Tobacco cards were originally included as incentives in tobacco products starting in the late 1880s. While the cards served as a cheap promotional item and way to interest customers in purchasing more tobacco goods, they have grown to become a highly collectible industry in their own right. The prices that top vintage tobacco era baseball cards now command have skyrocketed over the past few decades as the market has matured. Here is an in-depth look at prices and valuation for some of the most coveted and expensive tobacco cards from baseball’s early decades.

1909-1911 T206 Baseball Card Set – One of the most iconic and desirable sets, the full run of 511 cards from the famous 1909-1911 T206 series in top condition could be valued anywhere from $500,000 up to over $1 million depending on set completeness and grading. Individually, the top stars like Honus Wagner, Nap Lajoie, and Ed Walsh can bring six-figure prices even well-worn. Raw or graded examples in higher grades regularly break auction records.

1890 Old Judge Tobacco Card – One of the earliest and most sentimental issues, an 1890 Old Judge featuring ballplayers such as Bid McPhee and Dave Foutz in top-graded condition would be worth well over $100,000. Prices drop significantly based on condition but there are believed to be fewer than 50 known examples still in existence from this pioneer tobacco era set.

1933 Goudey Baseball Cards – High-grade versions of the superstar rookies from this colorful and popular early modern set like Babe Ruth and Jimmie Foxx can reach prices up to $150,000. Other key cards like Lou Gehrig and Ty Cobb traditionally sell in the $50,000 range. Set builders are willing to pay high premiums for especially well-centered examples to complete their registries.

1909-1911 M101-3 (White Border) – Considered the sister set to the iconic T206s due to the similar time period and format, high-numbered M101-3 cards don’t quite reach the same price level but are still highly collectible with their distinctive white borders. Common stars might sell for $5,000-$20,000 while true gems could double or triple that figure.

1896-1911 American Tobacco Company Cards – Spanning over a decade, the ATCC issues are prolific but demand has grown. Singles start around $1,000 for commons while stars make $5,000-10,000 each depending on condition. Rare variations can spike values considerably – an error Honus Wagner recently sold for $475,000.

1915 Cracker Jack (N171) – It’s the set perhaps best known for launching baseball card collecting into the mainstream. Keys like the legendary Babe Ruth rookie have topped $250,000 individually in pristine condition. Most stars range $5,000-$20,000 depending on centering and grade.

1887-1890 Goodwin Champions Matchless Leaders – One of the early tobacco issues to feature advertisements on the reverse, these scarcer Goodwin cards offer history and charm. Complete sets are nearly unobtainable but key singles can sell for $20,000+. Rarities make considerably more with condition being a huge factor.

1891-1898 Mayo Cut Plug Tobacco Cards – Produced as premiums for several seasons by Mayo, their small size cards are highly collectible. Superstars typical sell for $3,000-5,000 each in lower grades up to $20,000+ for true gems. Complete vintage sets are almost unheard of to find intact.

1939 Play Ball – Revolutionary as one of the first modern issues to showcase players in action photos, the 1939 Play Ball set includes stars like Ted Williams and Bob Feller. Higher graded examples over the decades have begun reaching prices of $10,000+ for each of the key rookie cards. Solid mid-grade commons are affordable at a few hundred dollars.

1909-1911 Indian Tobacco Cards – Though much scarcer than the T206s, the thick cardboard Indian back issues remain iconic pieces of tobacco memorabilia. High-graded examples of Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson and others have topped $25,000 each at auction when available. Near-complete examples in any condition are a tough chase.

Thus, in summary – while more common vintage tobacco cards can still be acquires for a few hundred dollars or less, true condition census Tobacco Era rarities often dwarf that price range exponentially due to their history, visual appeal, and relative scarcity surviving over a century later. Serious collectors are always willing to spend six or even seven-figure sums to obtain the best examples from these pioneering card issues that helped launch America’s national pastime to new heights. Condition, eye appeal, and completeness all factor greatly into their valuation.