Continuing the Ty Cobb/Ty Cobb back debate

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

Let us see what we have learned here. Early in 1910 national newspaper's were reporting of
the Ty Cobb "pipe" tobacco.

The tin advertises Granulated Cut Plug Tobacco; and, that certainly works for pipe tobacco.
The artwork on this Ty Cobb tin is borrowed from the T206 Cobb (bat on shoulder) card......
issued in 1909.





However, the picture on the Ty Cobb/Ty Cobb back card is the RED portrait version.

That tells us that this Ty Cobb back card most likely was NOT inserted in this tobacco tin....
as, the T206 Red portrait Cobb was not issued until the Summer of 1910. And, I think we can
assume that the same printing plate was used to produce the front of the Ty Cobb back card.

So, my guess is that the Ty Cobb back card stands alone as an advertising premium for the
Ty Cobb pipe tobacco. And, that it was privately distributed in limited quantities in late 1910
or early 1911, concurrent with the T206 Red portrait Ty Cobb card. Which was issued during
this period with 24 different T-backs (more than any other T206 Subject).

The Ty Cobb/Ty Cobb card would then be the 25th back on Cobb's Red portrait cards. Having
said that; though, I am not inferring that this card is part of the T206 set.



TED Z