Piedmont T206 with date stamped on back...

[scottglevy]

Welcome to the board. I'm certainly not the most knowledgeable on T206s .. but I do know a bit.

This series was issued from 1909 to 1911.

Your stamp was almost certainly put there by a collector (quite likely the original collector). It was not factory issued. I have seen other time stamps - or more commonly name stamps from collectors on the back of T206s.

Having said that, some collectors actually like the nostalgia of a time-period stamp on the back of a tobacco card, so don't feel too badly about it.

I've heard rumors that cards were used as package stiffeners. But I also know for a fact that several companies considered them to be important marketing premiums - several ads from tobacco companies during that period explicitly advertise that ballplayers come in their cigarette packs (HINDU ads come to mind most readily).

Enjoy the card - it's from my favorite hobby set!

Best Regards,
Scott

[Abravefan11]

Hi Joe -

First Welcome to the board. The first T206's were printed and inserted into packs well into 1909. Player selection and artwork for the set took place early in 1909 and the first printings and distribution happened in early summer.

I don't believe there is any significance to the date stamp on your card other than it's a cool addition to the card by a collector over 100 years ago.

If you can post a scan as there are several collectors on the board like myself that enjoy the various stamps found on vintage cards. You never know, there may be more out there just like it.

[caramelcard]

Interesting. Not sure why it would be stamped with a date that early.

I've seen quite a few stamped with dates, but never earlier than 1909.

The T37s that you're talking about were stamped at the factory.

Always hard to tell whether a stamp is period or not. Is it purple ink?

Robert

[NYHighlanderFan]

It's a First Communion present to my Godson. The ink is red.

These were tough pictures to take due to the glare off the PSA case. I found a book on vintage cards too that will accompany the cards. He's getting 2 T206's (this one is Doc White pitching and the other is Billy Maloney), a box full of Nerf stuff and a Ben Franklin. I wanted to get him a HoF'er. And I also wanted to get him someone else who played in the 1800's which I believe Maloney did.

One thing I just realized is it's a Piedmont 350. What would the absolute earliest this card could have been stuffed?

[Abravefan11]

Originally Posted by NYHighlanderFan

What would the absolute earliest this card could have been stuffed?

Late 1909