T206 "printer's mark" and sheet layouts

[tedzan]

It's the Factory #......I have seen other such numbers and they always coincide with the Factory # of the given T-brand.

These #'s most likely identify to the printer (at a quick glance) which specific back printing plate they have selected for a
given press run.

Recall, that the fronts have been pre-printed and the various T-brand backs are printed last.


TED Z

[atx840]

I have seen a factory 25 designation on the the bottom as well and a few with the side mark, which looks more like an alignment marking vs #.

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by atx840

I have seen a factory 25 designation on the the bottom as well and a few with the side mark, which looks more like an alignment marking vs #.

Chris

I'm not sure I understand your...."vs #" ?


Perhaps, I should clarify my previous comment........
"It's the Factory #......I have seen other such numbers and they always coincide with the Factory # of the given T-brand.

These #'s most likely identify to the printer (at a quick glance) which specific back printing plate they have selected for a
given press run."


Yes I have seen the #25, also; and, the card it was printed on was a Sweet Cap, Factory #25. Has anyone seen a T206 with any other # which
does NOT coincide with the Factory # on that particular card ? I don't think so.

The lettering on the actual printer's plate(s) of these various Factory's found on American Beauty, Piedmont, and Sweet Cap backs is very tiny;
therefore, each plate identified the given Factory # on the printed sheet with these large numbers along the edge of the sheet. Which made it
easier for jobber at American Lithographic to cut, package, and ship the cards to the appropriate Tobacco Factory.

TED Z

[z28jd]

Sounds like he agreed with you/me/Scott, Ted. Then he gave his thought what the side mark meant.

[atx840]

Hey Ted, I agree 100% with your posts, it was more to Jantz regarding Scott's comment that the side mark does not appear to be a # but more of marking.

I have not seen a # on anything but SC and no 42 or 649s (not sure if would even exist). I have seen these factory #s on different examples of the same card.

[t206blogcom]

I've always thought this was a strange print mark - the 'J' above the 'T' in Piedmont. It's the same color ink as the rest of the back. I've posted it once before on Net54 and have never seen another like it. Figured I'd share again.

[mrvster]

Great input everyone...

I also have rhodes with the "marking" on the side...

The "30" are sheet numbers....there are a few rare examples out there that clearly show it is the top half of "30"(ther is a cobb red port with it clearly "30" visible)...

i have only seen them on sweet cap backs(sheet numbers)....


THE 25's ARE SUPER RARE.....

i would like one.....i have a few "30"s , but no "25" sheet numbers....ANYONE HAVE ONE FOR SALE??


sheet numbers are rare to aquire, but the 25's are the real rare ones....

[Jantz]

I think Scott may have hit on something and maybe it isn't a sheet number like the others.

One reason that I've thought about is that the Rhoades seems to appear more often then the examples with the numbers on the bottom.

Off the top of my head I can think of 5 Rhoades cards with the marks on the side. Johnny & I both own one, 707 Sportcards had one about 3 years ago and two more have sold on Ebay in the last few years.

So if I were to tally all the examples I've seen, Rhoades is out front of the others with a total of 5. Where as Johnson (Port) and Merkle (Port) are tied in second place with only 2 each.

Never seen a 25 sheet number yet, but sure would like to.

J@son I have seen stray lines like on your Ganzel before. Steve B. could probably explain why this occurs better than me. I will try to post up some scans tomorrow and show a few that I have.

Jantz