Baseball cards have been an integral part of America’s pastime for over a century. Collecting and trading baseball cards was a popular hobby for both children and adults starting in the late 19th century. Some of the earliest baseball cards date back to the late 1800s, with companies like Allen & Ginter and Old Judge releasing sets featuring baseball players. By the early 1900s, tobacco companies like American Tobacco and cigarette manufacturers began inserting baseball cards as incentives in their tobacco products. This helped popularize baseball cards even further and launched the golden era of baseball card collecting from the early 1900s through the 1950s.
One of the most iconic early issues of baseball cards that collectors seek to this day is the infamous T206 set from 1909-1911. Just a few years prior in 1906, the American Tobacco Company released what is considered the first modern baseball card set. Known as the T205 White Border set, it featured images of major league players on white bordered cards. Each pack of cigarettes came with 5 cards inserted inside. Some of the biggest stars of the day like Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb and Cy Young appeared in this pioneering 106-card set.
While the rarity and value of the T206 cards is legendary, the early T205 White Border issue from 1906 also holds significant historical value as the first true “set” of baseball cards issued by a tobacco company. For collectors and researchers seeking to learn more about pricing and identify players from this seminal 106-card set over a century old, an invaluable resource is the 1906 T205 White Border Baseball Card Price Guide. Originally published in book form in the 1980s, it has since been digitized and is available for free download as a PDF.
The 1906 T205 White Border Baseball Card Price Guide was compiled by leading sportscard authorities and experts to serve as the definitive book on identifying, grading and establishing market values for this important early set. At over 150 pages, it contains high quality color images of all 106 player cards to aid in identification. Each player’s card is accompanied by a short biography with career stats and highlights. Also included is an explanation of the different tobacco brands, back variations and rarity of each player card within the set.
One of the most useful aspects of this price guide is the extensive population data and pricing information provided for each T205 White Border card. Drawing from decades of auction sales and population census research, it breaks down how many graded examples exist of each card in different condition grades like Poor, Good, Very Good, Fine, Very Fine and higher. This kind of extensive census data is invaluable for collectors seeking to understand the relative scarcity of their holdings. Equally helpful are the valuation tables listing the average sales prices realized for each card in each recognized grade level from the 1980s up until publication.
While prices have undoubtedly risen significantly in the ensuing decades since its original publication due to growing collector demand, the 1906 T205 White Border Baseball Card Price Guide still serves as the most comprehensive source for information on this important early set. In addition to identification details, population reports and price guidance, it also includes an overview of the history of baseball cards and tobacco inserts. A handy checklist of the 106 cards is provided for collection organization and tracking as well.
By downloading a free digital copy of this price guide, today’s collectors and researchers are able to gain a wealth of knowledge on one of the first modern baseball card sets without having to track down an original physical copy. Having so much essential data like high resolution images, player bios, population analyses and valuation benchmarks all in one centralized resource is tremendously useful. It allows collectors and dealers to better understand the relative scarcity and value of their T205 holdings over a century later. For anyone seeking to learn more about this pioneering early 20th century baseball card set deserving of the hobby’s highest regard, the 1906 T205 White Border Baseball Card Price Guide remains the go-to sourcebook.
