Polar Bear Tobacco

[whelenfan]

open it already!!!

[Cerberus]

Please post a clear, close-up scan/photo of the blue tax stamp. Many of these Polar Bear pouches with the proper 1910 tax stamp, unfortunately have an over-stamp, often in red type, dating the manufacture of the pouch/pack to 1914. Mine does--hope yours doesn't!

[Ribbens]

I will check the red date on the Polar Tobacco package and report that year, here are a couple of more pictures. In addition I had valuable input from Jon Canfield from T206.com as well on this. Curious what card is in the tobacco pouch from 1914 ?

[1880nonsports]

I've personally examined over 10 unopened polar packages and viewed as many online. I owned two - since sold. In almost every case the overprint was extant and readable. Most have had a mid 1920's date, one had a 1914 date, and two had a 1950's stamping. Interestingly ALL had 1909/1910 stamps. I was first made aware of the pack's existence in a 1994 (?) SCD story.........
Can't recall where I first heard/saw reference to FIVE cards in a package - think it's urban legend :-)

[canjond]

I've been in touch with the OP, and Henry - you're spot on. In fact, this is my email correspondence with the OP from early this morning (in case anyone else has interest or comes across one of these PBs)...

"...to answer your questions, the pack - if correct - could have the possibility of a baseball card, and may have contained 2-5 (there were rumors of 5 once being found in a pack although there's no evidence to substantiate that). That said, I've never seen an unopened period-correct pack. Many people see the 1909 tax stamp and assume it's from 1909, but that's not the case. Also, sometimes you will see a bit of paper loss on the top of a tax stamp - that's a clear indication that someone was trying to erase the date of the overprint to pass the pack off as older.

About 30 years ago, there was a find of about 20 unopened Polar Bear packs from 1920-1925. The majority of the unopened packs in existence are from that find. That's not to say yours isn't correct - I just need to see the top to help you more."

[rdwyer]

Agree with Jon. Overprinting is most important. If it's 1910 or 1911, open that baby up!