T206 American Beauty Printing Process

[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.

[Ronnie73]

Does anyone have a picture of an American Beauty T206 ad? Maybe the cards were only put in the soft packs that were narrower with the 15. Maybe it was buy 10 and get no card or buy 15 and get a card insert. Just a thought.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Ronnie73

Does anyone have a picture of an American Beauty T206 ad? Maybe the cards were only put in the soft packs that were narrower with the 15. Maybe it was buy 10 and get no card or buy 15 and get a card insert. Just a thought.

Ronnie, we have examples of 'normal' width AB's, so it's probable that the thinner ones were cut thin to fit in the 15-cig packs and the wider ones let alone, to fit in the wide packs.

[Ronnie73]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Ronnie, we have examples of 'normal' width AB's, so it's probable that the thinner ones were cut thin to fit in the 15-cig packs and the wider ones let alone, to fit in the wide packs.

That would explain the reason for the two sizes even though its just a possibility but a good one. I guess the next step would be to start a list of all the untrimmed American Beauty's and see if the list matches a certain print run.

[steve B]

How about narrow cards from other brands? I have at least one that's AB narrow.

Steve B