Tobacco Cards, and Printing Quality Comparisons

[DocScoot]

I'm fairly new to the forum, and quite new to older cards, having done most of my collecting from opening packs as a child in the late 80s and early 90s. I'm enjoying getting back into the hobby in my middle age, and have started to become quite interested in some of the older tobacco cards. I'm currently very interested in the T202 cards, and it seems like in terms of getting some of the bigger HOFers in these early sets, there are still some great bargains with T202.

So onto the specific question at hand, I'm curious if anyone can share some info on the way these different sets were actually printed, and how printing quality may differ from set to set. For example, I'm really in love with the T205 Christy Mathewson photo. I notice the same (or similar photo) can be had in one of the T202 triple folders, for a fraction of the price. Would that card be of comparable quality? In some ways I find the T202 even more interesting, so would love an excuse to pick one up.

If there are other threads or resources already on the forum to answer these questions, my apologies for the redundancy, and if you could point me in the right direction I would appreciate it!

[53toppscollector]

here is a nice quick overview of the T202s

https://prewarcards.com/2016/10/03/1...and-checklist/

there are people who collect just the panels, but I would never detach a panel from the actual full card itself.

the cool mystery is why Smoky Joe Wood and Walt Blair have T202 panels but they did not appear in the T205 set.

[DocScoot]

Thanks James! I'm curious if you had the T202 panel and the matching T205 side-by-side, would they be of comparable print quality?

Originally Posted by 53toppscollector

here is a nice quick overview of the T202s

https://prewarcards.com/2016/10/03/1...and-checklist/

there are people who collect just the panels, but I would never detach a panel from the actual full card itself.

the cool mystery is why Smoky Joe Wood and Walt Blair have T202 panels but they did not appear in the T205 set.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by DocScoot

Thanks James! I'm curious if you had the T202 panel and the matching T205 side-by-side, would they be of comparable print quality?

Yes; they were done by American Lithogrpahic or its partners reusing the artwork. The T202’s are slightly shorter than a T205 (and thus some of the design elements are recropped or removed) but excepting this, it’s the same quality of lithography.

[DocScoot]

Great info, thank you!

Originally Posted by G1911

Yes; they were done by American Lithogrpahic or its partners reusing the artwork. The T202’s are slightly shorter than a T205 (and thus some of the design elements are recropped or removed) but excepting this, it’s the same quality of lithography.

[DocScoot]

Getting some great info here! Let's say I wanted to pick up a card from one of the big 5, needs to be from their playing years, leaning towards tobacco cards. Ruth, Cobb, Wagner are pretty much out of my budget. Let's say I could pick up a T202 with either Matty or Johnson for under $1,000 (hopefully well under). Looks like there's some options up on eBay now. Would you recommend one over the other, or should I save for the T205 instead? Not that I plan to flip, but which would be the better investment?

Appreciate the input!

[Exhibitman]

If you want to look at some great T prints, take a look at the Obak sets. The manufacturer used a more intricate process and the resulting cards have a richness of image that is superior to the other sets. Here is a good example, a T206 Collins (my favorite T206) and a T212 Obak

[DocScoot]

That's phenomenal, thanks for sharing!!

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

If you want to look at some great T prints, take a look at the Obak sets. The manufacturer used a more intricate process and the resulting cards have a richness of image that is superior to the other sets. Here is a good example, a T206 Collins (my favorite T206) and a T212 Obak

[Lobo Aullando]

Probably going to be split opinions on this, and it's a legit split.

The single-player card will always have higher demand, just generally, and T205s do have a good following. That said, there might be some room for growth in T202s, but I think of that as more that they haven't caught up to the two most mainstream sets.* Short-run vs long-run, acute vs chronic...


* - Past results are not indicative of future results.

Originally Posted by DocScoot

Getting some great info here! Let's say I wanted to pick up a card from one of the big 5, needs to be from their playing years, leaning towards tobacco cards. Ruth, Cobb, Wagner are pretty much out of my budget. Let's say I could pick up a T202 with either Matty or Johnson for under $1,000 (hopefully well under). Looks like there's some options up on eBay now. Would you recommend one over the other, or should I save for the T205 instead? Not that I plan to flip, but which would be the better investment?

Appreciate the input!

[53toppscollector]

T202s are also a bit more awkward to display (I have a workaround for it), but they are cool cards for sure.

T205s are more readily available, and if you ever need to sell it, they have a stronger market in general, but if that isn't your concern, then go with what you like.

The T202s that interest me the most are the ones with multiple HOFs on the card

Eddie Collins/Home Run Baker
McGaw/Jennings
Bresnahan/McGraw
Chance/Evers
Cobb/Jennings

etc etc

[Exhibitman]

I'd like to get the T202 with the Cobb sliding middle panel. Only T card with that classic photo on it.

In general, they are great cards but they are awkward to store and some of the combos are really random. Some are fantastic, too. This was the first one I ever got, at the 1991 Anaheim National in a trade.

[DocScoot]

I'm especially interested in the one with Mathewson and McGraw, knowing how much history those two shared both on and off the field.

[swarmee]

The biggest reason for the price differential, IMO, is that the T205 is a "standard-sized" card that can go in the standard PSA slab. The 202 has to go in a tallboy holder, and the mainstream collectors don't want to store them.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by swarmee

The biggest reason for the price differential, IMO, is that the T205 is a "standard-sized" card that can go in the standard PSA slab. The 202 has to go in a tallboy holder, and the mainstream collectors don't want to store them.

Big vs small. Easier to collect cards than cars.
.