauty cigarette packs is that they contained 10 cigarettes and were the standard size pack from 1901-12.

It remains a mystery why AB cards were cut narrower. Furthermore, many AB 460 T206's are found even more narrower than the AB 350 cards.
I have approx. 60 - AB 460 cards, and most of them are quite narrow.


TED Z

[Ronnie73]

Originally Posted by tedzan

The first printing of the T206 American Beauty 350 (Frame) cards was during the Summer of 1910.

Also, my understanding of American Beauty cigarette packs is that they contained 10 cigarettes and were the standard size pack from 1901-12.

It remains a mystery why AB cards were cut narrower. Furthermore, many AB 460 T206's are found even more narrower than the AB 350 cards.
I have approx. 60 - AB 460 cards, and most of them are quite narrow.


TED Z

Your American Beauty 460 subset is gonna be incredible when its completed. Any ideas on your next project? Maybe the rest of the AB series?

[Bridwell]

This thinner American Beauty pack has 15 cigs and a 1910 tax stamp.